Why CSP?

[Anonymous]

Does traveling abroad really represent how everyone uses MR? Lol, I get it is the most valuable way to use it.

I plan travel all the time, since I need to fly almost weekly for half a year, it's just I don't do that much business class travel, and MR doesn't seems to do much for me in my case. No more than 1.5cpp.

According to most valuable I seen, Mr worth is anywhere from 0.6 to 2cpp, with business class travel at the top, cash redemption at the bottom.

[redpat]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I view them as an elite lender. We didn’t necessarily decide on them based on what they can do for us now. More of a long term strategy for us. I totally can see why you say what you say. To each their own.

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Lol, elite lender.  BOA, Citi, US Bank, Amex I could go on and on they are all the same, just offer different products.

[wasCB14]

I've moved something like 250k MRs to BA during those 40% promos. I think 4.6 cents is still my best, but several of those redemptions have been over 3 cents per MR. These have mostly been for close-in economy domestic AA awards...nothing fancy, but a way to avoid sometimes high cash prices.

I can get about 2 cents on some short-haul Delta flights.

Amex can be a little volatile. Not so long ago, 250 MRs gave only 200 Avios. But it's good to be opportunistic!

I agree with redpat that you should do research specific to how you would be redeeming. Everyone is in a different situation.

[CreditCuriosity]

Honestly you need to do some homework about MR's and read up on various sites as it isn't just as cut and dry as a MR is worth X amt.. Yes you get the most value in business or first class etc., but as mentioned airlines like delta have flash sales etc that make those pesos very valuable, etc.  No one here can say a MR is worth say 4cpp it is all about how you use them and so many other factors as you got to do alot of the leg work and educate yourself if MR's are good or not for yourself.  Both UR's and MR's have their benefits and partners, etc.

[Anonymous]

I guess it is a different situation when you have different needs. I book upwards of 30 trips per year with lot of limitations on when and where I can go. I can't say, "ha, there is this flash sale, let me go there!" I pretty much has the schedule fixed.

Sure, I will give Virgin Atlantic a go, see how it works and if its better than going through delta directly.

[Anonymous]

Also, IMO cpp isn't quite the measure.  It's more cents per $ spent (on earning the points).   So as an example, if CSR earns 3UR on dining, but Amex Gold earns 4MR, even if the Amex cpp is 3/4 of the UR cpp, the net impact is equal (assuming the same transfer rate)

ETA: this is for comparing cards.   Obviously if you have a set of X points, and you are deciding whether to pay cash for a ticket, go through the portal,  or transfer, how much you spent to get those points is unimportant as you are where you are!

[redpat]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I guess it is a different situation when you have different needs. I book upwards of 30 trips per year with lot of limitations on when and where I can go. I can't say, "ha, there is this flash sale, let me go there!" I pretty much has the schedule fixed.

Sure, I will give Virgin Atlantic a go, see how it works and if its better than going through delta directly.

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That doesn’t sound like fun and relaxing travel.  It sounds like business/work travel.

[Anonymous]

It’s okay. To each their own “RedPat” lol 😂

[redpat]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Also, IMO cpp isn't quite the measure.  It's more cents per $ spent (on earning the points).   So as an example, if CSR earns 3UR on dining, but Amex Gold earns 4MR, even if the Amex cpp is 3/4 of the UR cpp, the net impact is equal (assuming the same transfer rate)

ETA: this is for comparing cards.   Obviously if you have a set of X points, and you are deciding whether to pay cash for a ticket, go through the portal,  or transfer, how much you spent to get those points is unimportant as you are where you are!

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LTL, you hit the nail on the head.  MR offers when you can get 10x - 30x per $ plays a lot to what you are saying.

[Shadowfactor]

There’s so many different factors that play into the value of credit card points. The big ones have already been mentioned but it comes down to personal redemption patterns and where you want to travel too.

I have been looking at tons of different options for award bookings recently and all the different destinations are better served with MR.

The best thing I can tell you is to Go to awardhacker.com and get a feel for the different programs available and routes. Then once you do that to get an idea of the amount of points needed. Join the different FF programs and do some test bookings. This is honestly the best way to learn but it’s very time consuming at first.

Delta’s point value doesn’t always shine, but when they do have flash sales some of the values can be lucrative. They recently had a 98K RT in delta one to Europe. That was a significant point value.

I’m looking at booking my honeymoon airfare with point and based on the trial bookings and previous values of the flights. I will end up getting 6 CPP from MR. I haven’t been able to book as it’s more then a year out currently.