Fed Up With AA Air Miles
Aug 17th, 2012, 07:08 AM
#21
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Again, If I were paying cash or a non-reward cc, I would not receive any "awards". So, I don't see how it is costing me anything(yes some cards do have annual membership, not all though). The markup that businesses charge to make up for the cc fees also apply to anyone paying cash(at most places anyway).
If you are going to use a credit card and provided you pay off each month, why on earth wouldn't you want a reward card of some kind. My GM Card does not have an annual fee.
I just called and cancelled my AA credit card. That annual fee was next month. lol.
If you are going to use a credit card and provided you pay off each month, why on earth wouldn't you want a reward card of some kind. My GM Card does not have an annual fee.
I just called and cancelled my AA credit card. That annual fee was next month. lol.
Aug 17th, 2012, 11:17 AM
#22
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I also have a lot of AA miles that I haven't been able to use. All I want is LAX-JFK nonstop for a long weekend ... but I have to spend 60,000 miles to get a nonstop flight. When I've used them up (maybe a trip to Europe will be easier) I'm canceling the card.
Aug 17th, 2012, 12:45 PM
#24
I cannot believe people don't think they ever paid for frequent flyer miles, either directly or indirectly.
Perhaps we should ask this question: when you redeemed FF miles to get your last ticket and you flew those segments, did you GET FF miles for doing so? Oh, really? Why not? IOW, if you pay that's when you get miles; you may not pay much but you paid something and I am not talking about the taxes.
As to the OP's question. I agree. USAirways, for example, has boosted the number of FF miles needed for trips to Europe and since I don;t fly as much as I used to, or use my CC as much as I used to, I simply look for cheap fares and save my money to splurge after I'm there.
And yes, I'm still plenty rich so go figure.
Perhaps we should ask this question: when you redeemed FF miles to get your last ticket and you flew those segments, did you GET FF miles for doing so? Oh, really? Why not? IOW, if you pay that's when you get miles; you may not pay much but you paid something and I am not talking about the taxes.
As to the OP's question. I agree. USAirways, for example, has boosted the number of FF miles needed for trips to Europe and since I don;t fly as much as I used to, or use my CC as much as I used to, I simply look for cheap fares and save my money to splurge after I'm there.
And yes, I'm still plenty rich so go figure.
Aug 17th, 2012, 02:00 PM
#26
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"Perhaps we should ask this question: when you redeemed FF miles to get your last ticket and you flew those segments, did you GET FF miles for doing so? Oh, really? Why not? IOW, if you pay that's when you get miles; you may not pay much but you paid something and I am not talking about the taxes."
OK, I've read that statement five or six times and I still don't get it. What does NOT getting more miles when you fly for free have to do with paying for the miles you used to cash in? And what are you saying I "paid" by using those miles?
I learned long ago to use my AA miles for biggies, not for domestic flights that I could often pick up cheaply.
Every year or two I end up cashing in miles usually for international trips in Business Class. Typically the ticket I get would cost me anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000 miles to buy. Guess what it would cost to fly (all in Business) from New York to London, then London to Venice, then Rome to Madrid, then Madrid back to New York. But I can do that for 80,000 miles. I'd hate to state what my 11 stop Asian One World ticket would have cost in dollars compared to the 110,000 points I used! Ignoring miles earned flying and various other ways, with Citibank bonuses, it means maybe I charged a total of around $60,000. Everything I charged I would have charged anyway, and it didn't cost me extra to get the miles.
I laugh when Capital One and others say "but with us you can choose any airline". Yea, but at what cost? To book a $15,000 ticket with Capital One points, I'd have to have spent a million and a half dollars on my credit card instead of $60,000, something I'm not likely to do in this lifetime. And meanwhile I couldn't combine the spending with actual miles earned flying or dining or any of the other ways I earn miles.
