Only Premium & Super Premium Cards Discussion

[hs23]

Please share your best redemption on airline miles and hotels. I will then update the OP with all best ones - this will serve as reference point for finding best deals and data can lead to new tricks and insights for redemptions.

Suggested format:
1) Card used
2) Airline / Hotel Partner
3) Redemption details including points used and taxes paid.
4) Month of booking and redemption - to get an idea about best time to redeem and dates to book for.


Top redemptions:

#1
Card - Atlas / Magnus / DCB / Infinia
Airline / Hotel Partner - Accor
Redemption: 2000 points for 40EUR, 1:1.8, best value in IBIS
Month of booking: Anytime, anywhere in the world

#2 @Harry1
Card - Atlas / Magnus / DCB / Infinia
Airline / Hotel Partner - Turkish
Redemption:
For India to Europe Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 3.3K. Cash price is 30-40K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

For Europe to India Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 10K. Cash price is 40-50K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

Only issue is its difficulty to find and book flight.

#3 @Harry1
Card - Atlas / Magnus
Airline / Hotel Partner - ITC
Redemption: ITC 1:1 for ITH voucher use for domestic and low cost asian airlines.


-------
Bonus
Card - Amex
Airline / Hotel Partner - Marriot Bonvoy / United
Redemption:
1) Transfer Amex to MB. 1:3
2) Transfer Marriott Bonvoy to United in batch of 60000 to get 10k bonus for 3:1.5 ratio. Amex to United 1:0.65
Month of booking: Wait for 30% bonus transfer offer in Oct / Nov


Ref.
1. https://www.technofino.in/community...in-india-2022-and-its-transfer-partners.4943/
2. https://www.technofino.in/community...cards-in-india-and-its-transfer-partners.601/
3. https://frequentmiler.com/turkish-miles-smiles-complete-guide/
4. https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/finding-booking-award-flights-beginners-guide.527/

 

[rockking1994]

+ 1 😅

 

[D7162]

Let me share, I am still collecting miles and point as my family have 5 member and need good amount of points to travel in business 🤣 but I helped one cousin to book business class ticket

Travel date 1 feb
From BOM to YVR
Flight Egypt air + Turkish
Booked from : United
Miles used - 88k + 3400 taxes (paid by atlas)
Revenue rate - No idea because I didnt found same flight available, but other flight on same day has minimum 2.1 Lakh rate (as shown on Yatra)
Other option - Economy was available at around 45K miles + 3400taxes where revenue rate for same flight was around 75-76k

Hope this helps

 

[hs23]

Let me share, I am still collecting miles and point as my family have 5 member and need good amount of points to travel in business 🤣 but I helped one cousin to book business class ticket

Travel date 1 feb
From BOM to YVR
Flight Egypt air + Turkish
Booked from : United
Miles used - 88k + 3400 taxes (paid by atlas)
Revenue rate - No idea because I didnt found same flight available, but other flight on same day has minimum 2.1 Lakh rate (as shown on Yatra)
Other option - Economy was available at around 45K miles + 3400taxes where revenue rate for same flight was around 75-76k

Hope this helps

Very good.

+ 3

 

[drsel]

Let me share, I am still collecting miles and point as my family have 5 member and need good amount of points to travel in business 🤣 but I helped one cousin to book business class ticket

Travel date 1 feb
From BOM to YVR
Flight Egypt air + Turkish
Booked from : United
Miles used - 88k + 3400 taxes (paid by atlas)
Revenue rate - No idea because I didnt found same flight available, but other flight on same day has minimum 2.1 Lakh rate (as shown on Yatra)
Other option - Economy was available at around 45K miles + 3400taxes where revenue rate for same flight was around 75-76k

Hope this helps

Is economy Rs.75000 or 45000 miles + 3400 taxes for one way.
what would be the return fare?

 

[Deleted member 11974]

Booked a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class ticket this september
BOM-LHR
37500 miles and 36k in taxes
specifically this was required for excess baggage allowance
got close to 100 kgs with student offer via Virgin Atlantic
revenue was around 1.67Lakh
dont remember if i had checked around the same time

 

[MangoRush]

Watching . . .

