I have to fly from Chicago to Vancouver June 2-5 for a family trip. My dates are not flexible. The only flight that flies direct is United and the price with taxes and fees comes up to $923.63 which I think is very pricey for such a close trip. It is not that much less for non-stop flight.

I thought about using miles (I have 55,000) and I would have to use 50,000 miles for roundtrip.

Should I use 50,000 miles or pay the $923.63 fare? I don't fly United too much (I earned all these miles in the last 10 years) but am inclined to save ut for a long distance trip or upgrade. I can afford the fare but it just seems exorbitant.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Wow, you are right on the cusp of whether or not to use the miles or buy the ticket. I usually try to get 2 cents or more to make it worthwhile (ie. $924/50,000= 1.8 cents). 1.8 cents is not too bad.

So it depends on whether or not you can afford the $924,how many other mileage program miles you have, if you have near future plans for the miles, etc... Also remember that there will very likely be more "mileage inflation" coming. For example, it might cost 60,000 miles for the trip next year instead of only 50,000 miles...

You'll get input from several other 'miles pros' if you re-post on the Air Travel forum.

You can save a tonne by flying ORD SEA at hop the shuttle

to Vancouver might consider that many cheap flights.

or do with your FF miles that would be your best value.

Since I lost my 20K AA miles they now want to sell back

to me at $50/5000 miles my motto is use them or lose them.

They work great for hotels and car rentals too.

Checking airfare to Seattle is a good idea. Friends whose relatives live in Vancouver always fly into Seattle because it is cheaper.

In general though, I think I'd use the miles unless I had near term plans to use them for something else. I wouldn't hang on to them otherwise - you never know when United will change the rules.