Comments on: Such a bAArgain! The normal fare is $255, but for you it’s only $488 http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ben http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-11023 ben Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:29:03 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-11023 Why would you buy miles to redeem 25000 miles for a domestic trip? It's not even worth it to redeem it normally with earned miles. Now if you're buying all these miles to get to 100k miles for a trip to japan in business class, then the cost ($1000) plus say $48k miles u've got sitting around (~$1000) is well worth it considering that normally in cash, the ticket would cost $8000 or so. In such a case, you're saving 75% off the total price. The whole point of using miles is to redeem for international business and first tickets and intl upgrades. Many agents and flight attendants will even tell you not to waste your miles on domestic itineraries (economy and first). Why would you buy miles to redeem 25000 miles for a domestic trip? It’s not even worth it to redeem it normally with earned miles. Now if you’re buying all these miles to get to 100k miles for a trip to japan in business class, then the cost ($1000) plus say $48k miles u’ve got sitting around (~$1000) is well worth it considering that normally in cash, the ticket would cost $8000 or so. In such a case, you’re saving 75% off the total price. The whole point of using miles is to redeem for international business and first tickets and intl upgrades. Many agents and flight attendants will even tell you not to waste your miles on domestic itineraries (economy and first).

]]> By: jeff solomon http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10774 jeff solomon Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:36:58 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10774 Long ago I came to the realization that airlines were among the most poorly run business entities . The geniuses who make the decisions in these companies are textbook examples of what not to do to entice customers. Most airlines are combative and offer little in the way of customer loyalty incentives. Only an idiot would market the 2.5 cents a mile offer. Our society has enabled these morons, causing the financial crisis we are now in. How do you take a company providing such a vital and necessary mode of transportation and run it into the ground, like pan am, eastern etc. The huge amounts of capital gobbled by these companies, only to fail, just goes to prove the point. Unfortunately regulation is needed in this industry because the mental midget mba's who run most airlines are as adept at business as the thousands of brokers and bond raters on wall street were. Let's here it for reganomics, NOT ! Long ago I came to the realization that airlines were among the most poorly run business entities . The geniuses who make the decisions in these companies are textbook examples of what not to do to entice customers. Most airlines are combative and offer little in the way of customer loyalty incentives. Only an idiot would market the 2.5 cents a mile offer. Our society has enabled these morons, causing the financial crisis we are now in. How do you take a company providing such a vital and necessary mode of transportation and run it into the ground, like pan am, eastern etc. The huge amounts of capital gobbled by these companies, only to fail, just goes to prove the point. Unfortunately regulation is needed in this industry because the mental midget mba’s who run most airlines are as adept at business as the thousands of brokers and bond raters on wall street were. Let’s here it for reganomics, NOT !

]]> By: rrgg http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10738 rrgg Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:13:19 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10738 It's a way to top off your account. No one ever claimed that buying 25,000 miles is cheaper than buying a cash ticket. All airlines intentionally make this more expensive. It’s a way to top off your account. No one ever claimed that buying 25,000 miles is cheaper than buying a cash ticket. All airlines intentionally make this more expensive.

]]> By: The man who notices things http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10733 The man who notices things Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:27:50 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10733 Just don't use those miles for a business class upgrade to Europe . . . A recent fare I saw was $672.50 to fly from JFK-London Then you have the $250 each way charge to use an upgrade miles Which makes business class $1172.50 - plus $10 for the redemption fee plus $15 to have the ticket issued making it $$1197.50 plus another $50 I think which is the business class departure fee out of Heathrow. You can buy an advance purchase business class fare on AA [which gets you lounge access at Heathrow while the coach upgraded fare does not] for $1333 and you use no miles. For $133 I'd rather pay for a fare in C and get C class treatment on both ends - there IS A difference when they discover you are flying on coach ticket that is upgraded. when I buy that $1333 ticket only twice during the calendar year American makes me Platinum - wheras buying that coach ticket and upgrading it does me no real good. Once I'm Platinum, and buy that $1333 ticket I am usually almost ALWAYS upgraded to F 48 hours in advance of the flight. This works for AA in that they free up business class seats to resell to new coach passengers and upgrade them to generate another $250 for that leg. They make $133 more from me - and in exchange give up essentially nothing - a F class seat that they are NOT going to sell anyway. F is real nice- MUCH better than even the new business seats. . . . plus the flagship lounge on either end is GREAT perk - all for $133 a trip more. Just don’t use those miles for a business class upgrade to Europe . . .

