Airmiles for Universal studios

AngelDisney said:
I only have enough airmiles for one UO ticket at this moment. I should have bought more Foodland GC in August. I didn't know whether I would buy regularly from Foodland and Sobey's, so I only got 2 GC. I need another 1600 airmiles for two UO tickets. To avoid possible increase in airmiles for the UO tickets, should I redeem one ticket now and another one later just in case? I prefer to do it all at once but I am not sure when I would get all the airmiles I need. I sure hope there is another Foodland GC offer soon. Pixie dust!!
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If I'm saving for anything other than airfare I cash in as soon as i have enough. I'd rather have only one ticket to pay for than 2 because i decided to wait it out! There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when and how much they increase the redemption amounts.
 
Donald - my hero said:
If I'm saving for anything other than airfare I cash in as soon as i have enough. I'd rather have only one ticket to pay for than 2 because i decided to wait it out! There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when and how much they increase the redemption amounts.
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Thanks Donald "My Hero"! It makes sense. I am going to redeem one first this week. Going to Sobeys now to get more AM.
 
Donald - my hero said:
You can upgrade the tickets at the gate --- same as Disney tickets, once you've used one day you can either add the extra then or stop on your way out The tickets you receive will be non-expiring so i would recommend redeeming your AM as soon as you have enough to avoid a potential increase in miles needed. I think your best best would be to add the whatever amount to get an AP, but that's just my opinion!
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Dear DMH, could you elaborate more on the annual pass?

I currently have 4x seven day Park to Park Universal tickets and we're a family of five. There is no way we're going to a park for seven days but the tickets came with our accommodation so anything we throw away is fine.

But since we're going during peak time the first week of January, I figured if we went to the Universal parks about four times in the mornings only that we could not go crazy battling the crowds and still see everything.

I'd initially thought I'd purchase two sets of the AirMiles Universal child tickets to cover the four day expectation. But clearly there seems to be a better way.

Do you recommend redeeming AirMiles for one Adult Universal two day package? And then upgrade to Universal Annual Pass for $60 USD (sounds TGTBT LOL).

What are your strategies for the AP?

Thanks much!

edit to add:
I just saw that AP has blackout dates. 3 January is the end of blackout. I could push our park visit to 4-7 January. Sigh...four days in a row.

We were considering a stay at a Universal hotel to get the two day early park access. But that comes with the AP (blackout aside).

Edit again
OMGosh, I see way too much confusion. Probably the blackout is for my whole stay.

I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions.
 
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DilEmma said:
Dear DMH, could you elaborate more on the annual pass?

I currently have 4x seven day Park to Park Universal tickets and we're a family of five. There is no way we're going to a park for seven days but the tickets came with our accommodation so anything we throw away is fine.

But since we're going during peak time the first week of January, I figured if we went to the Universal parks about four times in the mornings only that we could not go crazy battling the crowds and still see everything.

I'd initially thought I'd purchase two sets of the AirMiles Universal child tickets to cover the four day expectation. But clearly there seems to be a better way.

Do you recommend redeeming AirMiles for one Adult Universal two day package? And then upgrade to Universal Annual Pass for $60 USD (sounds TGTBT LOL).

What are your strategies for the AP?

Thanks much!

edit to add:
I just saw that AP has blackout dates. 3 January is the end of blackout. I could push our park visit to 4-7 January. Sigh...four days in a row.

We were considering a stay at a Universal hotel to get the two day early park access. But that comes with the AP (blackout aside).

Edit again
OMGosh, I see way too much confusion. Probably the blackout is for my whole stay.

I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions.
Click to expand...
OK, colour me dumb ...but i can't for the life of me understand why you wouldn't just use the tickets that are included with your package and then use the Airmiles for something else? My understanding is that one of the benefits of staying on site is you get early access to the parks (similar to EMH i guess??) There's also something you can BUY --- instead of FP -- called Front of the Line??? I know that isn't good for some of the bigger, newer headliners but really help on the others if you're going during a busy time of year.

As far as the upgrading to an AP for only the difference in the cost of the 2 tickets, no, it's not too good to be true -- it's the same at Disney as well. We're actually doing the OPPOSITE -- see no need to spend the 2 days in the parks so we'll be downgrading and getting giftcards for the difference. (yes, i did confirm this with Universal directly)

If you need suggestions for other uses of those precious Airmiles i'm sure others can chime in!
 
Donald - my hero said:
OK, colour me dumb ...but i can't for the life of me understand why you wouldn't just use the tickets that are included with your package and then use the Airmiles for something else...
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Because we need one more set of tickets.
I only have FOUR right now and we're FIVE people. I'm currently one short.
As much as I'd like to stay behind and lounge by the pool, there would be objections...

So I was initially planning on cashing out AirMiles for the nine year old's two day park to park. But after reading your earlier post perhaps I should get the adult ticket and upgrade to get an AP. For the 30% off Universal hotel. But the blackout period forces a higher AP pass level during the time were visiting.
 
DilEmma said:
Because we need one more set of tickets.
I only have FOUR right now and we're FIVE people. I'm currently one short.
As much as I'd like to stay behind and lounge by the pool, there would be objections...

