Author Topic: VALUE OF MILES  (Read 2884 times)

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
VALUE OF MILES
« on: March 26, 2019, 10:18:17 AM »
Hi All,

I am a beginner in points and miles and Dan was kind enough to reply to one of my questions on a post.

I asked how do I know the value of a mile to see if its worth to transfer to a partner. Dan answered "The value of a mile used is the paid price of a flight divided by the number of miles required."

So I tried to do some calculations and watched out for later posts from Dan in regards to conversions and I am struggling to come out to the same calculations as Dan did.

Can someone give me a quick example of how to calculate?

Offline yandmk

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 1959
  • Total likes: 254
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 28
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #1 on: March 26, 2019, 10:28:53 AM »
Hi All,

I am a beginner in points and miles and Dan was kind enough to reply to one of my questions on a post.

I asked how do I know the value of a mile to see if its worth to transfer to a partner. Dan answered "The value of a mile used is the paid price of a flight divided by the number of miles required."

So I tried to do some calculations and watched out for later posts from Dan in regards to conversions and I am struggling to come out to the same calculations as Dan did.

Can someone give me a quick example of how to calculate?
When Dan analyzes the value of points in his posts, he is generally referring to using them as "hybrid" points. (Not transferring them to miles at all).
The basic definition of "hybrid points" is using points toward a revenue ticket at decent rate.
Maybe another member can elaborate a bit more on that...

Offline username

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 4531
  • Total likes: 602
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: C Heights
  • Programs: ┌──────────────────┐ │───> Ữ₴ΣЯИΛΜӘ <─── │ └──────────────────┘
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #2 on: March 26, 2019, 10:52:34 AM »
A last minute flight PHL-CLE would be $300-$400. Assume $300.
If I can get that flight for 7,500 miles, than I have used each point for $0.04, or four cents.

300/7500=.04 [dollars/miles=miles value]

 So if this is the route I am using my miles for, I would be crazy to sell them for less than 4 cents a point.
^^^

Online ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15636
  • Total likes: 7724
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2019, 10:57:14 AM »
A last minute flight PHL-CLE would be $300-$400. Assume $300.
If I can get that flight for 7,500 miles, than I have used each point for $0.04, or four cents.

300/7500=.04 [dollars/miles=miles value]

 So if this is the route I am using my miles for, I would be crazy to sell them for less than 4 cents a point.
Missing taxes and fees from equation.

So more accurately using above example would be:

(300-[taxes & fees paid for award redemption])/7500=[value of miles]
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #4 on: March 26, 2019, 10:59:49 AM »
So if I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, I should never book anything less then 1.5 Cents per point is that correct?

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #5 on: March 26, 2019, 11:02:55 AM »
Missing taxes and fees from equation.

So more accurately using above example would be:

(300-[taxes & fees paid for award redemption])/7500=[value of miles]


So how would I know when is the right time to use points (transfer to miles) or just book through Ultimate Rewards portal?

Offline Naftuli19

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 2721
  • Total likes: 398
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Not in Quarantine
  • Programs: I wish all...
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2019, 11:09:49 AM »

So how would I know when is the right time to use points (transfer to miles) or just book through Ultimate Rewards portal?
You quoted it yourself wherever  the value is greater!
Sometimes You Will Never Know the True Value of A Moment Until It's Become A Memory...

Online ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15636
  • Total likes: 7724
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2019, 11:20:29 AM »

So how would I know when is the right time to use points (transfer to miles) or just book through Ultimate Rewards portal?

If under the formula (300-[taxes & fees paid for award redemption])/7500=[value of miles] the result for [value of miles] is greater than 1.5cents (assuming you have Chase Sapphire Reserve) then transfer is the best option, otherwise just book through the portal.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Naftuli19

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 2721
  • Total likes: 398
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Not in Quarantine
  • Programs: I wish all...
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2019, 11:23:06 AM »
If under the formula (300-[taxes & fees paid for award redemption])/7500=[value of miles] the result for [value of miles] is greater than 1.5cents (assuming you have Chase Sapphire Reserve) then transfer is the best option, otherwise just book through the portal.
Booking revenue ticket gets u miles too gotta add that to ;D ;)  ;D
Sometimes You Will Never Know the True Value of A Moment Until It's Become A Memory...

