Need help with Airmiles Plans

[weewuvvdisney]

Hello everyone,

In the past, we have used are airmiles for flights only.

Was wondering if it is better to continue to use airmiles for flights (pay taxes & all extras)?

The reason why I wondering is that I'm sure we will not be able to use airmiles for direct flights - am I assuming correctly? We are leaving from Mtl. A lot of the flights fly to TO and then Orlando. Some fly direct...and we would prefer to fly direct.



OR


Should I use my airmiles for our passes?


OR


Should I use our airmiles for our hotel?

Trying to spend the least amount of money (heeheehee) cuz we want to save it all for when we are there!!!


What do you suggest?




Jan

 

[Nicki828]

I took my mom to NY for her 60th birthday a couple of years ago. I was going to use my airmiles to pay for the flights, only to find out the taxes were the same as buying tickets to fly out of Buffalo. I'll be using my points for stuff other then airfare!

 

[jmtf2004]

We have never used our airmiles for flights. We can fly fairly inexpensively out of Buffalo NY - it has always seemed like it 'costs' way too many miles to get a flight. So far we have gotten a tv, Disney tickets, and a couple of other things with airmiles and been very happy. The merchandise is covered under manufacturer's guarantee and everything arrived very quickly after we ordered it, and the Disney tickets worked just fine.

 

[Wilec]

As good as the points deals can be with AirMiles, it is the taxes and surcharges that drive up the price , even with points. I find the best value with AirMiles is certain merchandise and the Gift Cards.

 

[MikeyNS]

I'd try to price things out first. If you know around 2000pts (forget the right number) is worth a $200 park pass, but it could also get you a flight to Florida (plus $200 in fees), which is worth more to you? Even though there are fees involved I find the flights to be the best deal *for me*..

 

[amw]

I'd try to price things out first. If you know around 2000pts (forget the right number) is worth a $200 park pass, but it could also get you a flight to Florida (plus $200 in fees), which is worth more to you? Even though there are fees involved I find the flights to be the best deal *for me*..

Exactly , people who live in TO or are near enough to American airports find the flights are not worthwhile, others find it the only financially accessible route ...

Check what your flights would be on their own - could you fly out of the closest US city cheaper, and with less hassle (ie, a bit of driving to avoid connecting flights).

Personally, we do use our airmiles points for WDW passes, or maybe Universal this time since it's so much lower. You could also get car rental gift cards (rather than bookings, there's more value to the cards). For hotels, I think there are only Best Western gift cards. There is Starwood, but to stay at Swan/Dolphin takes MAJOR points.

It's almost like you have to set up a point value spreadsheet and see what works for you.

 

[drag n' fly]

As good as the points deals can be with AirMiles, it is the taxes and surcharges that drive up the price , even with points. I find the best value with AirMiles is certain merchandise and the Gift Cards.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I too have had this dilemma, and ultimately have given up on using Airmiles for flights. You do not often find direct flights and generally the taxes end up being approx the cost of flying out of the States (as others have mentioned). I personally vote for MYW tickets. I buy the cheapest they have and then use them once down at WDW and then upgrade them as necessary (i.e. I buy 3 day base with Airmiles and then upgrade to 5 or 6 days; whatever I need down there). I also add the 'hopiing' option while I'm down there. Now if only Airmiles would offer an AP

 

[weewuvvdisney]

Thanks for the info.

We have to leave from Mtl as we don't drive.

So, was wondering if anyone has been able to book a "direct" flight using Air Miles?

Also, when we have been there before and wanted to go to another attraction (we went to Kennedy Space Centre), we went with Mears buses.
I would think that it would be the same now meaning we would pay for our bus/entrance ticket as an all-in-one. There would be no point in ordering our entrance tixs from Air Miles for Universal.

My last question, it was mentioned to buy the cheapest MYW pass (3 days) and pay the difference at the Park. Is it much cheaper?

Thanks for your help.




Jan

 

[MelXThree]

I booked our Jan 09 WDW flights through AirMiles and got a direct flight. Also last Nov I book a flight to Las Vegas and got a direct flight. I am flying out of Calgary so I don't know if that makes a diffrence?? As well I planned for WDW in Jan 08 and called every week until they got there flight info and even then I had to be VERY flexiable with my dates. Having a direct flight was #1 priority for me so I just asked them to pull up all the direct flights for the middle weeks of Jan and then I picked my dates. But I have to say that West Jet has changed our flights so many times and AirMiles has not contacted me once to let me know we are flying in a day earlier. Glad I am Disney obbsed or I would never know

 

[lisabrown]

It may be worth looking into a shuttle type service to a U.S. airport from Mtl. or pay someone to drive you. You could ask some travel agents if they know of any. It's astonishingly cheaper from the U.S. You may save that in airfare and use your airmiles for other things - we just used ours for four 7 day passes and $200.00 off our Alamo rental car. It's way better to use them for non-flight purchases.

 

[laura001]

Years ago I used airmiles twice for trips to Orlando....but today it really isn't worth it. The only time that it is worth it now is if you travel to Europe(or the like), then just paying the taxes for that is still a good deal!

I have used them for passes and I think that is still a good deal, I am not sure if the passes are all still non expiring but if they are, I would take what was left on them if I hadn't used them all and pay for an upgrade of up to the ten days, then use them on my next trip!

 

[tgropp]

If you fly to Florida at Christmas or the other high seasons it may be worth your while to use airmiles as airfares are sometimes $600.00 flying out of Detroit or Buffalo during those times

 

[joech]

Our westjet tickets for this christmas trip would have cost us close to $6000 from calgary to Orlando(1490 X 4). I booked 2 of the tickets through air miles and the taxes and fees were a bit over $400 for 2 and I don't think I can do any better.
I would have booked all 4 tickets from airlmiles if I didn't have westjet companion voucher.