AAdvantage miles vs. paying cash- thoughts??

[philza]

Hey all,

I’m kind of new to all of this and wanted to know your thoughts!
I have an Air Tahiti Nui flight from PPT-LAX and Expedia is showing me to pay $550 cash for economy, or I can pay 65,000 AA miles for premium (one level below business/first). I’m not sure which I should do!
Is it worth it to use these 65,000 miles for a flight like this? Am I better off saving it for a much better reward later on?

Thanks in advance!

[Jojot]

I think definitely the points. $550 is a very good price for that flight, but you can’t get MUCH better value from AA points than 65,000 for premium economy on a flight like that

[mmgfarb]

but you can’t get MUCH better value from AA points than 65,000 for premium economy on a flight like that

Huh? That's an absolutely ridiculous statement.

[yelped]

Huh? That's an absolutely ridiculous statement.

*Can*

[philza]

So @mmgfarb and @yelped - do you think I should pay the cash for economy? Or should I use the 65k AA for the premium on Air Tahiti Nui?

[mmgfarb]

So @mmgfarb and @yelped - do you think I should pay the cash for economy? Or should I use the 65k AA for the premium on Air Tahiti Nui?

I would fly economy but it all depends on how you value the points and what you would use them for.

[philza]

@mmgfarb ah thanks! I don't know what I would use them for otherwise. I'll just save the rest of my AA miles (~200k) for a future trip I guess? Is that the smartest option?