Offline joey89

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 380
  • Total likes: 70
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Orleans
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #9 on: March 26, 2019, 11:39:28 AM »
Booking revenue ticket gets u miles too gotta add that to ;D ;)  ;D
Sure, let’s confuse him even more.

Offline farmbochur

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2011
  • Posts: 1796
  • Total likes: 233
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #10 on: March 26, 2019, 11:41:36 AM »
So if I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, I should never book anything less then 1.5 Cents per point is that correct?


Sure, let’s confuse him even more.



If you really value Chase points at 1.5, you'd never redeem with the travel portal due to the opportunity cost of earning 3 Chase points per dollar on travel.

Breakeven point is 3/209 CPP by my calc.
« Last Edit: March 26, 2019, 12:15:43 PM by farmbochur »
Risk is opportunity

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #11 on: March 26, 2019, 01:04:56 PM »
So one example I ran was JFK-FLL on Jetblue this weekend.

The flights I selected totaled to 59,900 Jetblue Points+$11 in taxes.  To get the same flight in $ it came out to $651.

So $651/59,900 = 0.010 which means a penny per mile. Is that right?


THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING

Offline Naftuli19

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 2721
  • Total likes: 398
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Not in Quarantine
  • Programs: I wish all...
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2019, 01:40:03 PM »
So one example I ran was JFK-FLL on Jetblue this weekend.

The flights I selected totaled to 59,900 Jetblue Points+$11 in taxes.  To get the same flight in $ it came out to $651.

So $651/59,900 = 0.010 which means a penny per mile. Is that right?


THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING

i might be wrong but i think B6 is a 1.5 value a $150 ticket would b 10k points
Sometimes You Will Never Know the True Value of A Moment Until It's Become A Memory...

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #13 on: March 26, 2019, 01:46:50 PM »
i might be wrong but i think B6 is a 1.5 value a $150 ticket would b 10k points

B6?

Not sure what this message means

Offline Naftuli19

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 2721
  • Total likes: 398
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Not in Quarantine
  • Programs: I wish all...
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2019, 01:48:03 PM »
Sometimes You Will Never Know the True Value of A Moment Until It's Become A Memory...

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67601
  • Total likes: 16913
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2019, 01:48:23 PM »
So one example I ran was JFK-FLL on Jetblue this weekend.

The flights I selected totaled to 59,900 Jetblue Points+$11 in taxes.  To get the same flight in $ it came out to $651.

So $651/59,900 = 0.010 which means a penny per mile. Is that right?


THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR HELPING
651-11=640/59,900=1.07 cents per mile. Poor value.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Online ExGingi

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 15636
  • Total likes: 7724
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 19
    • View Profile
  • Location: 770
  • Programs: בשורת הגאולה. From Exile to Redemption. GIYF. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2019, 01:59:03 PM »
651-11=640/59,900=1.07 cents per mile. Poor value.
The beauty of the CSR is that it allows everyone to easily evaluate value of points, as it puts a 1.5 cents floor on the value.

Anything valued below that can be universally agreed upon as poor value. 1.5 cents is fair value (or just below, depending where it's redeemed as far as ease of finding the redemption and actually redeeming), anything above that is subjective (depending on time and effort that needs to be spent for the redemption).
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline chuckfinley

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 50
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #17 on: March 26, 2019, 02:00:32 PM »
The beauty of the CSR is that it allows everyone to easily evaluate value of points, as it puts a 1.5 cents floor on the value.

Anything valued below that can be universally agreed upon as poor value. 1.5 cents is fair value (or just below, depending where it's redeemed as far as ease of finding the redemption and actually redeeming), anything above that is subjective (depending on time and effort that needs to be spent for the redemption).

So very simply put -- if it comes out to less than 1.5 cents per mile, its not worth is with a CSR correct?

Offline Naftuli19

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2018
  • Posts: 2721
  • Total likes: 398
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: Not in Quarantine
  • Programs: I wish all...
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #18 on: March 26, 2019, 02:00:55 PM »
So very simply put -- if it comes out to less than 1.5 cents per mile, its not worth is with a CSR correct?
yup
Sometimes You Will Never Know the True Value of A Moment Until It's Become A Memory...

Offline yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10481
  • Total likes: 3837
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: VALUE OF MILES
« Reply #19 on: March 26, 2019, 02:37:23 PM »
i might be wrong but i think B6 is a 1.5 value a $150 ticket would b 10k points
Not necessarily. See B6 award thread. :(