posted 02-07-2003 08:02               

First we decided we wanted to online book the Paris Marriott on Champs Elysees for the first week of November this year...and got it, much to our surprise as it's supposed to be so hard to get on points! Then we looked at London and got County Hall Marriott the week before...simple again and online. Then phoned UA to use points for business class air and they routed us non-stop to London for a stopover, continued us to Paris for the next week, then back to London & non-stop home. Was very impressed with the professionalism of the UA person...even though they were booking us on a 'partner' airline Air Canada.

Calculating the Travelocity air rates for business class, the two seats amounted to $8,002 US$ in value, the Paris Marriott at $4,074 US$ value, and the County Hall at $2,415 US$ value. A total of $14,491...and it just feels like it's free. Can you imagine forking out that kind of cash for a personal 2 week trip? Seems like a fair exchange for buying a $20k timeshare...and I still had points left over.

Luv them points!

Brian

posted 02-07-2003 08:37               

Two weeks at Category 7 hotels. Two business class tickets. Either an 089 award plus an 090 award; or an 088 plus an 091 award. In either case, a cost of 470,000 points for a vacation value of (based on your numbers) $14,491. That's a value per point of just over three cents a point.

Not bad, Brian! And with 10K of Mileage Plus FF miles left over!

I know the critics might suggest you could have purchased coach seats, upgraded using points and had a significantly lower overall value per point, but I'm with you. The value is equal to what it is perceived to be by the user.

posted 02-08-2003 02:18               

* Using the 120K miles to upgrade coach to 1st class for family of 4 to Maui(in my mind a $10,000 value).

* Selling the cat hotel cert that comes with 091 for $1500. Using the $1500 to rent 5 nights at Maui Marriott, to get all the reward points (15K or so)

* splitting my 2 BDRM unit at the Maui Marriott and selling the LO for $1200, leaving me with the 1 BDRM section to use for free.

So my total cost for taking my family 1st class to Maui and staying 12 days at Maui Marriott in an oceanview 1 bdrm condo is;
4 coach RT air for 4 - $4000
spending money - $1500

I'm spending $5500, but the value is easily $15K +.

posted 02-08-2003 06:22            

Don't you realize the continuing damage you are causing to the economy by not paying in cash the full value of these trips! (LOL!)

posted 02-08-2003 16:36               

Enjoy.

Bev

posted 02-08-2003 20:01               

Brian

posted 02-09-2003 22:27               

Bob

posted 02-10-2003 07:20               

quote:

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Using the 120K miles to upgrade coach to 1st class for family of 4 to Maui(in my mind a $10,000 value).

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Would you have paid an extra $2500 a piece for the upgrades if you didn't have the points? Because that's the only way I think you can call it a $10,000 value.

When judging the value of points, I like to figure out what I would have paid for the service if the points weren't there. Next year I'll stay at the Vail Marriott in January for a week with 130,000 points. They charge almost $3400 for that week including tax. In reality, I would never pay that much. I might, however, go as high as $300/nt. So to me, I'm getting a $2100 value out of the deal. Plus, of course, another 120,000 FFM for my 250,000 point package.

posted 02-10-2003 07:54               

You make a valid point in asking whether we would be willing to spend the money instead of using points - for purposes of valuing a points package.

On the other hand you point out that you aren't willing to part with as much money as it would take to pay $$$ for your Vail week. That appears to mean that the value of the points to you is somewhat higher than what you would be willing to pay in cash. That's definitely true for me. For some of us, it makes such a trip priceless!

Still, it's all too easy to use those points that "didn't cost anything" for such a great vacation. Make no mistake. There is a significant cost to some of those points. Significantly higher cost for purchasing from Marriott. The lost value of a week exchanged for points.

posted 02-10-2003 21:05               

Brian

posted 02-11-2003 06:56               

quote:

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If you get a NYC to LA flight for $300 seat sale, you probably can upgrade to business class for just 15,000 FF points.

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What airline lets you upgrade for 15,000 FFM? United requires 20,000, and I've had very little trouble getting upgrades. Probably because 90% of those in first class on United flights are their employees anyway.

Delta, OTOH, makes upgrading almost impossible, which I don't really undrstand.

I try to use my FFM for upgrades as much as possible, as I think it's the most efficient use of the points. My cutoff is about 3 hours. Less than that I figure I can handle steerage. More than that I need some breathing room.

The other option, one I've never tried, is to buy two coach seats. They usually will give you a 25% discount on the second seat, so that $300 flight will cost you $525 for two seats, which gives you more seat width than first class.

posted 02-11-2003 20:42               

quote:

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Originally posted by alchook:
What airline lets you upgrade for 15,000 FFM? United requires 20,000

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A domestic 'saver' award on United is 25,000 FF miles, but a business class seat is 15,000 FF miles more, or 40,000 total.

Hawaii economy takes 35,000 FF miles, or 25,000 more for business class, or a total of 60,000.

Europe economy takes 50,000 FF miles...add 30,000 more and you've got a business class seat.
United Saver Award Chart

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Those who dream most, do most.

Edited link to stop window from widening. M.K.

posted 02-12-2003 05:52               

I don't think you answered the question. Your original statement indicated that if you paid $300 for a NYC-LAX trip, you could probably upgrade that trip for 15,000 FF miles. How do you do that?

posted 02-12-2003 08:08            

quote:

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Originally posted by Marina_K:
Guess I'm the only one keeping the economy going ...

5 open jaw tickets to Europe - Cash

Car lease - Cash

Timeshare in Rome, Mougins, Randan & Paris - Cash

Farm stay in Tuscany - Cash

Maybe hotel in Sorrento, Caen & Venice - Points

From all these posts, it looks like spending money is a dying art

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Marina,

That sounds like a wonderful itinerary! I am a bit jealous. How come you are paying cash (aside from exchange fees) for those European timeshares? You didn't get your desired exchanges?

posted 02-12-2003 10:05               

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LisaH

posted 02-12-2003 12:12            

quote:

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Originally posted by cnyberg:
You VooDoo point theorists, trying to sway the masses that there could possibly be tangible benefit to the Marriott point program.

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posted 02-12-2003 12:21               

quote:

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Originally posted by Hoc:
It sure makes me feel guilty, realizing that I'm spending roughly $400 on a trip that the points folks state is worth $4,000. I must be singlehandedly causing this lousy economy.

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posted 02-12-2003 12:48            

quote:

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Originally posted by wilma:
Please elaborate on your $400 trip and how points people say it's worth $4000.

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Two round trip tickets from LAX-HNL @$200 ea.

Points people say they are worth $1,000 ea., and Travelocity lists fares at $1,076 ea.

1 week staying with my family in 10-br. home in Aiea: free.
Marriott Ko'Olina, about 9 miles away, was listed as a getaway that week for $299, but points people say it is worth $250/nt., i.e., $1,750 for the week.

My cost: $400

Points value: $3,750-$3,902.

Annual maintenance fees for enough points for this trip: $2,000

Total value of trip=$5,750-$5,902.

posted 02-17-2003 21:40            

quote:

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Originally posted by janey:
How did you manage to get tickets to Honolulu for $200 each?

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