Using CC points for airfare

[sushi]

I've not actually done this before despite having a rewards card and traveling often. I think my card (chase sapphire) converts the points into miles and then transfers them. How long does that process take? 

Also, I know there are suggestions out there on when it makes sense to use miles vs purchase outright. For the flights we're taking, it's actually a relatively good price. However, it's still $850. But it's Hawaii to Florida. I can travel for 60-80k RT depending on airline. Plus, it's peak Thanksgiving time. Is there a general dollar to mile ratio that people use as a guide?

[keweenawlove]

With Delta, you can buy 10,000 miles for $100 so I normally use that ratio. I just booked an $1100 flight for 65,000 miles which I thought was a pretty good deal.

[frlcb]

Sept 27, 2013 16:46:11 GMT -5 sushi said:

I've not actually done this before despite having a rewards card and traveling often. I think my card (chase sapphire) converts the points into miles and then transfers them. How long does that process take? 

Also, I know there are suggestions out there on when it makes sense to use miles vs purchase outright. For the flights we're taking, it's actually a relatively good price. However, it's still $850. But it's Hawaii to Florida. I can travel for 60-80k RT depending on airline. Plus, it's peak Thanksgiving time. Is there a general dollar to mile ratio that people use as a guide?

We use our Chase Sapphire card often to book tickets. It takes no longer than it would take to book a rewards ticket on the airline site It is really easy to do. I would say 60-80k RT is decent for that distance. I am flying Monday ATL-DUB business class, then back DUB-JFK-ATL economy and it was 120,000 miles. It would have been about $1000 for the itinerary to be all economy, but I somehow lucked out getting BC on the way over. 

[frlcb]

Also you book the flights through the Chase Sapphire site, you don't have them transfer points to an airline acct you have.

[sushi]

Awesome, thank you. It's my H's card, and he's the one who did the research, and he thought it would take time or something.

I can get BC for around 100k. Which we have across accounts, but not all in the same.

[emilyinchile]

Rule of thumb is that each mile should be worth about $0.014. If you can get the ticket for 60k, you're right on that guideline. If you're spending 80k, you're at $0.001, which isn't such a good deal.