Which is the best card to use? *Master Thread*

[Dan]

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/50312

[MC]

Awesome write up, thanks!!

[ilherman]

@Dan, Not sure why you still value UR more than MR, if it was before the devaluation, I understand, UA was my favorite currency as well, but now besides Hyatt I see MR with much more opportunities, first of all, ALMOST each and every UA operated flight that is available for award can be booked with MR which transfers to Aeroplan and SQ for a far better value -

Domestic US/Canada flights - UA 12.5K with close in fee; Aeroplan 12.5k with NO close in fee.

NA-Europe on LO, SN, LX - UA 70K with close in fee; Aeroplan  45/52k with no close in fee.

NA-TLV on UA - UA 70K with close in fee; SQ 57.5k with no close in fee.

Same goes for intra-Europe and Europe-Middle east flights.

Now with MR you have AZ, FB, and some other partners that UR does not offer and you can find some really sweet spots when redeeming FB (and AZ) as well as all the other partners.

I value my MR points more than my UR points.

[etech0]

Is SPG really worth only 2.1 cents?

[Dan]

@Dan, Not sure why you still value UR more than MR, if it was before the devaluation, I understand, UA was my favorite currency as well, but now besides Hyatt I see MR with much more opportunities, first of all, ALMOST each and every UA operated flight that is available for award can be booked with MR which transfers to Aeroplan and SQ for a far better value -

Domestic US/Canada flights - UA 12.5K with close in fee; Aeroplan 12.5k with NO close in fee.

NA-Europe on LO, SN, LX - UA 70K with close in fee; Aeroplan  45/52k with no close in fee.

NA-TLV on UA - UA 70K with close in fee; SQ 57.5k with no close in fee.

Same goes for intra-Europe and Europe-Middle east flights.

Now with MR you have AZ, FB, and some other partners that UR does not offer and you can find some really sweet spots when redeeming FB (and AZ) as well as all the other partners.

I value my MR points more than my UR points.

1. UR also transfers to SQ.
2. AC has YQ on many airlines.
3. Who pays UA expedite fee, are you kidding?
4. MR pays tax for domestic airlines.
5. MR has no good hotel transfer option.

[ilherman]

1. UR also transfers to SQ.
2. AC has YQ on many airlines.
3. Who pays UA expedite fee, are you kidding?
4. MR pays tax for domestic airlines.
5. MR has no good hotel transfer option.

1. MR transfers to SQ + FB, Asia Miles, LY, EK, and AZ, you can find sweet spots in each of these program. UR does not offer these.
2. But on many airlines including UA they don't and they will be much cheaper. UA F to Europe is 80k UA and 62.5k AE.
3. Most of your MS readers.
4. To which US program exactly do you wanna transfer Amex? And if you really want to transfer to DL (or TB) you can't use UR so I still value my Amex points even I have to pay tax.
5. Agreed.

Also, if you value UR at 1.7 you're almost better off booking with Aeroplan and paying the YQ. LH F would be 110k UA and 62.5 AE + $450, still a better odd using Aeroplan.

[ah]

fyi Discover it has a $75 amazon gift card sign up bonus, not sure if it was purposely omitted or not...
https://www.discovercard.com/application/apply?execution=e1s1

[Dan]

FB, CX, LY, EK, and AZ are all niche programs with very limited good uses. They're not driving the value.

Most people are allergic to YQ. And odds are that AC will add YQ onto more airlines in the future.

UA and Hyatt are both very strong programs for the masses and for routing hackers, even post deval.

[etech0]

fyi Discover it has a $75 amazon gift card sign up bonus, not sure if it was purposely omitted or not...
https://www.discovercard.com/application/apply?execution=e1s1

Isn't their usual signup bonus like $200 cash or something?

[menachem_m]

3. Most of your MS readers.

And even if not, you gotta factor in for time/effort.

[ah]

Isn't their usual signup bonus like $200 cash or something?

didnt see that when i applied...dan said no sign up bonus on MS today

[Dan]

The 3 minutes it takes online?

What about the enormous time/effort to cancel an AC award within 21 days...

[menachem_m]

Granted it's minimal. But that wasn't my main point. My main point was seconding that the vast majority of DDMS readers do pay. JMHO.

[ilherman]

FB, CX, LY, EK, and AZ are all niche programs with very limited good uses. They're not driving the value.

Most people are allergic to YQ. And odds are that AC will add YQ onto more airlines in the future.

UA and Hyatt are both very strong programs for the masses and for routing hackers, even post deval.

Obviously we have two different opinions here...... However there is a reason why MR sells for 1.5 and UR for less than that - the travel agents have better use of MR. And for the reasons I explained.

Not sure what it has to do your guess that Aeroplan will add YQ onto more airlines. We are talking current value.

[etech0]

didnt see that when i applied...dan said no sign up bonus on MS today

Maybe it was a promotion. I got mine a few months ago.

[Dan]

UR isn't selling for less than 1.5 anymore.

[ilherman]

The 3 minutes it takes online?

What about the enormous time/effort to cancel an AC award within 21 days...

I've had when it took 3 hours for the ticketing.  When you wanna catch a seat you gotta pay the $75...

Huh? UA redeposit fee is $200, Aeroplan is $80 (USD) and $160 within 21 days.

[ah]

Maybe it was a promotion. I got mine a few months ago.

you got a good deal, targeted?...I haven't seen it

[Dan]

I've never had UA ticketing take 3 hours.

And I didn't say money. I said time/effort.
As in 2 phone calls and finding space to change to.

And trust in a program matters when you're investing long term.

I simply don't trust AC to not charge YQ long term. 

[ilherman]

I've never had UA ticketing take 3 hours.

And I didn't say money. I said time/effort.
As in 2 phone calls and finding space to change to.

And trust in a program matters when you're investing long term.

I simply don't trust AC to not charge YQ long term.

I've had it, especially in the early morning hours. It was on LH.

So out of the 21 days we both agree tha AE has a much better change/cancellation policy. And please its not hard at all to find availability for the next 365 days....

You obviously still trust UA