 

[D7162]

Booked a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class ticket this september
BOM-LHR
37500 miles and 36k in taxes
specifically this was required for excess baggage allowance
got close to 100 kgs with student offer via Virgin Atlantic
revenue was around 1.67Lakh
dont remember if i had checked around the same time

Have you booked recently when they had 33% discount ?? And how you manage student offer + award booking ? I mean, once i enquired in Vistara, they said student offer of additional baggage cant be used in award flight

 

[D7162]

Is economy Rs.75000 or 45000 miles + 3400 taxes for one way.
what would be the return fare?

Return should be almost similar, i didnt checked as he is student and going for study, if you have specific dates in mind, can check directly on united website

 

[saucy]

Amex to Bonvoy

Often (especially in Mumbai) these hotels end up being cheaper than the regular options

Eg - Powai Westin - regular price 10k+, costed me around 5k when paid in points.
Regular hotels costed 3-4k+

 

[drsel]

2* and 3* Hotels in India with 35% discount from Cleartrip workout to hardly 3000 or less

 

[hs23]

2* and 3* Hotels in India with 35% discount from Cleartrip workout to hardly 3000 or less

Kotak 35% on cleartrip is not available now. Any other offer?

 

[drsel]

Kotak 35% on cleartrip is not available now. Any other offer?

Kotak Bank, AU bank, Federal Bank and other offers keep coming and going on Cleartrip MakeMyTrip etc
just look out for them

 

[Deleted member 11974]

Have you booked recently when they had 33% discount ?? And how you manage student offer + award booking ? I mean, once i enquired in Vistara, they said student offer of additional baggage cant be used in award flight

no
i didnt book in black friday discount
and student offer was there via virgin atlantic itself

 

[purush]

Generally all my axis points card converted as IBIS stays and now i am in Gold tier. thats my part.

 

[hs23]

Generally all my axis points card converted as IBIS stays and now i am in Gold tier. thats my part.

Truly the best and simplest redemption of all.

 

[Harry1]

Best value you get in Turkish.

For India to Europe Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 3.3K. Cash price is 30-40K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

For Europe to India Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 10K. Cash price is 40-50K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

Only issue is its difficulty to find and book flight.

Turkish Miles & Smiles - Turkish Miles & Smiles shows no Star Alliance availability?

Hello all, I am new to the credit card and points game and I have been looking to book the Toronto-Chennai-Toronto route (either as two one-way flights or a round-trip) for sometime in 2024. I searched Singapore Airlines, United and Air Canada to check for reward seats and also found few which...

www.technofino.in

Then comes ITH Vouchers with 10% bonus from ITC, it gives pretty good value for domestic indigo flights, where no airmiles work. And also good for nearby countries like singapore/dubai/Thailand, where normally cost 30-40K in miles and taxes extra, but cash booking is just 20-25K.

[PENDING CONFIRMATION] Trick Axis Bank Edge Rewards 1:1 Ratio Flight and Hotel Booking

There have been speculations that we can book any flights from Edge rewards at 1:1 ratio. I think this is possible via ITH International Travel House which is partner at ITC. We can obtain ITC Green points at 1:0.9 ratio. roughly with the 10% promotion currently running. Using green points we...

www.technofino.in

Vistara with CV points for domestic flights is one of the best option, if you are in Delhi/Mumbai. And they run 30% bonus offer once a year.

JAL gives good value for certain round trip routes, as it is distance based miles program. Booked BLR-BKK-BLR Round trip for 23K miles and 5K taxes.

Among hotels, there is no competition to Accor, if interested in budget travel. 2000 points equal to 40 Euro. I have got one 3-star ibis for 2 nights for just 2000 points in Thailand.

Luxury Trip to Thailand using Axis Magnus with Redemption value of INR 1.50-2.00 per mile

With addition of new partners in April , 2023 & Milestone bonuses Axis Magnus can boast of amazing possibilities for travel. I hereby enclose a Luxury Trip to Thailand using different partners of Magnus. 1)International Flight : DEL-BKK .Most Luxurious way to fly to Thailand is Business class...

www.technofino.in

Krisflyer is one of the popular program, but somehow this was my least favourite. Sells BLR-SIN-BLR Round trip economy for 40K plus 7-8K taxes normally. With their special escapades promotion on some routes and dates, it comes to 28K miles.

