Winter tickets to Moscow with stopover in Munich
May 22nd, 2007, 06:13 AM
#1
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Winter tickets to Moscow with stopover in Munich
I'm wondering if it's a good deal - using 150000 miles to get three tickets from Tampa, Fl to Moscow, Russia with a stopover for 5 days on the way back in Munich.Travel dates - end of December through middle of January. Is this a good deal or I'd be better off saving my miles for the summer travel?
May 22nd, 2007, 07:11 AM
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50K is standard award to Europe. It's not a good or bad deal, but if that's where you want to go, grab it before they're gone.
I doubt Moscow, or even Munich, is particularly popular that time of the year.
I doubt Moscow, or even Munich, is particularly popular that time of the year.
May 22nd, 2007, 07:21 AM
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50K mi for tickets from US to Europe sound pretty standard. Are you getting a discount because you're traveling during the winter? I think the big question is whether you want to go to Moscow and Munich in the dead of winter as opposed to somewhere else in summer. You'd certainly have less tourists, but not sure anyone can answer that for you.
May 22nd, 2007, 08:21 AM
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Well, have to go to Moscow. On the way back planning on visiting Salzburg and skiing - that's why stopover in Munich. I would probably buy if it was just Munich but than such a complex itinerary would not be cheap even off season.
May 22nd, 2007, 09:13 AM
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Would definitely recommend Salzburg for skiing (we did that years ago and loved it) and it's easy to get to from Munich. Frankly, I would guess that Moscow can be particularly beautiful in winter. I say go for it.
May 22nd, 2007, 10:59 AM
#9
Free is good.
At travelocity I see fares (Dec 25/27 - Jan 16) in the low $800s roundtrip, without the stopover. Maybe a free stopover can be made or maybe there would be an additional charge.
It's about 12,000 miles roundtrip. I'd probably consider buying my own ticket and using miles for the other two. The reason would be to earn the elite qualifying miles (EQMs). It would be 6000 EQM this year and 6000 for next year. If the 6000 would get my total EQMs to 50,000 for Premier Executive or to 100,000 for 1K status, then I would definitely buy my ticket.
If the EQMs are not important, then consider redeemable miles. For Premier Exec or 1K the trip would earn 24,000 miles. For a person with Premier status the trip would earn 15000 redeemable miles.
If EQMs are not important and if not earning 24,000 RDMs then I would definitely use the miles and fly for free.
The $830 price that I saw was on Delta and Finnair. Other fares, like those on the Star Alliance carriers (United and Lufthansa) were higher, like $1000 or more.
Flying for free and not spending $3000 (or at least $2500) is always a good thing. Those miles are depreciating, not earning interest.
At travelocity I see fares (Dec 25/27 - Jan 16) in the low $800s roundtrip, without the stopover. Maybe a free stopover can be made or maybe there would be an additional charge.
It's about 12,000 miles roundtrip. I'd probably consider buying my own ticket and using miles for the other two. The reason would be to earn the elite qualifying miles (EQMs). It would be 6000 EQM this year and 6000 for next year. If the 6000 would get my total EQMs to 50,000 for Premier Executive or to 100,000 for 1K status, then I would definitely buy my ticket.
If the EQMs are not important, then consider redeemable miles. For Premier Exec or 1K the trip would earn 24,000 miles. For a person with Premier status the trip would earn 15000 redeemable miles.
If EQMs are not important and if not earning 24,000 RDMs then I would definitely use the miles and fly for free.
The $830 price that I saw was on Delta and Finnair. Other fares, like those on the Star Alliance carriers (United and Lufthansa) were higher, like $1000 or more.
Flying for free and not spending $3000 (or at least $2500) is always a good thing. Those miles are depreciating, not earning interest.
May 22nd, 2007, 11:01 AM
#10
If you go to www.star-alliance.com you can check out the routing options for your award travel. Your options include Air Canada and US Air, in North America and across the ocean. Would be Lufthansa to Moscow.
May 24th, 2007, 11:28 AM
#11
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Thanks all. Already booked the trip. The cheapest I found with the stopover was $1025, so I opted to use miles for all of them. Sometimes it's better to buy but your destination has to be a big hub, and Moscow is not anything like that.
It's not going to be nice in the city except the cultural events I'm planning to attend. Dad's birthday in the countryside is the purpose, than on to the Salzburg skiing. Can't wait already!
It's not going to be nice in the city except the cultural events I'm planning to attend. Dad's birthday in the countryside is the purpose, than on to the Salzburg skiing. Can't wait already!
