Miles and points: Value is in the eye of the beholder 

We all have our own valuations of points and miles – for some by the dollar, for some by the cent or penny.

For me – it’s actually never been either of those two. For me – it’s been the experience of those miles can give me versus the cash cost.

This can be summed up in my side-trip to Washington DC yesterday. An operant unity arose to kill a few birds in one stone – as well as catch up with my fellow blogger Le Chic Geek.

Le Geek Chic (left), Muggins (right) and a Bottle of Piper (not real_jetsetrs…)

On a cash cost, the ticket two weeks out would had been a ridiculous – nearly £400 on the combo that I wanted (AA360/AA4381) in economy.

In miles – it set me back 32.5k or so of Avios and £7. This threw in a leg in Economy Class on the way out, and in First Class on the way back aboard an E-Jet.

Nope – it’s not the best use of Avios by any stretch of the imagination.

But amazingly – I don’t care about that. What did those 30k of Avios get me?

• The delay of a plane that was rather fishy
• Time in Washington DC

• Spending quality geek time with Le Chic Geek
• Going around the National Space and Aviation museum

•  Geeking as fountains bubbled their way through

• and good times.

A lot of this can’t be given a pound or dollar value – nor would I want to give it a value.

Perhaps that’s what I like best about travelling with miles – providing you are flexible – they can lead to great experiences.

But it’s also an important point to remember – especially for me – is that the value of a redemption is not judged by a monetary value – but the experience it gives.

In other words – if it seems like a good redemption to you and you’re getting value from it – then it IS a good redemption.

Mathematically, it might be awful. It might make some people wince. But those miles are your miles. Not theirs. And ultimately, when you research and book your redemption it’s your decision to see if those miles were good value for money.

And for 32,500 Avios in economy on the way out, and “First Class” on the way back – I felt like I got more than my value for money… not in flying terms… but in terms of experience and fun.

And you can’t put a price on that.

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