AA Cyber Monday 2015 bonus miles - extended to 4th Jan 2016

[gojun]

New to purchasing miles and I just signed up to AA. I know I've missed out on this promotion, but would it be worth buying some for the next promotion? I usually fly to Asia but looking at taking a trip to Paris once everything settles down there. Also, would I be able to redeem for my partner using my miles or would it be best I sign her up for AA as well?

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

New to purchasing miles and I just signed up to AA. I know I've missed out on this promotion, but would it be worth buying some for the next promotion? I usually fly to Asia but looking at taking a trip to Paris once everything settles down there. Also, would I be able to redeem for my partner using my miles or would it be best I sign her up for AA as well?

Believe it has been extended to Jan 4th 2016 if that helps

 

[gojun]

I'll try my luck on the last day!

What does everyone usually do in this case? Max out on 200k or buy enough for a return/one way flight in Business/First?

 

[anat0l]

New to purchasing miles and I just signed up to AA. I know I've missed out on this promotion, but would it be worth buying some for the next promotion? I usually fly to Asia but looking at taking a trip to Paris once everything settles down there. Also, would I be able to redeem for my partner using my miles or would it be best I sign her up for AA as well?

AA accounts need to be older than 30 days in order to purchase miles. You'll either just make it or just miss out if you act right now.

This is a pretty sweet deal going on right now, not only for the number of miles you can purchase in one whole whack, but also the cost per mile. Keep in mind that purchases of AA miles are limited per calendar year. So if you buy miles in January 2016 (likely if you decide to follow through with this), if you max out your purchase, you won't be buying any more for the rest of 2016.

Of course, when I say "sweet deal", I mean the price per point. Add up the total on the outlay and it's a lot of money; the poor AUD/USD exchange rate is not helping. There's a difference between good value and an absolute amount you are prepared to pay.

You can redeem for family or friends out of your account, as well as for yourself, of course. Most couples maintain separate accounts if possible, as then they both can purchase miles independently of each other, maximising the opportunity and "breathing room".

I'll try my luck on the last day!

What does everyone usually do in this case? Max out on 200k or buy enough for a return/one way flight in Business/First?

With the general increases in costs of miles required in March 2016, if I was purchasing from scratch, I'd probably only buy as much as I could spend before the mileage prices increase. This is because as I look at the prices of redemptions after the change next year, some of them will be so expensive that I'm tempted not to buy miles to redeem them, but not because of it being more expensive than simply buying a premium ticket in cash, but that it's simply more money than I can afford to spend on a flight, even if it is in Business or First.

On the other hand, some people have redemptions with AA which are not changing in price after the March 2016 changes. They might max out the current purchase deal as this current sale is excellent value and effectively reduces the marginal cost of future redemptions. Of course, some of them have an account open long enough so they can complete this purchase in 2015, leaving 2016 as a new year with opportunities to buy miles again then.


Long story short: It depends on what you want to redeem nearly immediately, and what other trips you anticipate in your future, as well as how much you are prepared to pay for them.

 

[gojun]

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, I'm aware for the foreign exchange exposure/risk...I think I'll sit this one out and wait for the next sale. Also, just signed up my SO's account. We just want some points banked up, so when we decide to go to Europe we can plan when we want, instead of waiting for a sale again.