Questions and Answers

Hello Ben: I”m sure there’s no “right” answer, but I’d really appreciate your perspective.

Next summer, my son and I are flying to South Africa. We are flying Qatar (J) using American miles from LAX-CPT, and Cathay (J/F) using Alasak miles from JNB-LAX on the return.

Here’s my question: We are using 150,000 American miles on Qatar J to CPT. We could also use 200,000 Alaska miles to fly Emirates F. On the one hand, I am AA miles rich (400,000+) and with the devaluation coming, it makes sense to me to burn them now and 75,000 is a great value. Flying Emirates would also mean using all of my Alaska miles, which I think are the most valuable miles out there (pending a devaluation . . . ).

On the other hand, flying Emirates F all the way from LAX to South Africa is also a fantastic use of miles and quite an experience.

Do you have a recommendation? Thanks so much for your thoughts.

What about splitting the difference and flying one way on Qatar and the other on Emirates?

Also, what other trips are you planning Flyerdad or is this going to be it for a while?

Thanks for the responses.

@MidSouthSkier–I think we are splitting the difference now by flying QR J there and Cathay F back?

[USER=79]@Gaurav[/USER]: That’s all the travel planned for now. We have burned a ton of AA miles (JAL first to NRT and AA biz to ATH) in anticipation of the devaluation, but the only trip I know for sure after South Africa Will be South America in summer of 2017.

[USER=1143]@FlyerDad[/USER] in general I think devaluations are a fact of life. If you’re not going to use your AS miles until 2017 or beyond I would use them and enjoy EK to South Africa. They’ll probably be devalued by then too! It’s not like your AA miles are going to become worthless either :).

Thanks–I like your thinking.