OK, I've read that statement five or six times and I still don't get it. What does NOT getting more miles when you fly for free have to do with paying for the miles you used to cash in? And what are you saying I "paid" by using those miles?
I learned long ago to use my AA miles for biggies, not for domestic flights that I could often pick up cheaply.
Every year or two I end up cashing in miles usually for international trips in Business Class. Typically the ticket I get would cost me anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000 miles to buy. Guess what it would cost to fly (all in Business) from New York to London, then London to Venice, then Rome to Madrid, then Madrid back to New York. But I can do that for 80,000 miles. I'd hate to state what my 11 stop Asian One World ticket would have cost in dollars compared to the 110,000 points I used! Ignoring miles earned flying and various other ways, with Citibank bonuses, it means maybe I charged a total of around $60,000. Everything I charged I would have charged anyway, and it didn't cost me extra to get the miles.
I laugh when Capital One and others say "but with us you can choose any airline". Yea, but at what cost? To book a $15,000 ticket with Capital One points, I'd have to have spent a million and a half dollars on my credit card instead of $60,000, something I'm not likely to do in this lifetime. And meanwhile I couldn't combine the spending with actual miles earned flying or dining or any of the other ways I earn miles.
Aug 17th, 2012, 04:21 PM
#27
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Dukey, Tell me how I have spent more money out of my pocket than I would have otherwise to get my last FF mile.
I don't really accumulate many miles by flying, I get almost all of them on credit card purchase. I have always made sure that they are paid off in full on time each and every single month. Some gas stations do charge more for credit card purchases(but very few). Yes, some credit cards do have a yearly fee(so I am guilty on 2 of my cards and the other 2 I have do not have any fee). For what it's worth, I have cancelled Citibank card twice, only to have them call me and offer me another 35k and wave the yearly fee for me to reinstate.
Southwest charges $10 for each segment on the freebies, so I guess getting a $300 ticket for $10 is not totally free.
I rarely make long distance trips, but that is what I am saving my AA point for(as NEO suggests in above).
I remember McDonalds giving away their new fruit smoothies about a year ago. Yes, they were free. Are we paying for them by buying a big mac or fries. I guess so, but the point is the smoothie didn't cost anything. That's the way I see any type of reward card, whether its airlines, cash back, or car.
This is like saying when something goes on sale, then you are going to have to pay for something else that is higher priced. Same principal.
Back to the original OP. The question was about AA awards and other airline awards. I feel exactly the way the poster does about AA awards(I think). I don't feel like I can use them the way I thought I could use them. My dad has had AA award/mileage for years and has flown to Europe 3 or 4 times using them. He has really thrown up his hands this past year trying to redeem his miles too. I fly in the lower 48 for the most part, so SW works well for me on 90% of my trips. They do charge an annual fee(free the first year).
I don't really accumulate many miles by flying, I get almost all of them on credit card purchase. I have always made sure that they are paid off in full on time each and every single month. Some gas stations do charge more for credit card purchases(but very few). Yes, some credit cards do have a yearly fee(so I am guilty on 2 of my cards and the other 2 I have do not have any fee). For what it's worth, I have cancelled Citibank card twice, only to have them call me and offer me another 35k and wave the yearly fee for me to reinstate.
Southwest charges $10 for each segment on the freebies, so I guess getting a $300 ticket for $10 is not totally free.
I rarely make long distance trips, but that is what I am saving my AA point for(as NEO suggests in above).
I remember McDonalds giving away their new fruit smoothies about a year ago. Yes, they were free. Are we paying for them by buying a big mac or fries. I guess so, but the point is the smoothie didn't cost anything. That's the way I see any type of reward card, whether its airlines, cash back, or car.
This is like saying when something goes on sale, then you are going to have to pay for something else that is higher priced. Same principal.
