Tips on Actually Redeeming Those Hard Earned Airline Miles
I thought I had figured out how to earn miles on airlines.
I flew exclusively on one airline and its partners.
I got the credit card.
I booked online.
I signed up for double mileage offers.
I ended up with oodles of miles that I could not use- because they wouldn't let me.
So I had to figure out another system (that still manages to foil my best laid travel plans): how to get where you want to go using your hard-earned miles.
Persistence, friend.
Make smart travel decisions: If you are trying to go to a popular vacation destination, like Hawaii, where everyone wants to use their miles, book as early as they allow bookings.
The same holds true if you want to travel with more than one or two people on mileage awards.
Also, if you want to go from LAX to JFK, why would you use miles? Tickets are cheap and you can earn miles when you have purchased the ticket; you do not earn miles when you are flying on mileage awards.
So try use them on flights where the tickets would be expensive.
Look online, but do not be afraid to call: The online award travel booking system is not perfect, especially when it comes to partner airlines.
Look and see what is available online, but then call and see if the agent can get you something better by trying combinations they do not offer online.
You do not have to pay a fee until you make a booking, and even if you do, the $15 live person booking fee is worth it to get to go when/where you want.
If at first you don't succeed, try a different agent: You have no idea if the agent on the other end of the phone is trying all possibilities.
Ask them to try other connecting cities or other classes of service.
If you do not think they are exhausting all options, thank them, then call back and try with someone else.
What are the odds of getting the same agent twice in a row? Be flexible: If you are saving $2000 on the purchase of a ticket, maybe it would not be so bad to fly to an airport 200 miles away and pay for a train or short-hop to get to your final destination.
Reserve something and keep trying to change it: If you can find the departure you want, but not the return, hold it for as long as you can and call back every day to see if something has opened up.
Different airlines release seats at different intervals, and other people cancel or change reservations, so you never know what will open up.
Be nice: I know it is frustrating, but it is not the call center agent's fault.
Being polite and cordial goes a long way to having someone go the extra mile to try some clever routing.
And they will not hear it when you scream profanities at the airline for not letting you use your miles- after you have thanked them for their help and hung up.
I flew exclusively on one airline and its partners.
I got the credit card.
I booked online.
I signed up for double mileage offers.
I ended up with oodles of miles that I could not use- because they wouldn't let me.
So I had to figure out another system (that still manages to foil my best laid travel plans): how to get where you want to go using your hard-earned miles.
Persistence, friend.
Make smart travel decisions: If you are trying to go to a popular vacation destination, like Hawaii, where everyone wants to use their miles, book as early as they allow bookings.
The same holds true if you want to travel with more than one or two people on mileage awards.
Also, if you want to go from LAX to JFK, why would you use miles? Tickets are cheap and you can earn miles when you have purchased the ticket; you do not earn miles when you are flying on mileage awards.
So try use them on flights where the tickets would be expensive.
Look online, but do not be afraid to call: The online award travel booking system is not perfect, especially when it comes to partner airlines.
Look and see what is available online, but then call and see if the agent can get you something better by trying combinations they do not offer online.
You do not have to pay a fee until you make a booking, and even if you do, the $15 live person booking fee is worth it to get to go when/where you want.
If at first you don't succeed, try a different agent: You have no idea if the agent on the other end of the phone is trying all possibilities.
Ask them to try other connecting cities or other classes of service.
If you do not think they are exhausting all options, thank them, then call back and try with someone else.
What are the odds of getting the same agent twice in a row? Be flexible: If you are saving $2000 on the purchase of a ticket, maybe it would not be so bad to fly to an airport 200 miles away and pay for a train or short-hop to get to your final destination.
Reserve something and keep trying to change it: If you can find the departure you want, but not the return, hold it for as long as you can and call back every day to see if something has opened up.
Different airlines release seats at different intervals, and other people cancel or change reservations, so you never know what will open up.
Be nice: I know it is frustrating, but it is not the call center agent's fault.
Being polite and cordial goes a long way to having someone go the extra mile to try some clever routing.
And they will not hear it when you scream profanities at the airline for not letting you use your miles- after you have thanked them for their help and hung up.