AA Miles Purchase Promo: 350,000 miles for $6K. Good Value?
#31
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,754
The following example is for illustrative purposes only (i.e. I am NOT encouraging you to do this).
If you had 60k miles in your account now or could get to the level within ~6 days, you could lock in BOS-NRT on 9/5/2024.
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/1203x404/bostyo_0835774d3bff3622ca5d7fc53b961bb8f34fbaa5.png)
And, buying the 24k you're missing to bridge the gap would cost $677.25 @~2.8 cpm.
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/1296x315/buy_24k_ce25f3f4e5bf7012159bea190df5429e895adad9.png)
If you had 60k miles in your account now or could get to the level within ~6 days, you could lock in BOS-NRT on 9/5/2024.
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/1203x404/bostyo_0835774d3bff3622ca5d7fc53b961bb8f34fbaa5.png)
And, buying the 24k you're missing to bridge the gap would cost $677.25 @~2.8 cpm.
![](https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.flyertalk.com-vbulletin/1296x315/buy_24k_ce25f3f4e5bf7012159bea190df5429e895adad9.png)
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA ExPlat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 17,629
It's also worth highlighting
that 1.7 cpm isn't an especially enticing sale price. And, even if we see sale prices of 1.2 or 1.3, that probably doesn't justify extending credit to AA. But, 5-10k top offs when immediate opportunities present themselves often pencil nicely even at full price (~3.4).
that 1.7 cpm isn't an especially enticing sale price. And, even if we see sale prices of 1.2 or 1.3, that probably doesn't justify extending credit to AA. But, 5-10k top offs when immediate opportunities present themselves often pencil nicely even at full price (~3.4).
I have never bought miles speculatively, only to top off some account when making an actual purchase or to keep miles/points alive. Minimal expense in those case. But I am somewhat tempted at the moment to buy some AA miles without having an actual award in mind. Two weeks ago I was sitting on nearly 400k miles. And then I came across QR J availability to some beautiful Indian Ocean island - and 300k of my AA miles went into two J round trips. So now I am down to 90k miles… which is not enough to book much if some great deal comes up. I do still have a ton of BA miles and some AS miles, but for the QR seats those would awards would have been a lot more expensive. So I guess what I am weighing is the risk of a near term devaluation vs. not being able to buy more miles with a good bonus when (if!) I need them.
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: NYC/DC
Programs: AA,SPG, Delta, Amtrak, JB
Posts: 978
#35
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 35,707
I apologize in advance for the probably very silly question - but will ask anyway....
Does anybody know if these AA miles purchases qualify as valid AA spend for 2X and 4X mileage Bonuses that apply when you use a the Citibank AA Mastercard credit cards....?
If this is the case, then the all-inclusive cost per mile does go down a little further than the 1.7 - 1.8 cents per mile Im seeing posted here.
Does anybody know if these AA miles purchases qualify as valid AA spend for 2X and 4X mileage Bonuses that apply when you use a the Citibank AA Mastercard credit cards....?
If this is the case, then the all-inclusive cost per mile does go down a little further than the 1.7 - 1.8 cents per mile Im seeing posted here.
#36
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 5,300
I apologize in advance for the probably very silly question - but will ask anyway....
Does anybody know if these AA miles purchases qualify as valid AA spend for 2X and 4X mileage Bonuses that apply when you use a the Citibank AA Mastercard credit cards....?
If this is the case, then the all-inclusive cost per mile does go down a little further than the 1.7 - 1.8 cents per mile Im seeing posted here.
Does anybody know if these AA miles purchases qualify as valid AA spend for 2X and 4X mileage Bonuses that apply when you use a the Citibank AA Mastercard credit cards....?
If this is the case, then the all-inclusive cost per mile does go down a little further than the 1.7 - 1.8 cents per mile Im seeing posted here.
