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« Last edited by LoLo on June 20, 2018, 01:08:36 PM »

Author Topic: What's the best way to book?  (Read 583880 times)

Offline lubaby

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2540 on: September 21, 2016, 01:52:40 PM »
Im a mileage noobie. Was Looking to book EWR-MSY 9:20am 11/24/16 with United. Said Saver award 12.5k points and $5. To pay cash for ticket was $129. I think that's a bad point value as it's less than 1 cent a point. Am I correct? If so, am I doing something wrong (maybe not supposed to book through United)? Please advise. Thanks in advance.
You're correct, that's a terrible redemption rate.

Offline Wizard

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2541 on: September 21, 2016, 02:09:17 PM »
You're correct, that's a terrible redemption rate.
Thanks. Is there anything on that date from united with a good redemption rate? If not, can you show me to an example of a good redemption rate just so I see that I'm not collecting all these points for nothing 🙉
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Offline David Smith

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2542 on: September 21, 2016, 02:28:24 PM »
If not, can you show me to an example of a good redemption rate just so I see that I'm not collecting all these points for nothing 🙉

Sure. (You can subtract $75 from the $80.60, but it wild be a good deal even if you paid the full $80.60).
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline lubaby

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2543 on: September 21, 2016, 02:32:38 PM »
Thanks. Is there anything on that date from united with a good redemption rate? If not, can you show me to an example of a good redemption rate just so I see that I'm not collecting all these points for nothing 🙉
Well, miles are usually best used for last minute bookings, or business & first class travel.

Example of good redemption rate, a 1 way LH J flight from EWR-FRA on 11/22 cost approx. $6400.
Using miles it would be 70k + $5.6. That's a value of over 9 cents per point.

Now that same flight if booked as a round trip would only be $2500, so the 70k + $5.6 gets you a value of 3.56 cpp (assuming you're throwing out the return. If you need the return then the value goes down to 1.77 cpp).

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2544 on: September 21, 2016, 02:33:42 PM »
You can subtract $75 from the $80.60
For now. 
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Offline Wizard

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2545 on: September 21, 2016, 02:44:45 PM »
Sure. (You can subtract $75 from the $80.60, but it wild be a good deal even if you paid the full $80.60).
Thanks so much for that! What's the $75 off that you're referring to?

Well, miles are usually best used for last minute bookings, or business & first class travel.

Example of good redemption rate, a 1 way LH J flight from EWR-FRA on 11/22 cost approx. $6400.
Using miles it would be 70k + $5.6. That's a value of over 9 cents per point.

Now that same flight if booked as a round trip would only be $2500, so the 70k + $5.6 gets you a value of 3.56 cpp (assuming you're throwing out the return. If you need the return then the value goes down to 1.77 cpp).
Thank you. Didn't follow the round trip part. It's cheaper as round trip than one way?
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Offline David Smith

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2546 on: September 21, 2016, 02:47:56 PM »
Thanks so much for that! What's the $75 off that you're referring to?

http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/94908

Quote
Thank you. Didn't follow the round trip part. It's cheaper as round trip than one way?
Yes.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline Wizard

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2547 on: September 21, 2016, 02:58:31 PM »
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/94908
Cool! Thank you!! Need a seminar so badly in Brooklyn. Please Dan!
[/quote]
Yes.
[/quote]
By a few thousand dollars? Even if yes, I don't understand the throw away part...
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Offline lubaby

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2548 on: September 21, 2016, 04:49:56 PM »
By a few thousand dollars? Even if yes, I don't understand the throw away part...
That's if you were buying a revenue ticket. It's much cheaper (in this case) to buy a round trip flight and only fly half, then booking a 1 way flight.

Offline Wizard

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2549 on: September 21, 2016, 10:37:30 PM »
That's if you were buying a revenue ticket. It's much cheaper (in this case) to buy a round trip flight and only fly half, then booking a 1 way flight.
Wow. What's a revenue ticket and throw away?
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Offline David Smith

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2550 on: September 21, 2016, 10:44:59 PM »
Wow. What's a revenue ticket and throw away?
A revenue ticket is when you pay with money instead of miles. A throwaway is when you book a ticket without planning on using it. For example, when a roundtrip is cheaper than a one way, it makes sense to book round trip and just throw away the return ticket.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline Wizard

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2551 on: September 22, 2016, 12:34:35 AM »
A revenue ticket is when you pay with money instead of miles. A throwaway is when you book a ticket without planning on using it. For example, when a roundtrip is cheaper than a one way, it makes sense to book round trip and just throw away the return ticket.
Got it now. Thanks so much for clarification.
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Offline ckmk47

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2552 on: September 22, 2016, 10:07:10 AM »
ORD-YUL in economy
Cash or miles

Yyz to NYC ?
You have to check prices.
When BA had 4500 pt tickets and availability, using them for YYZ to NYC was a no brainer.
Check Matrix or Google flights for revenue prices.
Check awardhacker for standard award prices.
Decide what 's more cost effective for your dates.
Check for availability.

Unless someone here has a quicker way.
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Offline high end hobo

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2553 on: September 27, 2016, 08:58:15 PM »
High YQ.
Not on all routes.
Low award pricing+stopover policy can make it very worth it

Offline Aaaron

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2554 on: September 28, 2016, 05:47:50 PM »
NY - GIG in J?  Is 57.5k AA on Latam the best option?

Offline lechatchileh ariber

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2555 on: September 28, 2016, 05:48:48 PM »
Looking for ywg-nyc
I have AA,b6,vx,UR and mr
I saw on award hacker that I should be able to book with 15kaa, but can't pull it up on the website.
Thx
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Offline Joe4007

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2556 on: September 28, 2016, 06:03:43 PM »
NY - GIG in J?  Is 57.5k AA on Latam the best option?
http://www.awardhacker.com/#f=New York&t=GIG&o=1&c=j&s=0&p=0

RT there are even better rates.

Offline Aaaron

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2557 on: September 28, 2016, 06:05:51 PM »
http://www.awardhacker.com/#f=New York&t=GIG&o=1&c=j&s=0&p=0

RT there are even better rates.

I know, but looking for direct.

ETA:  Ah, good catch on the CX.  I was busy looking from DC first.  Thanks

Offline rediplus

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2558 on: September 28, 2016, 08:10:19 PM »
EWR to PHL and PHL to YYZ on 10/13. How do I put these two legs together for 7.5 k saver fare. It should be doable close in on A A. Is BA the only way to do this ?

Offline high end hobo

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Re: What's the best way to book?
« Reply #2559 on: September 28, 2016, 11:23:55 PM »
EWR to PHL and PHL to YYZ on 10/13. How do I put these two legs together for 7.5 k saver fare. It should be doable close in on A A. Is BA the only way to do this ?
Unless its the same direct flight, it will be 15K BA and 12.5k AA