Airline miles SUCK Arrival, CSP and Venture much better.

[IWOL]

I have earned alot of points on United and Delta and after searching for alot of different upgrade and award tickets, Im strating to feel like I should dump the airline cards and put all my spend on my Arrival, CSP and Venture.

There are never any upgrade awards available, even many months out and its very hard to find availability on first class or business award tickets.

What do the airlines do, allow 1 upgrade ticket per flight? Its just rediculous.

United wants $12K for a first class flight from LA to Hong Kong but I  cant get any award or upgrade tickets with my 220K United Miles but I can buy a full fare First class ticket on EVA air LA to HK for $3846 and use my 260K Barclay miles to cover atleast $2900 of that without worrying about this award availability nonsense.

Are the award tickets on the major airline reserved for people who have Elite status on those airlines?

These airline miles are starting to seem useless to me except for domestic economy travel which I dont do often.

[B335is]

I've actually been using a lot of my miles on partner tickets;  American miles on Qantas/Cathay Pacific go a very long way, United miles on Lufthansa/Singapore.  But with the constant uncertainty lingering about devaluations, it's completely understandable to ditch the airline cards and just go with Arrival or Venture.

[IWOL]

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@B335is wrote:

I've actually been using a lot of my miles on partner tickets;  American miles on Qantas/Cathay Pacific go a very long way, United miles on Lufthansa/Singapore.  But with the constant uncertainty lingering about devaluations, it's completely understandable to ditch the airline cards and just go with Arrival or Venture.

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Its not so much the value of the miles but the availability of upgrades and award tickets.

Ive searched on United and it partners for a ticket to HK up through Spetmebr next year and there are no upgrades available and the few award tickets available are on multi flights with mixed cabin, meaning 1 flight economy and one business/first.

[B335is]

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@IWOL wrote:

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@B335is wrote:

I've actually been using a lot of my miles on partner tickets;  American miles on Qantas/Cathay Pacific go a very long way, United miles on Lufthansa/Singapore.  But with the constant uncertainty lingering about devaluations, it's completely understandable to ditch the airline cards and just go with Arrival or Venture.

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Its not so much the value of the miles but the availability of upgrades and award tickets.

Ive searched on United and it partners for a ticket to HK up through Spetmebr next year and there are no upgrades available and the few award tickets available are on multi flights with mixed cabin, meaning 1 flight economy and one business/first.

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Oh so true, they all seem to only offer mixed cabin options it's incredibly annoying.  I also agree about the upgrade options too, I'm flying to Brisbane later this month, seat 52K due to no upgrades available.  At 6'1 194lbs this will be fun

[mongstradamus]

Get one of those bulk head seats or ones near emergency exits. It made my trip to Thailand not as bad.  I am six foot two so I know your pain. Riding from Bangkok to chiang mai where my knees were hitting seat in front of me without seat being reclined. 

[IWOL]

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@B335is wrote:

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@IWOL wrote:

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@B335is wrote:

I've actually been using a lot of my miles on partner tickets;  American miles on Qantas/Cathay Pacific go a very long way, United miles on Lufthansa/Singapore.  But with the constant uncertainty lingering about devaluations, it's completely understandable to ditch the airline cards and just go with Arrival or Venture.

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Its not so much the value of the miles but the availability of upgrades and award tickets.

Ive searched on United and it partners for a ticket to HK up through Spetmebr next year and there are no upgrades available and the few award tickets available are on multi flights with mixed cabin, meaning 1 flight economy and one business/first.

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Oh so true, they all seem to only offer mixed cabin options it's incredibly annoying.  I also agree about the upgrade options too, I'm flying to Brisbane later this month, seat 52K due to no upgrades available.  At 6'1 194lbs this will be fun

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These long flights in economy are the worst. 1st world problems I guess.  Who the hell pays $13K for a commerical flight ticket, NOBODY, especially not the ultra wealthy.

The valuations some airlines asign to their intercontinental first class tickets is a joke. I think that really distorts the "valuation" of airline miles. Some people think theyre getting $0.06 per mile becuase they got a first class ticket to Sydney for 200K miles that retails for 14K.

Another reason the travel redemption cards are more usefull....you can find the lowest retail priced fair to use your poinst for, negating the rediculous retail prices on soem airlines.

[rlx01]

There's a way to get to Sydney with decent redemption rates for business - about 5cpp. Good use of MR.

It's best not to broadcast it though.

[rlx01]

That said, I'm finding the Arrival+ extremely lucrative for my specific spend. 2.2% adds up fast.

[Anonymous]

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@rlx01 wrote:
That said, I'm finding the Arrival+ extremely lucrative for my specific spend. 2.2% adds up fast.

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Right, but for those spending less than about $40K a year, Fidelity Amex or Citi Double Cash is going to be better (if you don't have another no FTF card and don't need WEMC benefits that is!)

[mongstradamus]

I don't think finding best value for CPP  is the probelm , but actually finding available seating with award ticketing is the problem.