US vs AA vs Lifemiles from AU

[dk4]

I did a quick comparison for First Class (rtn) redemptions, between the three major programs, to try and figure out which one was the best value.

If anyone cares to check my calculations below, just let me know if you can see any errors, so it can be corrected.


[TABLE="width: 583"]
[TR]
[TD]Avianca
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$/m
[/TD]
[TD]USA
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA STH
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA NTH
[/TD]
[TD]AFRICA
[/TD]
[TD]EU
[/TD]
[TD]NZ (J)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]miles
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]160000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]130000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]200000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]200000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]50000
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]

0.015​

[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,400.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,800.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,950.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,000.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,000.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 750.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]*Mixed
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.01365
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,184.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,638.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,774.50
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,730.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,730.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 682.50
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]USAirways
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$/m
[/TD]
[TD]USA
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA STH
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA NTH
[/TD]
[TD]AFRICA
[/TD]
[TD]EU
[/TD]
[TD]NZ (J)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]miles
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD="align: right"]140000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]160000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]150000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]30000
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]

0.01882 ​

[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,634.80
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,258.40
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,258.40
[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,011.20
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,823.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 564.60
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]*Share
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.01135
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,589.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,362.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,362.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,816.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,702.50
[/TD]
[TD] $ 340.50
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]*Mixed
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD] $ 2,261.30
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,884.90
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,884.90
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,637.70
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,449.50
[/TD]
[TD] $ 340.50
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]AA
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]$/m
[/TD]
[TD]USA
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA STH
[/TD]
[TD]ASIA NTH
[/TD]
[TD]AFRICA
[/TD]
[TD]EU
[/TD]
[TD]NZ (J)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]miles
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]145000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]90000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]120000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]150000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]160000
[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]35000
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]

0.02 ​

[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,900.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 1,800.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 2,400.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,000.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 3,200.00
[/TD]
[TD] $ 700.00
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

For Avianca/Lifemiles, the *mixed rate refers to redeeming with 40% miles and 60% cash (for miles) at the time of redemption.

For US Airways, the *mixed rate is for people with 50,000 miles in their account, valued at the *share miles promo rate, with the remain miles at the current promo rate.

Otherwise all purchase rates for miles, are at current promotional levels. (The ticket's taxes, fees and charges are not included in the final dollar value.)


All fares are in USD, for a single passenger, First Class return from Australia to the destination (excluding ticketing taxes, fees & charges), except NZ, which is Business Class return - the best value for a destination in purple.

 

[smit0847]

I don't wish to boast, however....

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ca-life-miles-new-ff-40866-44.html#post709318

 

[dk4]

sorry, didnt realise it had already been done

 

[futaris]

It'd be nice if there were comparisons between AA and Lifemiles for oneway / RTW type trips...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/star-alliance/559447-first-class-routes-thread.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/oneworld/812970-ow-first-class-routes-thread.html

And what is availability in First Class like in Star Alliance versus Oneworld?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Had no idea share miles was such good value for NZ.

Makes me feel a little foolish for not opening a USDM account.

 

[yohy?!]

Had no idea share miles was such good value for NZ.

Makes me feel a little foolish for not opening a USDM account.

Don't feel too bad availability is tough to find on NZ TT - not to mention ending up in Space+ on a 320...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Don't feel too bad availability is tough to find on NZ TT - not to mention ending up in Space+ on a 320...

From Perth not such a big problem with 777 equipment to Auckland.

Although the idea of missing out on a JetConnect flight fills me with regret! I like the transits in MEL/SYD.

 

[Mwenenzi]

The other test, other than buying miles, is how many flights you need to do on the same route to earn enough miles to get the award
You cannot burn until until you earn (or pay $$$)

As we all know copay $$ fees (for a range of items) can be significant with some FFP - awards

 

[drron]

The other test, other than buying miles, is how many flights you need to do on the same route to earn enough miles to get the award
You cannot burn until until you earn (or pay $$$)

As we all know copay $$ fees (for a range of items) can be significant with some FFP - awards

Or other cheaper ways of getting miles.
My current favourite with SPG is the 500 points per night for doing without room servicing.100 nights = 50000SPG points = 62500 AA miles if transferred in 20000 lots.
Aaward NRT-ORD =62500 points and for next year this cost me $US2.60 in taxes.That is a one way F award Asia-USA for $2.60 total.Sure beats buying points.