Back to the original OP. The question was about AA awards and other airline awards. I feel exactly the way the poster does about AA awards(I think). I don't feel like I can use them the way I thought I could use them. My dad has had AA award/mileage for years and has flown to Europe 3 or 4 times using them. He has really thrown up his hands this past year trying to redeem his miles too. I fly in the lower 48 for the most part, so SW works well for me on 90% of my trips. They do charge an annual fee(free the first year).
Aug 17th, 2012, 05:31 PM
#28
I love my AA FF miles I use them every year to make a first class roundtrip in the lower 48.
I use my card for everything and pay it off every month.
The flights I book would cost thousands of dollars. I pay ten.
I use my card for everything and pay it off every month.
The flights I book would cost thousands of dollars. I pay ten.
Aug 17th, 2012, 05:37 PM
#29
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A few years ago I got fed up trying to book flights using points. I got myself a Capital One Cash Rewards Card and I converted my green American Express card for an American Express Blue Cash Everyday card. Now, earning dollars rather than points, I am one happy camper (and I don't pay card fees).
HTTY
HTTY
Aug 17th, 2012, 05:55 PM
#30
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Good for you, happytrails, and how much do you have to spend with Capital One to get $15,000 credit for a multiple European business class flight? Or, if you prefer, how much do you have to spend to get $15,000 cash back to buy a $15,000 ticket? If it is even a fourth of what I get with Citibank and AA miles, them I might consider it. Otherwise, probably not.
Aug 17th, 2012, 06:53 PM
#32
There are millions of AAdvantage members, also millions of members of United, Delta, Alaska, Southwest, British Airways, Lufthansa and who knows how many other airlines. Presumably these people have figured out what works best for them, and they won't get any argument from me. From my point of view, there are numerous flaws in AA's program, and it is true that since bankruptcy it's been more difficult to redeem AA miles in some circumstances than in others. Also, since AA, BA, Iberia and some other Oneworld airlines got antitrust indemnification, AA has increasingly deferred its TATL award "obligations" to BA, who, of course, make even more obscene profits out of FF miles than most, due to their assessment of fuel surcharges on "award" tickets.
But I also have experience in redeeming United, Alaska, US Airways, BA, and Delta miles (among others) and - just in my experience - AA offers much better redemption options than the others, mainly due to where AA and its partners fly. Just try - I dare you - to get Delta "low" mileage tier FF trips in the summer to Europe. Or redeem US or UA miles for trips within South America or Australia. Let me know how that works for you.
But try to use AA miles to get to Mongolia, or to fly on routes within West or East Africa... same outcome. No FFP is perfect, but some are better for some people than for others.
Two weeks ago my wife and I flew in first class on Cathay Pacific from Vancouver to JFK, 32,500 AA miles each and $40 in taxes (thanks, Canada.) Booked them 10 days in advance; we had the first class cabin to ourselves. I tried to get AA mileage seats back to Seattle, ha ha. The "free" CX PJs are probably worth $50. The retail price for that flight is $3,428, so in my view a good exchange. But again, YMMV.
But I also have experience in redeeming United, Alaska, US Airways, BA, and Delta miles (among others) and - just in my experience - AA offers much better redemption options than the others, mainly due to where AA and its partners fly. Just try - I dare you - to get Delta "low" mileage tier FF trips in the summer to Europe. Or redeem US or UA miles for trips within South America or Australia. Let me know how that works for you.
But try to use AA miles to get to Mongolia, or to fly on routes within West or East Africa... same outcome. No FFP is perfect, but some are better for some people than for others.
Two weeks ago my wife and I flew in first class on Cathay Pacific from Vancouver to JFK, 32,500 AA miles each and $40 in taxes (thanks, Canada.) Booked them 10 days in advance; we had the first class cabin to ourselves. I tried to get AA mileage seats back to Seattle, ha ha. The "free" CX PJs are probably worth $50. The retail price for that flight is $3,428, so in my view a good exchange. But again, YMMV.
Aug 17th, 2012, 08:29 PM
#33
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Good for you, happytrails! Thanks for your kind thought.