A recent fare I saw was $672.50 to fly from JFK-London

Then you have the $250 each way charge to use an upgrade miles

Which makes business class $1172.50 – plus $10 for the redemption fee plus $15 to have the ticket issued making it $$1197.50 plus another $50 I think which is the business class departure fee out of Heathrow.

You can buy an advance purchase business class fare on AA [which gets you lounge access at Heathrow while the coach upgraded fare does not] for $1333 and you use no miles. For $133 I’d rather pay for a fare in C and get C class treatment on both ends – there IS A difference when they discover you are flying on coach ticket that is upgraded.

when I buy that $1333 ticket only twice during the calendar year American makes me Platinum – wheras buying that coach ticket and upgrading it does me no real good.

Once I’m Platinum, and buy that $1333 ticket I am usually almost ALWAYS upgraded to F 48 hours in advance of the flight. This works for AA in that they free up business class seats to resell to new coach passengers and upgrade them to generate another $250 for that leg. They make $133 more from me – and in exchange give up essentially nothing – a F class seat that they are NOT going to sell anyway. F is real nice- MUCH better than even the new business seats. . . . plus the flagship lounge on either end is GREAT perk – all for $133 a trip more.

]]> By: Frank http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10729 Frank Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:14:01 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10729 That brings the cost of 25,000 AAdvantage miles used to be on your way to great destinations across the continental U.S. to at least $488.70 assuming only the processing fee and the government taxes and fees. ========================================================== Question: Can you use those miles towards another level in the airline's frequent flyer program? Akin to doing a mileage run. Going from Silver to Gold at AA? If so, frequent flyers may find this offer attractive. Just yesterday, I had someone commenting in roach coach, they lost their gold status. And was missing their frequent upgrades. That brings the cost of 25,000 AAdvantage miles used to be on your way to great destinations across the continental U.S. to at least $488.70 assuming only the processing fee and the government taxes and fees.
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Question: Can you use those miles towards another level in the airline’s frequent flyer program? Akin to doing a mileage run. Going from Silver to Gold at AA? If so, frequent flyers may find this offer attractive. Just yesterday, I had someone commenting in roach coach, they lost their gold status. And was missing their frequent upgrades.

]]> By: Warren http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10728 Warren Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:42:00 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10728 AA like all airlines is a business. Why would they offer ANYTHING that didn't help them make money? As for the frequent flier program, take your Gold status elsewhere. I have, and I've never been happier. AA like all airlines is a business. Why would they offer ANYTHING that didn’t help them make money? As for the frequent flier program, take your Gold status elsewhere. I have, and I’ve never been happier.

]]> By: Liz http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/such-a-baargain-the-normal-fare-is-255-but-for-you-its-only-488/comment-page-1/#comment-10724 Liz Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:50:57 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=11019#comment-10724 well, yes, if you wanted to buy all the miles for a ticket, it would not likely be cost effective. But if you are just 6,000 miles short of a round trip ticket to Europe, you could get them for $155. Yes, you'll still be paying the taxes and fees which you would pay anyway. But I recently got a ticket to England for a graduation gift this way, saving about $800. well, yes, if you wanted to buy all the miles for a ticket, it would not likely be cost effective. But if you are just 6,000 miles short of a round trip ticket to Europe, you could get them for $155. Yes, you’ll still be paying the taxes and fees which you would pay anyway. But I recently got a ticket to England for a graduation gift this way, saving about $800.

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