sundowner

I need to pay my property taxes and they have an option of paying with CC for 3% fee.

I can used my Delta Amex to get miles but is it smart?
$4700 tax = $141 fee
I did enroll in the double miles over $100 charge on the delta amex card
$141. fee = 9400 miles = 1.5 cent each.

From what I've read, how you plan on using miles makes a difference in what they are worth. They'll most likely be used for family trip to Europe or Hawaii during the summer or for trip to East Africa during the high season. Originating in San Antonio.

Did I do the math right?
Are the miles worth the price?

Thanks for the help
Cindy

Gardyloo

Some FF plans let you buy miles to top up an account; the typical pricing for these is around 2.2 - 2.5 cents per mile, so 1.5 cents is a good deal.

Be sure that your AMEX card will see this as a purchase rather than a cash advance - some CC companies are squidgey around the issue of paying taxes or governmental fees using their cards.

travelerone

FF miles used to obtain tickets (for > 60 days stay)to Europe in the summertime can be worth up to 3 cents per mile based on summer fares. However advance purchase 30 day excursion summertime fares generally run around $800-$900 RT. Thus the FF mile is worth maybe 1.8 cents.

The other concern is unless you can lock-in your FF award tickets many months before your departure, no seats might be available.
I agree with the suggestion to verify first with Amex that you will be getting double miles from paying your taxes with the card.

Patrick

I usually cash in my miles for business class trips to Europe with stopovers included. The past several of these have been for 90,000 miles and the tickets were worth over $7,000 if purchased. By those accounts my miles were being cashed in for a value of approximately 8 cents a mile, so yes, it's a good deal to "buy" them for 1.5 cents each if you look at it like that.

Angela_m

If you really want an in-depth answer to your question, go to www.flyertalk.com. The people there are gurus when it comes to FF miles.

Patty

Is the double miles for over $100 charge a new offer? Could you provide the link to enroll? Thanks.

sundowner

Patty - here is a link. Do it now as today is the last day to enroll
https://www109.americanexpress.com/d...oint=delta4qtr

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I called Delta FF and held forever to find out they didn't know and it's really Amex that determines how many miles you get.

Then I called Amex and she said it will qualify for dbl miles as long as the credit card processor does not process as a "cash" transaction (they don't).



Thanks to all!
cINDY

jody

The bonus miles offer is just for purchases made in Dec. And it is not double miles..it is 100 extra miles on any purchase over $100.00...you would only get 100 miles even if the purchase is $4000.00.
Their regular double mileage applies to grocery,gas staion and various other merchants.

Patty

Cindy,
jody is right. The link is for the 100 bonus miles for every $100 or over purchase which is something I had signed up for. Are you sure there is a double miles offer out there currently?

sundowner

Jody is right - I looked at it again and it isn't double - I registered awhile back and I have CRS so I remembered wrong. Thanks Jody - I got busy at work and didn't get a chance to pay it so you saved me the fee!

Unless I travel like Patrick they aren't worth 3%. I guess I could fly business class to Kenya at 150,000 miles vs $8000 and make it worth it!