#37
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum, BA Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 91
I was planning on taking advantage of this offer as I often seem to be able to redeem miles at a much better rate than the 1.7 cents or so they are selling for here. For example, Sydney to JFK on March 15 is $7220 in J, $12158 in F (for flights AA 72 and 4) and the mileage cost would be 276K and 286K, each with a copay of $83.30, equating to 2.6 cents per mile and 4.3 cents per mile respectively. And in the past I have been able to redeem at better than a 10 cents per mile equivalent, again between SYD and New York. Does this seem reasonable or am I missing something here?
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,754
I was planning on taking advantage of this offer as I often seem to be able to redeem miles at a much better rate than the 1.7 cents or so they are selling for here. For example, Sydney to JFK on March 15 is $7220 in J, $12158 in F (for flights AA 72 and 4) and the mileage cost would be 276K and 286K, each with a copay of $83.30, equating to 2.6 cents per mile and 4.3 cents per mile respectively. And in the past I have been able to redeem at better than a 10 cents per mile equivalent, again between SYD and New York. Does this seem reasonable or am I missing something here?
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,906
I was planning on taking advantage of this offer as I often seem to be able to redeem miles at a much better rate than the 1.7 cents or so they are selling for here. For example, Sydney to JFK on March 15 is $7220 in J, $12158 in F (for flights AA 72 and 4) and the mileage cost would be 276K and 286K, each with a copay of $83.30, equating to 2.6 cents per mile and 4.3 cents per mile respectively. And in the past I have been able to redeem at better than a 10 cents per mile equivalent, again between SYD and New York. Does this seem reasonable or am I missing something here?
2-3c redemptions are commonplace on AA metal (including domestic) and much higher is possible on partner awards.
If you are regularly redeeming miles I think it makes sense to buy some at a good price if you are getting low. I mentioned it earlier in the thread but I would not buy any if you have more than a 1 year supply.
When calculating redemption values I would not use international 1 way fares since they are overpriced compared to RTs. Unless you really really need a one way it doesn't make sense; you would book a RT when paying cash.
Also don't forget to add in the miles that you are not earning by buying the ticket. So say a ticket is $5k before taxes and you are EXP, that would earn 55k miles. So you need to add 55k to the cost of the award ticket. And of course there are the 55k LP as well, which may be important depending where you are in terms of status qual.
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 43,259
F for only 10k additional miles, on the other hand, does ostensibly yield a much better return. But, for me, the $7k-12k cash value is a somewhat meaningless number because I couldn't fathom actually spending that much money on AA F.
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA ExPlat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 17,629
So now I am down to 90k miles… which is not enough to book much if some great deal comes up. I do still have a ton of BA miles and some AS miles, but for the QR seats those would awards would have been a lot more expensive. So I guess what I am weighing is the risk of a near term devaluation vs. not being able to buy more miles with a good bonus when (if!) I need them.
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,906
I thought about it some more, and decide to instead apply for the Aviator Red card, to earn 75k miles for $99. Combined with my current account balance of 90k miles that gives me a reasonable buffer (160k miles plus whatever I earn on an ongoing basis) when/if a special deal materializes. Instead of buying miles speculatively, I also need to work on using our BA and AS stockpiles, even if using them may not result it an optimal award cost.
And, so, AA stands alone as the only domestic carrier with a good partner award chart. I'm not usually overly paranoid about devaluations, but I'm definitely booking future partner travel more aggressively than usual.
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 43,259
I assume that you heard about the massive incoming AS devaluation? If not there is info on the blogs and a thread if the AS forum. The TL;DR version is book before March (travel any time) before they go to a distance-based chart that basically has no real value anywhere. It is definitely optimal to burn them now.
And, so, AA stands alone as the only domestic carrier with a good partner award chart. I'm not usually overly paranoid about devaluations, but I'm definitely booking future partner travel more aggressively than usual.
And, so, AA stands alone as the only domestic carrier with a good partner award chart. I'm not usually overly paranoid about devaluations, but I'm definitely booking future partner travel more aggressively than usual.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,906
Now do the comparison for JL F in the sub-10k band. We all want to try the new product out of JFK right? 110k vs 80k?
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 43,259
Now do the comparison for JL F in the sub-10k band. We all want to try the new product out of JFK right? 110k vs 80k?