How much do you have to spend with Capital One to get $15,000 credit for a multiple European business class flight? This isn't a problem for me, because I don't spend $15,000 on one flight. I know airline loyalty works for some, but it doesn't work for everybody. I was trying to get the OP to consider that life without airline miles is a possibility.
HTTY
How much do you have to spend with Capital One to get $15,000 credit for a multiple European business class flight? This isn't a problem for me, because I don't spend $15,000 on one flight. I know airline loyalty works for some, but it doesn't work for everybody. I was trying to get the OP to consider that life without airline miles is a possibility.
HTTY
Aug 18th, 2012, 12:51 AM
#35
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No, no, no! Don't switch to Delta. For many years they have come in at the absolute bottom of the carriers for availability of the lowest mileage tickets in annual surveys. That said, I just booked a lowest mileage trip to Rome in April by using their monthly calendar and flying over on a Wed. instead of a Thurs. But since they stopped giving any priority to their Medallion flyers about 10 years ago, usually I've had to use their intermediate mileage to get anywhere. (Have just refused the double mile flights.) Used to fly Business to Europe 10 years ago but don't even try to get that now.
One of the things Delta does - and I gather other airlines - is throw in a few lowest mileage seats with things like 16 hr. layovers or extra changes. We have a flight every 60 to 90 min. to Atlanta from 6AM to about 10PM, so there's absolutely no reason that they have to fly me into Atlanta at 7AM to take an 8PM flight to Europe. They will offer one with a 2 hr. layover for 50% more miles. Only reason for the unpleasant itineraries is so you'll cough up the extra miles and the airline can get them off the debit column. Have read in newspaper and Flytalk that United is picking up the less-responsive customer service Continental business model, which is making their frequent fliers furious.
One of the things Delta does - and I gather other airlines - is throw in a few lowest mileage seats with things like 16 hr. layovers or extra changes. We have a flight every 60 to 90 min. to Atlanta from 6AM to about 10PM, so there's absolutely no reason that they have to fly me into Atlanta at 7AM to take an 8PM flight to Europe. They will offer one with a 2 hr. layover for 50% more miles. Only reason for the unpleasant itineraries is so you'll cough up the extra miles and the airline can get them off the debit column. Have read in newspaper and Flytalk that United is picking up the less-responsive customer service Continental business model, which is making their frequent fliers furious.
Aug 18th, 2012, 04:38 AM
#36
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Aug 18th, 2012, 04:40 AM
#37
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http://abcnews.go.com/Business/best-...3#.UC-M_91lQ7s
Obviously the fodors link is wrong.
Anyway, these are the first two things I found on google.
Obviously the fodors link is wrong.
Anyway, these are the first two things I found on google.
Aug 18th, 2012, 04:47 AM
#38
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Aug 18th, 2012, 05:51 AM
#40
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I'm not a pro like gardyloo but I'm learning to use AA FF miles more wisely.
Neo, I'm impressed with your canny use of miles too.
I've made a few mistakes along the way. I 'paid' way too many miles for a trip TO Hawaii in coach and then fewer miles for the return leg in first class because I was inflexible with my dates and not prepared to wait it out!
I could have gone a lot further than Hawaii on those miles!
I do think it's a good program and with more research and some personal restraint I will get there.
spiro, I read the article you linked and it really does depend on what's best for the individual depending on where they live and travel patterns. Southwest doesn't get me to Europe.
Neo, I'm impressed with your canny use of miles too.
I've made a few mistakes along the way. I 'paid' way too many miles for a trip TO Hawaii in coach and then fewer miles for the return leg in first class because I was inflexible with my dates and not prepared to wait it out!
I could have gone a lot further than Hawaii on those miles!
I do think it's a good program and with more research and some personal restraint I will get there.
spiro, I read the article you linked and it really does depend on what's best for the individual depending on where they live and travel patterns. Southwest doesn't get me to Europe.
