I’ll admit I have accumulated more miles than I am comfortable with. I believe that miles are never going to be as valuable tomorrow as they are today, miles should be used in the near-term for travel and then more miles earned going forward for future travel. In that way you’re earning and redeeming miles based on the same rates and charts, and aren’t really affected by inflation.

But I continue to earn more miles than I redeem even with four multi-person international premium cabin redemptions on the books for 2014.

And while I tend to think that non-air travel redemptions usually don’t provide very good value (LCD toasters, anyone?), there can be some unique experience redemptions that make the cut — largely because you get access to the kinds of things you couldn’t do on your own.

Most of then those are provided by credit card programs, though Starwood Preferred Guest has made significant ventures in this direction as well.

Barry P. points out that the EVA Air Infinity MileageLands program offers a flight simulator experience at their training center in Taoyuan, Taiwan for just 100,000 miles. (This redemption is open to Gold and Diamond elites only.)

Now, EVA doesn’t status match, which makes this somewhat difficult unless I first earn Silver status and then fly 50,000 miles on qualifying international flights within a 12 month period.

But I’m now going to keep my eye out for the next Star Alliance-wide status match offering. That’s the exception to ‘doesn’t status match’. They may be targeted to specific markets, but it’s often the case that multiple programs or even all Star Alliance programs will offer elite status match programs. Star also runs games occasionally with prizes being Gold status in your preferred Alliance progrmm. I may just make EVA Airways my pick.

I’m actually somewhat disappointed now that I gave up my Diners Club card, as Diners Club Club Rewards points transfer 1:1 into EVA Airways Infinity MileageLands.

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