 

[smit0847]

Don't feel too bad availability is tough to find on NZ TT - not to mention ending up in Space+ on a 320...

MEL-AKL through LM only brings up the results of the daily 777 service as far as I know - okay its only 1 service a day as NZ have removed J from their A320s TT (I have no idea why) but the 777 is an excellent product.

 

[smit0847]

Had no idea share miles was such good value for NZ.

Makes me feel a little foolish for not opening a USDM account.

The share promo has only been done once in the history of USDM (as far as I know) and I certainly wouldnt expect it more than once a year. It also only worked if you just happened to have 50K miles just sitting in your account and were looking to buy more. I think that excluded the majority of people who use USDM here (I try not to keep miles in my account too long as the program could change at any time).

I don't think the share prices above are a fair indication of the costs of this program.

 

[smit0847]

Or other cheaper ways of getting miles.
My current favourite with SPG is the 500 points per night for doing without room servicing.100 nights = 50000SPG points = 62500 AA miles if transferred in 20000 lots.
Aaward NRT-ORD =62500 points and for next year this cost me $US2.60 in taxes.That is a one way F award Asia-USA for $2.60 total.Sure beats buying points.

Any suggestions for those of us who dont live in a hotel?

 

[smit0847]

The other test, other than buying miles, is how many flights you need to do on the same route to earn enough miles to get the award
You cannot burn until until you earn (or pay $$$)

As we all know copay $$ fees (for a range of items) can be significant with some FFP - awards

The vast majority of people on AFF use USDM for J and F trips Australia to Europe because (like me) they either can't afford to fly J and F or would never spend that much on a plane ticket. Being organised and knowledgeable with the bonus buy promos etc, depending on the route means most users can fly J for around 25-30% more than Y and F for around 50% more than Y, as oppose to buying a J rev ticket for 200 - 250% more than Y or an F ticket for 500% more than a Y ticket.

I have absolutely no interest in flying a route in Y 5+ times in order to then be able to fly it J on points (once) when I can just fly J every time by paying a bit more to buy all the points.

I did not understand your last sentence anyway.

/rant

 

[dk4]

I don't think the share prices above are a fair indication of the costs of this program.

I, conversely, think that the US "share" price is an extremely important consideration, which is why I included it.

1./ In the last six months, US has basically set the sale price for its miles at 1.882 cents per mile, as they have now run the double "buy" offer monthly (with no yearly limit) continuously for the last half of this year (obviously a 50K = 100K per month limit, and some months were targeted participation only offers).

I certainly wouldnt expect it more than once a year...

2./ AA & Avianca run a very limited promo period for their buy "value offers" each year, which I think is frankly commensurate with the limited way US ran its share promo. (Rather than they "every month" way US runs its buy promo.)

3./ I think that US is highly likely to anniversary its share promo, if not run it again prior to the anniversary (as they have saturated the market at 1.882 cents per mile in the last half of this year, so they will quite likely need the share offer again next year IF they set their sales targets high.) So as you point out, for ease, some punters might want to be prepared/gamble with at least 50,000 miles in one account before they start to use it "next time it runs"/should it run again (unless they are prepared to use a more complex algorithm to build miles up over the month using multiple accounts and purchases.)

 

[mhen]

I think that another 100% share US miles promo may be unlikely for a while. Of course I would love to be wrong on this as its the cheapest way of paying for miles!

As far as I can see the 100% share US miles promo before the one in Oct 2012 was May 2010.

Over the past few years my experience has been that the untargetted 100% US buy promos have been 6+ per year, the 100% AV buy promos have been 2-3 times per year and the 100% US share promos have been 1 per two or more years.