Only Premium & Super Premium Cards Discussion

[NikTravelEnthusiast]

I booked same hotel about 2 months back for December. 12K points for 3 nights non refundable with breakfast.

And around 4 months back for Grand Mercure in dubai for December was 36K points for 5 nights refundable with breakfast.

Now it will be almost double for same dates. Planning in advance is key for festival season.

How is the overall hospitality and service in Ibis hotels in your or others experience?
Considering Ibis is a good option to stay in moderate budget category.

 

[xxScriptzxx]

@xxScriptzxx
For intereurope, can you share one example where united gives better compared to cash?

I booked zurich to barcelona and valencia to zurich. Valencia to zurich revenue was 25k but i got it for 8k points.

 

[hs23]

I booked zurich to barcelona and valencia to zurich. Valencia to zurich revenue was 25k but i got it for 8k points.

Valencia to zurich 8k miles +10.4 USD tax is a sweet deal.
Zurich to barcelon 8k miles +40.3 USD tax is not that great as there are the revenue ticket is available for 8.5K and you can even earn extra 16.5% on SmartBuy.

Seems like hit and miss with united. I need some more redemption ideas for united.

 

[purush]

How is the overall hospitality and service in Ibis hotels in your or others experience?
Considering Ibis is a good option to stay in moderate budget category.

I am fine with their hospitality but i travel mostly single. Breakfast is good always

 

[Harry1]

Can someone share best option for krisflyer miles for economy? I have 20k lying since about an year. Still 2 more years remaining.

Also, Any way to transfer it to accor in 1:1 ratio or book some activities in 1:1 ratio?

 

[drsel]

Can someone share best option for krisflyer miles for economy? I have 20k lying since about an year. Still 2 more years remaining.

Also, Any way to transfer it to accor in 1:1 ratio or book some activities in 1:1 ratio?

Singapore return tickets would be a good option or you could try for Australia but you cannot convert Kris flyer miles into Accor

 

[drsel]

Valencia to zurich 8k miles +10.4 USD tax is a sweet deal.
Zurich to barcelon 8k miles +40.3 USD tax is not that great as there are the revenue ticket is available for 8.5K and you can even earn extra 16.5% on SmartBuy.

Seems like hit and miss with united. I need some more redemption ideas for united.

United points can be used for US return tickets

 

[hs23]

United points can be used for US return tickets

US return is 85k miles plus taxes. I can get tickets on smartbuy / cash for much cheaper. How is united good value?

 

[Deleted member 11974]

US return is 85k miles plus taxes. I can get tickets on smartbuy / cash for much cheaper. How is united good value?

low taxes requirement is what i have heard
also check the per mile value you are getting for the same flight

 

[drsel]

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/

When I am redeeming 46203 Lufthansa miles I am getting a fare benefit of 10539 value for Mumbai Los Angeles return flight for 3 adults
This values miles at just 25.92 paisa.

Should I use the miles for only 1 return ticket or 1 one way ticket to Los Angeles?

 

[Harry1]

Here is my Mid-Budget-Luxury Europe Trip redemptions.

Flight -
BLR-DEL-CDG and FRA-DEL on Air India using Turkish - 1 Economy and 1 Business on each side (total 4 tickets) for total 98000 Miles and 27K INR

This is best ever redemption and not possible now. A single one way business class ticket costs 1.2-1.5L on this route.

Additional Domestic flights - Using yes bank points and vistara welcome benefits - Consider 15K INR

Train -
Zurich to Munich and Munich to Frankfurt on Deutsche Bahn For 2 person including seat reservations - 7000 Bahnbonus points (Transferred from 14000 Accor points)

Gives about 1 rs value per Accor point, unless u r booking several months in advance. All seats are available for booking using points.

Hotel - All non refundable rates with breakfast using Accor for 2 Adults
Paris - 5 nights - 3 star - 34K
Montreux - 1 night - 5 star - 21K
Gstaad - 1 night - 2 star - 9K INR (cleartrip revenue booking)
Interlaken - 2 nights - 4 star - 50K
Luzern - 2 nights - 3.5 star - 24K
Zurich - 1 night - 3 star - 10K
Munich - 2 night - 3 star - 10K
Frankfurt - 1 night - 3 star - 6K
Total tax paid on hotels - 7K INR

Additional expenses for 2 Adults in INR -
Visa, insurance and related expenses - 25K
Activities on Klook and Headout - 70K (2 days Disneyland, 2 days Paris Museum Pass, Multiple Hoho Bus tours, Multiple Cruise rides, Swiss Half fare card, Munich castles etc)
Switzerland trains on SBB app with half fare card - 60K (including Jungfrau and Titlis)
Misc expenses (Winter clothes, Adaptor, Power Bank, Cab in India, Read to Eat food etc) - 12K
Local transport in Paris, Switzerland and Germany - 18K
Local food - 36K (Total 9 meals)
Activities offline - 16K

Total Expense - 5L INR which includes about 2.25L using Points after considering each point as 0.8 INR.

 

[D7162]

7000 Bahnbonus points (Transferred from 14000 Accor points)

This I didnt knew. I missed that in my trip

 

[drsel]

How much are Airline Miles worth in India? - moolahgeeks

We analyzed data on 100s of flights to estimate the value of frequent flyer points in India. CV Point = Rs.0.90 while InterMiles = Rs.0.30.

www.moolahgeeks.com

 

[drsel]

What are points and miles worth? TPG’s February 2025 valuations - The Points Guy

Learn how points and miles from major loyalty programs stack up when it comes to value.

thepointsguy.com

Another very detailed analysis and calculation of International Airmiles