I have American Airlines miles and intend on flying to Rome in May, and appears I can get a $780 cash flight, or pay 40,000 American Airlines Miles.

I'm on the fence, anyone set me straight as to which is the better idea??

Much appreciated.

What are you saving the miles for? I use miles when I have enough to go where I want to go and can get an award on the dates I prefer. I realize that one can analyse the per mile cost and look at it in various ways but if I can use the cash in other ways for the trip, and I always can, I pay for overseas flights in miles.

Have you checked to see if there's availability to use the miles in May? They book up far in advance.

Not saving them for anything specif,and you make good points, but am guessing some here might suggest that 40,000 is a lot of miles to spend on a round trip flight that would cost me $790.

Or not, maybe 40K miles isn't so bad? Anyone?

40,000 miles is cheap for a rewards ticket to Europe so I would definitely use the miles.

I would never pay cash for an airline ticket - always use a credit card.

It seems to me that paying for domestic flights with miles is expensive. But not the international ones that I've bought. Just compare. See what the cost per FF mile is for the flight you want at that fare. Compare that with the cost in miles and money to other destinations and see if seems a good deal. I fly from the west coast and as it costs the same number of miles all over the country it's often a better deal for me.

And don't forget the taxes you'll pay in cash in addition to the miles you use. One trip I remember the tax to LHR was $140 and to Rome $5. It depends on the airport.

I agree, 40,000 miles is cheap for a RT rewards ticket to Europe. We normally use our miles to upgrade to Biz Class but that would cost you another $350 copay plus 25,000 miles each way. Still, we feel that is better value for our miles as we would never be able to fly Biz Class otherwise.

thanks for your thoughts!