Questions and Answers

so I am trying to book a flight from Philadelphia to Barcelona on American before the devaluation. While there are no premium seats available on the flights I want, coach is only 20k each way + $50 for taxes. I’m am trying to figure out if buying a seat for my 14 mo daughter is worth the 40k miles. Based on Lucky’s valuation of 1.8c per mile, the miles are worth $740 but that is pre devaluation. The taxes are being quoted at $193 for her to lap with us. What are your thoughts on the value of of AA miles post devaluation because if I don’t use them now, I will likely not use then until after March? And I have almost 400k miles to burn. Should I use the miles or pay the fees? Thanks for your help!!!

Suraj

Hey. So I am trying to book a flight from Philadelphia to Barcelona on American for my family including my 14 mo daughter. While there isn’t any premium seats available on the flights in either direction, there are plenty of seats at 20k (plus each direction. When I contacted AA, they quoted the taxes and fees for the lap infant at $193 for a coach ticket. Using Lucky’s valuation of AA miles at 1.8 cent, the miles would be worth $720 but that is prior to devaluation. I have more miles than time right now and if I don’t use them now I will not be using them before March. What do you value AA miles at after the devaluation? Should I just get my daughter a seat? Thank you so much for your help! Love your blog and posts!

Suraj
(ps… sorry if I posted twice.)

Welcome [USER=761]@Suraj[/USER]! I don’t have kids, so grains of salt required, but I would think if you’re flying economy that 40k miles is a small price to pay to not have a squirmy child on your lap for 8 hours.

Travis travels with his kids often, and wrote his thoughts here: [URL]http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/09/10/flying-lap-children/[/URL]

[USER=761]@Suraj[/USER] – I’ll second what Tiffany said (which I was writing even as she posted!). I’m not a parent but that sounds like a long time to have to hold a toddler, even if she’s sleeping part of that time. And you’re going to want to try to sleep some too, no doubt! Plus, it’s just safer to have kids buckled in their seats in case turbulence hits when you least expect it.

If you make sure you get the bassinet seats then its not so bad with the lap child as there is lots of floor space for them to sit / stand and play during the flight. That is what we have always done.
It does get harder the bigger they get! We had our daughter on our lap on month before she was two but she spent most of the flight on the floor in front of us playing and watching the iPad because we had the bassinet seats.
Although none of these flights have been more than 7 hours so I can understand why some parents would rather pay the extra!

Yes most definitely use the miles to get her her own seat. This is a no brainer. You will be glad you did.