How do you use your Air Miles ?

Dave · 06-13-2009, 07:23 PM

What is the most efficient way to use Air Miles points ? I am usually not interested in the items they give as rewards, but I like the gift cards. I have made a table with the amount of air miles spent per $ received on different gift cards offered as rewards. Some of the best ones are from Gap, Chapters & Rona in terms of efficiency of Air Miles used.

Gift Card / Air miles /Dollars / Air Miles per dollar received
Gap 185 25.00 $ 7.40
Chapters 185 25.00 $ 7.40
Rona 150 20.00 $ 7.50
Rona 375 50.00 $ 7.50
Air Transat 375 50.00 $ 7.50
HBC 200 25.00 $ 8.00
Jean Coutu 160 20.00 $ 8.00
Second cup 85 10.00 $ 8.50
Shell 175 20.00 $ 8.75
Staples 225 25.00 $ 9.00
Boston Pizza 395 50.00 $ 7.90
Chapters 115 25.00 $ 4.60
Rona 120 25.00 $ 4.80

However, I wonder if it is better to use the Air Miles for flights. I have never done it and am not even sure how to compare it to the table above. Is it easy ? Can you still get a good deal for a flight and pay it in part with Air Miles ? How do you use your Air Miles ?

Dave

Kathryn · 06-13-2009, 08:21 PM

The first thing I used them for was for MoneySense magazine. Surprise surprise!

Now I'm saving them up for an ipod touch.

apples · 06-13-2009, 10:08 PM

In the past I used up quite a bit of airmiles on small household things such as hand-held vac, toaster oven, long distance minutes, movie tickets as well as gift cards. But for the last few years I used airmiles only on MoneySense magazine.

I will do the same this year. I am not patient enough to accumulate enough miles for flight. Besides I do not earn air miles as much as I did when I had an Amex card (replaced by PC MasterCard).

Maltese · 06-13-2009, 11:33 PM

I only use mine for flights. If you use them to fly to the US it's best to fly on Northwest since the taxes are less than Air Canada. However, I always have to ask them to check the NW flights for availability because the computer says there are no Air Miles seats even if there are. Knowing the flight numbers helps speed up the process considerably.

canabiz · 06-14-2009, 12:47 AM

I typically use Air Miles to get gift cards, Chapters, Rona, and HBC are the most common ones.

I am not as gung-ho on redeeming AirMiles (or Aeroplan points for that matter) as some folks. For starters, we don't accumulate enough points to make it worthwhile and second, i understand there are limited number of seats reserved for these programs on any given flight so you really have to work your schedule around it if you want to get an (almost) free ticket...not to mention the inevitable stopovers (for international flights), among other hassles.

I just don't think these cards are worth their weight for the average Joes, unless you put a lot of big-ticket purchases on the cards but then again it somewhat contradicts the idea of frugality.

JDWood · 06-14-2009, 10:36 AM

7cu ft freezer
coffee machine
treadmill
weekend in Leighbridge, AB
fly to Ont every second year and Vancover Island every other year.

Rickson9 · 06-14-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

What is the most efficient way to use Air Miles points?

My wife uses her points to buy groceries.

moneygardener · 06-14-2009, 02:04 PM

We use ours exclusively for Starbucks gift cards.

stephenheath · 06-14-2009, 02:19 PM

I use ours for the Metro groceries (140 for $20)... I thought I would check the Chapters that you show as being 115 for $20, but couldn't see that one on the site, just the one that was 185 for $20 that you have at the top... was that a special deal or something?

Dave · 06-14-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenheath

I use ours for the Metro groceries (140 for $20)... I thought I would check the Chapters that you show as being 115 for $20, but couldn't see that one on the site, just the one that was 185 for $20 that you have at the top... was that a special deal or something?

You mean the 185 for 25$ ? Well, my table might be a bit dated. I made it a few months ago and Air Miles rewards is not somehting I check and update regularly.

Dave

06-13-2009, 07:23 PM	#1
Dave Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	How do you use your Air Miles ? What is the most efficient way to use Air Miles points ? I am usually not interested in the items they give as rewards, but I like the gift cards. I have made a table with the amount of air miles spent per $ received on different gift cards offered as rewards. Some of the best ones are from Gap, Chapters & Rona in terms of efficiency of Air Miles used. Gift Card / Air miles /Dollars / Air Miles per dollar received Gap 185 25.00 $ 7.40 Chapters 185 25.00 $ 7.40 Rona 150 20.00 $ 7.50 Rona 375 50.00 $ 7.50 Air Transat 375 50.00 $ 7.50 HBC 200 25.00 $ 8.00 Jean Coutu 160 20.00 $ 8.00 Second cup 85 10.00 $ 8.50 Shell 175 20.00 $ 8.75 Staples 225 25.00 $ 9.00 Boston Pizza 395 50.00 $ 7.90 Chapters 115 25.00 $ 4.60 Rona 120 25.00 $ 4.80 However, I wonder if it is better to use the Air Miles for flights. I have never done it and am not even sure how to compare it to the table above. Is it easy ? Can you still get a good deal for a flight and pay it in part with Air Miles ? How do you use your Air Miles ? Dave

06-13-2009, 08:21 PM	#2
Kathryn Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SW Ontario Posts: 31	The first thing I used them for was for MoneySense magazine. Surprise surprise! Now I'm saving them up for an ipod touch. __________________ Kathryn

06-14-2009, 12:47 AM	#5
canabiz Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 183	I typically use Air Miles to get gift cards, Chapters, Rona, and HBC are the most common ones. I am not as gung-ho on redeeming AirMiles (or Aeroplan points for that matter) as some folks. For starters, we don't accumulate enough points to make it worthwhile and second, i understand there are limited number of seats reserved for these programs on any given flight so you really have to work your schedule around it if you want to get an (almost) free ticket...not to mention the inevitable stopovers (for international flights), among other hassles. I just don't think these cards are worth their weight for the average Joes, unless you put a lot of big-ticket purchases on the cards but then again it somewhat contradicts the idea of frugality. __________________ Still waters run deep

06-14-2009, 02:04 PM	#8
moneygardener Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Posts: 73	We use ours exclusively for Starbucks gift cards. __________________ the moneygardener -shovel ready

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06-13-2009, 10:08 PM	#3
apples Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 13	In the past I used up quite a bit of airmiles on small household things such as hand-held vac, toaster oven, long distance minutes, movie tickets as well as gift cards. But for the last few years I used airmiles only on MoneySense magazine. I will do the same this year. I am not patient enough to accumulate enough miles for flight. Besides I do not earn air miles as much as I did when I had an Amex card (replaced by PC MasterCard).

06-13-2009, 11:33 PM	#4
Maltese Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Manitoba Posts: 72	I only use mine for flights. If you use them to fly to the US it's best to fly on Northwest since the taxes are less than Air Canada. However, I always have to ask them to check the NW flights for availability because the computer says there are no Air Miles seats even if there are. Knowing the flight numbers helps speed up the process considerably.

06-14-2009, 10:36 AM	#6
JDWood Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 8	7cu ft freezer coffee machine treadmill weekend in Leighbridge, AB fly to Ont every second year and Vancover Island every other year.

06-14-2009, 02:19 PM	#9
stephenheath Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 135	I use ours for the Metro groceries (140 for $20)... I thought I would check the Chapters that you show as being 115 for $20, but couldn't see that one on the site, just the one that was 185 for $20 that you have at the top... was that a special deal or something?