So I was initially planning on cashing out AirMiles for the nine year old's two day park to park. But after reading your earlier post perhaps I should get the adult ticket and upgrade to get an AP. For the 30% off Universal hotel. But the blackout period forces a higher AP pass level during the time were visiting.
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Well that makes perfect sense now --- well the fact that you're one short anyway! Now about the reality behind needing an AP or not ... when are you planning on going because the blackout dates end on January 2nd? If you decide you need to one without blackout days you'll be spending another $100.00 and you then need to do some math to see if the *possible* discount on rooms will allow you to make that difference back. I'm not able to see if they even offer discounted rooms during January or not but personally i don't like to buy something with the hopes it will allow me to save later, unless there is a guarantee that i can at least make back my original investment.

To upgrade your Airmiles pass for an adult to an AP is an extra $45.00 US for the one with black out dates. OR to upgrade to a 4 day pass so you have the same as the rest of your family (in which case only do a child's ticket thru AM) will cost you $20.00 US
the difference in AM is 375 -- significant! (we have an AM math genius who can tell you what that equates to WAIT, isn't that YOU??!!)
 
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I need advice from the experts here. I will not be visiting UO twice within a year. I am planning to stay at RPR for 6 nights. With the SMSM discounts, it's USD201/night before taxes. I will book through the Airmiles Travel Hub and earn 310 bonus AM. Cheaptickets' extra 18% off doesn't not apply to RPR anymore. I was able to stack Cheaptickets 25% extra in 2014 on top of the SMSM, but not this time. Getting bonus AM is better than nothing. I will be visiting the park for 5 days, except on my late arrival day. I will be redeeming the 2-day park to park tickets using my AM. I am not sure upgrading to the cheapest Season pass is a better option. The seasonal pass is USD284.99 before taxes, and it is about USD70 extra including taxes to upgrade. Since the SMSM is about 30% for the days I am staying, the Season Pass hotel discount does not offer much value. To add 3 more days to the AM tickets, assuming it is USD10 a day plus taxes, I can upgrade two tickets to 5 days at the same cost of upgrading one ticket to Season Pass. Are there any other benefits to get a Season Pass? The other APs are too much if I won't be visiting again within a year. Thanks in advance for your kind assistance!
 
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AngelDisney said:
I need advice from the experts here. I will not be visiting UO twice within a year. I am planning to stay at RPR for 6 nights. With the SMSM discounts, it's USD201/night before taxes. I will book through the Airmiles Travel Hub and earn 310 bonus AM. Cheaptickets' extra 18% off doesn't not apply to RPR anymore. I was able to stack Cheaptickets 25% extra in 2014 on top of the SMSM, but not this time. Getting bonus AM is better than nothing. I will be visiting the park for 5 days, except on my late arrival day. I will be redeeming the 2-day park to park tickets using my AM. I am not sure upgrading to the cheapest Season pass is a better option. The seasonal pass is USD284.99 before taxes, and it is about USD70 extra including taxes to upgrade. Since the SMSM is about 30% for the days I am staying, the Season Pass hotel discount does not offer much value. To add 3 more days to the AM tickets, assuming it is USD10 a day plus taxes, I can upgrade two tickets to 5 days at the same cost of upgrading one ticket to Season Pass. Are there any other benefits to get a Season Pass? The other APs are too much if I won't be visiting again within a year. Thanks in advance for your kind assistance!
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There are no 5 day tickets for Universal. It goes from a 4 day to a season's pass.
 
damo said:
There are no 5 day tickets for Universal. It goes from a 4 day to a season's pass.
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Thanks Damo!
I actually have 4 full days and thinking of visiting the parks using EE before checking out Disney Springs as DD is meeting her friend there before university starts the following week. We may just sleep in a bit on that day instead. Thanks again!
 
Hope Damo is able to provide some invaluable advice here again!

I am still thinking about how I should approach my situation to maximize the value of money for the trip. I am staying at a UO onsite hotel from August 13 to August 18 (checking out on August 19 for a DCL cruise). If there are no 5-day park tickets and the Seasonal Pass (cheapest annual pass) gives me about 30% discount on onsite hotel (vs SMSM's 25%). I should upgrade my AM 2-day tickets to the Seasonal Pass if I visit the parks more than 4 days. However, August 13 is a black-out date for the Seasonal Pass holders. To make the Seasonal Pass worthwhile, I am planning to visit the parks on the arrival day (6 days of visits).

Here is where I need the expert advice. Can I use my Am tickets to visit the parks on August 13 then upgrade to the Seasonal Pass on my way back to the hotel? This will allow me park entry without the black-out restriction on my arrival day. If I book a room using the APH code, assuming I will upgrade to the Seasonal Pass, should I contact the hotel ahead of time about my situation, so they know that I would not have the Seasonal Pass at check-in, but will have it by the end of my arrival day? But if August 13 is a park entry black out day for the Seasonal Pass, would it also be a black-out day for hotel booking as well. If so, I will have to pay extra for the arrival night.

Sorry for all the questions. Since I have not booked flights yet, I can still move the days around but getting to Orlando on August 13 is preferred. Thanks in advance!
 
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