Krisflyer spontaneous escapes

Krisflyer is offering 30% discounted price for February. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/plan-travel/promotions/global/kf/kf-promo/kfescapes/ Does anyone know how frequently this offer comes? I saw similar offer in December end for January booking as well. I have one travel planned in...

www.technofino.in

One important thing is I used to assume miles value as 0.5 while spending on cards and then if I am able to fetch more value, I consider that as bonus. Although This was about 6 months back, when Axis was giving points in tons and I wasn't aware about ITH Vouchers or Accor. I spent many points around 0.5-0.6rs values at times. Now a days with ITH Vouchers and Accor, I feel you can easily get 0.7-0.8rs value. More if interested in business class and do some reaserch for cheap miles options.

 

[hs23]

Best value you get in Turkish.

For India to Europe Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 3.3K. Cash price is 30-40K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

For Europe to India Air India, 19K miles for economy, 30K miles for Business, Taxes 10K. Cash price is 40-50K for economy and 1.2-1.5L for Business.

Only issue is its difficulty to find and book flight.

Turkish Miles & Smiles - Turkish Miles & Smiles shows no Star Alliance availability?

Hello all, I am new to the credit card and points game and I have been looking to book the Toronto-Chennai-Toronto route (either as two one-way flights or a round-trip) for sometime in 2024. I searched Singapore Airlines, United and Air Canada to check for reward seats and also found few which...

www.technofino.in

Then comes ITH Vouchers with 10% bonus from ITC, it gives pretty good value for domestic indigo flights, where no airmiles work. And also good for nearby countries like singapore/dubai/Thailand, where normally cost 30-40K in miles and taxes extra, but cash booking is just 20-25K.

[PENDING CONFIRMATION] Trick Axis Bank Edge Rewards 1:1 Ratio Flight and Hotel Booking

There have been speculations that we can book any flights from Edge rewards at 1:1 ratio. I think this is possible via ITH International Travel House which is partner at ITC. We can obtain ITC Green points at 1:0.9 ratio. roughly with the 10% promotion currently running. Using green points we...

www.technofino.in

Vistara with CV points for domestic flights is one of the best option, if you are in Delhi/Mumbai. And they run 30% bonus offer once a year.

JAL gives good value for certain round trip routes, as it is distance based miles program. Booked BLR-BKK-BLR Round trip for 23K miles and 5K taxes.

Among hotels, there is no competition to Accor, if interested in budget travel. 2000 points equal to 40 Euro. I have got one 3-star ibis for 2 nights for just 2000 points in Thailand.

Luxury Trip to Thailand using Axis Magnus with Redemption value of INR 1.50-2.00 per mile

With addition of new partners in April , 2023 & Milestone bonuses Axis Magnus can boast of amazing possibilities for travel. I hereby enclose a Luxury Trip to Thailand using different partners of Magnus. 1)International Flight : DEL-BKK .Most Luxurious way to fly to Thailand is Business class...

www.technofino.in

Krisflyer is one of the popular program, but somehow this was my least favourite. Sells BLR-SIN-BLR Round trip economy for 40K plus 7-8K taxes normally. With their special escapades promotion on some routes and dates, it comes to 28K miles.

Krisflyer spontaneous escapes

Krisflyer is offering 30% discounted price for February. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/plan-travel/promotions/global/kf/kf-promo/kfescapes/ Does anyone know how frequently this offer comes? I saw similar offer in December end for January booking as well. I have one travel planned in...

www.technofino.in

One important thing is I used to assume miles value as 0.5 while spending on cards and then if I am able to fetch more value, I consider that as bonus. Although This was about 6 months back, when Axis was giving points in tons and I wasn't aware about ITH Vouchers or Accor. I spent many points around 0.5-0.6rs values at times. Now a days with ITH Vouchers and Accor, I feel you can easily get 0.7-0.8rs value. More if interested in business class and do some reaserch for cheap miles options.

Thank you sharing your knowledge with us.

 

[Dragon_slayer]

Booked IBIS hotel in Abu Dhabi for two days using Accor points. Which I got using Mangus. Room rent was about 3500 INR including Breakfast.

 

[xxScriptzxx]

All my points are in accor, itc and united. Recently used accord points in spain and switzerland for superb value including food and drinks. For inter europe travel used united to book swiss airlines for peace of mind since turkish is not stable.