NWA Cash & Miles

[Sa-teef 44]

If you have some Sky Miles and don't know what to do with them:

 

It will cost you 20,000 miles and some cash but hopefully this might save you some dosh for that fall trip to LOS..

 

Fall Cash & Miles wit NWA

 

From $708 to $828 + taxes and 20k miles.

 

 

~Sa-teef

[rb 20]

travel must be completed by 18 DEC '08

[Sa-teef 44]

travel must be completed by 18 DEC '08

 

Well, it does say Fall Sale..........

They always seem to have inconvenient restrictions.

 

" * Advance purchase of 14 days is required.

* Tickets must be purchased no later than

October 12, 2008.

* Outbound travel is permitted between September 3 and December 13, 2008. All travel must be completed by December 18, 2008.

* Travel must begin and end in the U.S. 48.

* Offer is valid for up to four passengers per reservation."

 

 

~Sa-teef

[Zeus 56]

There is really an easy way to make this decision on the value of this offer. Miles are worth $0.01 - $0.02 (lets say $0.015 average). Cash and miles is essentially an Award ticket where you are paying the airline to use a lower amount of miles (Asia economy is usually 60K miles vs 20K mile + approx $750)

 

So the cost of the flight is

Base fare (say $750 LAX-BKK return for the Cash and miles - used from the OP and is a guess)

+Tax/fees ($50 - NW ususlly incorporates most surcharges in the fare, unlike many)

+cost of miles used (20000 * $0.015 = $300)

+ cost of miles not earned (16,000 miles * $0.015 = $240 ). NW does not allow you to earn miles on these flights.

Total cost fo the flight= $750 + $50 + $300 + $240 = $1340

 

This seems to be in line with what most airlines are charging for discount economy. If you could find a standard flight in the $1000-$1100 range, I would consider paying this fare instead of going with the Cash and Miles deal.

 

The other point of view is that miles are getting harder and harder to use. So if you have them, it is best to use them now to take advantage of their worth before high fuel prices devalue the miles you have, when airlines raise award levels and apply fuel surcharges ( which have already begun).

 

I have always been a NW FF member and thought that the "Cash and Miles" was always a very bad deal. I still do. But I am of the opinion that if you have miles and can use them - you should! I would just look at methods other than the cash and miles to do so.

 

That said, your opinion may vary. If this is your choice - go for it. IF you can find an available flight.

 

Zeus

Edited August 30, 2008 by Zeus