2020 Wrap-up: Frequent Flyer Points
Dec. 19th, 2020 08:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerEvery year around the start of the year I take stock of my balances in various frequent traveler points programs, both to see how we'll I've done in accumulating & using miles as well as to set goals for the coming 12 months. Although the start of 2021 is still almost two weeks away I'm done earning frequent flyer points for 2020. I'll review my balances now, starting with airlines.
The dominant piece of the story here is Coronavirus. When I reviewed my miles 12 months ago I set a variety of goals for spending down my balances by going places and doing things. I got off to a good start in January-February, but by March plans came crashing down. During the summer I thought I'd be traveling again by now, but then infections went up (sharply!) instead of down so I've stayed home. Anyway, here's how things shake out for 2020.
⬇️ Southwest Airlines: Down 30k to 257k
Southwest has been my primary airline for the past several years, the airline I take most of my flights on. Although my balance of SW Rapid Rewards (RR) points is bigger than I'd like at least it's declining— showing that I'm able to redeem points faster than I accumulate them. Of course, in this travel-is-canceled year of Coronavirus most of that came from 50k points spent buying gift cards to earn more points. And most of those gift cards I still have sitting in my desk drawer! For 2021 my RR points balance is likely to go up, way up. I'll be chasing status again, starting with a credit card signup bonus then paid flights for earning points as travel becomes safe again. I foresee getting as high as 400k before I switch back to spend-points mode.
⬆️ United Airlines: Up 13k to 318k
Just as I celebrated my Southwest balance going down I bemoan my United balance going up. I would rather be spending down my balance as United keeps finding ways to make its points worth less and less. Basically I'm stuck with a deflating currency. I earned some points taking a few paid flights early in the year. I actually did find a decent redemption opportunity around Thanksgiving but then I canceled Thanksgiving travel due to Coronavirus. I'll go back to looking for redemption opportunities in 2021 once travel becomes safe again. I expect slim pickings, though, as UA has watered down its frequent flyer points program so badly it's rarely worth redeeming vs. paying cash anymore.
↔️ American Airlines: Level at 816k
I tried, man; I really tried. I booked awards flights with AA three times this year but canceled them all due to Coronavirus. I look forward to being able to spend down this sizable balance flying to fun places in 2021 and beyond.
↔️ Delta Airlines: Still at 50k
This is the 50k pot of miles I didn't even know I had two years ago. I did look for redemption opportunities this year and almost found one worth taking, but then Coronavirus shut everything down. I'll look again once travel resumes in 2021 but I'm not too optimistic. 50k Delta SkyMiles isn't actually very much. Many frequent flyers refer to them as SkyPesos.
The dominant piece of the story here is Coronavirus. When I reviewed my miles 12 months ago I set a variety of goals for spending down my balances by going places and doing things. I got off to a good start in January-February, but by March plans came crashing down. During the summer I thought I'd be traveling again by now, but then infections went up (sharply!) instead of down so I've stayed home. Anyway, here's how things shake out for 2020.
⬇️ Southwest Airlines: Down 30k to 257k
Southwest has been my primary airline for the past several years, the airline I take most of my flights on. Although my balance of SW Rapid Rewards (RR) points is bigger than I'd like at least it's declining— showing that I'm able to redeem points faster than I accumulate them. Of course, in this travel-is-canceled year of Coronavirus most of that came from 50k points spent buying gift cards to earn more points. And most of those gift cards I still have sitting in my desk drawer! For 2021 my RR points balance is likely to go up, way up. I'll be chasing status again, starting with a credit card signup bonus then paid flights for earning points as travel becomes safe again. I foresee getting as high as 400k before I switch back to spend-points mode.⬆️ United Airlines: Up 13k to 318k
Just as I celebrated my Southwest balance going down I bemoan my United balance going up. I would rather be spending down my balance as United keeps finding ways to make its points worth less and less. Basically I'm stuck with a deflating currency. I earned some points taking a few paid flights early in the year. I actually did find a decent redemption opportunity around Thanksgiving but then I canceled Thanksgiving travel due to Coronavirus. I'll go back to looking for redemption opportunities in 2021 once travel becomes safe again. I expect slim pickings, though, as UA has watered down its frequent flyer points program so badly it's rarely worth redeeming vs. paying cash anymore.↔️ American Airlines: Level at 816k
I tried, man; I really tried. I booked awards flights with AA three times this year but canceled them all due to Coronavirus. I look forward to being able to spend down this sizable balance flying to fun places in 2021 and beyond.
↔️ Delta Airlines: Still at 50k
This is the 50k pot of miles I didn't even know I had two years ago. I did look for redemption opportunities this year and almost found one worth taking, but then Coronavirus shut everything down. I'll look again once travel resumes in 2021 but I'm not too optimistic. 50k Delta SkyMiles isn't actually very much. Many frequent flyers refer to them as SkyPesos.
