Is Using FF Miles for Honeymoon Crazy?
 

I've never used frequent flier miles before so I'm just curious if you think it is a stupid idea.<BR><BR>I've reserved a flight for next May on Continental using miles. I got the flight I want and the cost would be $10. Saving around $1500 or so on airline tickets would allow us to extend our trip.<BR><BR>I've just never used FF miles before so I am curious about any possible fineprint. I have read most of the details on their site and plan to call the OnePass CS tomorrow. Just wantes to get some thoughts. Thanks in advance.

Consider one mile as 2 cents. Where are you traveling from? If it takes 40k miles with your ff carrier your ticket should cost more than $750-$800 to be worth it.

It would be crazy NOT to use the FF miles! Seriously, I believe most rational people would consider it as being wasteful or irresponsible if you passed on saving $1,500, even if it is your honeymoon. Very few would consider it as being &quot;cheap&quot; to use FF miles for your HM flight, but most would consider it being &quot;smart&quot; or &quot;frugal.&quot; Unless you or your fiancee is really rich, I'd hate to see the cost of your wedding!<BR><BR>Look, you'll be flying to your destination one way or another so what does it matter how you paid for it. Is a discount in flight really going to lower the romance? But having a couple extravagant dinners, expensive excursions, room upgrades, etc. that might be more attainable from the $1,500 you saved would certainly heighten the romance, don't ya think?<BR><BR>It's OK to splurge on your honeymoon, but spend the money where it will count the most. Be smart about it...don't be irresponsible.<BR><BR>I don't know how many FF miles you have but if I were in your shoes, I would use them to upgrade to first or business class...that would certainly get the honeymoon started in an upscale manner...instead of getting free coach tickets. Pay for coach tickets but use the FF miles to upgrade to first class. I think that would be the best way to cure your hesitation to use FF miles on a HM flight.<BR><BR>

It't not crazy, at all. We used miles two years ago to go on our honeymoon. We both had a ton of miles and cashed in 120,000 each for round-trip, first class tickets to Asia. The tickets would have been $9,000 had we not used miles.<BR><BR>As fftraveler suggested, figure that miles have a cash equivalent value of around 2 cents per mile. If you're using 50,000 miles for a flight that would cost a total of $1,500, your getting a value of about 3 cents for each mile you use. Sounds like a smart use of your miles, to me.<BR><BR>Good luck.

I agree with the above poster. Use the $1500 to purchase economy tickets and use the miles to upgrade. The upgrade is probably worth up to three times what the economy tickets cost. You don't want to start your long honeymoon trip cooped up in economy anyway. While you are at, spend the extra $1500 to extend your stay--you only have one first honeymoon. If you are traveling a long distance you will want to stay a while longer so do it!

Use the miles, I've been saving them for our trip to Hawaii in Aug. 60,000 each nonstop business/first from Newark (180,000 total) and I'm using starwood points for the hotels 116,000 for 17 nights. Even with not paying for hotel and air (maybe pay for inter island flights, I probably will use miles for that as well), it looks like I will still be spending around $6 thousand for the trip between car rental, meals and activities). Save your money for other things in Hawaii, use your miles.<BR>

I can't see what's wrong with it. We used our FF miles on our honeymoon. My husband had enough to get one round-trip business class ticket and then to upgrade the coach ticket we purchased to business class. It made for a very enjoyable trip to Spain for us -- well worth it!<BR><BR>Enjoy and congratulations on your upcoming marriage.

Thanks for all the great responses. It's only costing me 70,000 miles for two nonstop tickets from New York to Honolulu. The current cost for that flight for two is about $2200.<BR><BR>Thanks again.

Nonstop NY to Hawaii?<BR><BR>Cool. Get adjacent aisle seats, you'll have plenty of time to cuddle when you get there.<BR><BR>Have a ball!

As long as you have called Continental to confirm the flight and receive an itinerary there should be no problem.

You don't get interest on a mileage account and the companies change the rules all the time (AA is changing some of theirs next May), so if you've got them and a grand event is coming up, like it is for you, then go for it ! <BR>I used a bunch a few years ago upgrading a european trip - it was Delta &amp; I bought the cheapest upgradeable Y fare then boosted us to Business class with the miles. Worked like a champ.<BR>Have a great trip.<BR>

Congratulation! Use the FF miles. It shows that you think ahead and are smart about your honeymoon planning. 70,000 miles from NY to HNL is great! Splurge on yourselves after you get there with the money you saved on this very special trip. Seats to Hawaii using FF miles are limited. Happy planning.

Sounds like a plan. We cashed in 60,000 miles a piece for First/Business to Hawaii for this May. I would never pay that, but that's what miles are for. I have almost enough miles for Business Class to Europe on another airline for the 2 of us and I will not hesitate to use the miles. I can always find goods deals on domestic flights so I use my miles for things I wouldn't normally buy.<BR><BR>Make sure you book way ahead, because the seats get used up fast. We booked in June for the following May and still couldn't get the flights I wanted, had to go waitlist for an opening.<BR>Duane<BR>

What does the fact that it is your honeymoon have to do with usung FF points ? Would you be more or less inclined to use FF points if it wasn't your honewymoon?

Scott, I saw you plan to spend $6,000 in Hawaii with your hotel and air paid for by FFM and bonus points. You must have some grand plans for eating and sightseeing! Care to fill us in?

You made a good deal. If it was me, I would NOT buy tickets and use the miles to upgrade; especially if it entailed purchasing a more costly, &quot;upgradeable&quot; fare class. Others feel differently.

Tina,<BR><BR>Not so grand, this is the way I see it:<BR><BR>$2,500 Food (17 days 2 adults one child)<BR> 1,000 Rental Car<BR> 900 2 helicopter ride (kaui &amp; BI)<BR> 600 1 snorkel/scuba dive trip each on the 3 Islands<BR> 300 souveniers<BR> 500 some combo of fishing trip/ATV ride / submarine ride<BR> 500 misc (parking?, gas, tips laundry, etc)<BR> 600 interisland flights (may use miles instead)<BR><BR>For a round total between 6 and 7 thousand. It sure does add up fast, I didn't think it would be so much either. Any recomendations???

I've gotten good car rentals from biddingfortravel.com. People tell what they got on Priceline and give each other advice on the bid. I'm sure you can get a lower car rate for just 2 and a half weeks.<BR>Best wishes.

Think about it this way. The airlines make NO money on Hawaii flights. Why have them - they're full of frequent flier reward passengers - just like you.

Katie sorry to hear you're having such a terrible day.