Airline miles

[DollFin]

OK, so I have a ton of Advantage miles I've saved over the years and a lot of them expire next year so I really want to start looking into how I want to use them. I want to get the most out of them and go somewhere really cool, that not only has great diving but lots of other cool things to see and do. Does anyone have any experience using Advantage Miles this way and what would you recommend?

[Dee]

My only experience with any kind of miles programs is the dates I need are never available. One program who's huge selling point was no more blackout dates, etc, just put you on standby instead of telling you it wasn't available. Needless to say I have a very low opinion of free miles....hope you get yours, even part value would be great!

[quarkuud]

I used my AAdvantage miles to fly from Australia to the US over Christmas-time (I had one flight on Dec 20, even). Of course, I reserved the tickets in April.

That being said, if you are flexible with dates and times, I think it's not that hard to use your miles. I'd come up with a list of a couple of destinations and just sit at the computer trying dates until you find something that works:-)

[jtkkym]

You should check if there is black out date and you should check how many seats are available for the "free" ride. They sell out very fast for a popular destination.

[Defman]

Just used my AA miles for my trip to Bonaire! After fees and junk it cost me a whole whopping $22 for the airfare from Austin...

[csky]

Good luck, DollFin!

IMO, AA is actually one of the easier airlines to book award travel, though with the airlines getting tighter and tighter it's getting harder and harder. Seems like there are two big times for award travel to open up - about 330 days and 30 days before the trip. I really think the phone agents can help a lot so it may be worth the extra fee if you can't find anything on your own.

Depending on how many miles you have, AA is part of oneworld so you can get to an awful lot of Asia and the Pacific via codeshare and partners. During the summer, they have offpeak awards saver to the Caribbean for about 30-35,000 miles which are a great value since you can go to, say, Dominica (normally a pricey flight with lots of connections) for not much more than a domestic ticket.

Good luck and have a great trip!

[namabiru]

Originally Posted by Defman

Just used my AA miles for my trip to Bonaire! After fees and junk it cost me a whole whopping $22 for the airfare from Austin...

Brill! Have a nice trip, and be sure to let us know how it goes.

[ianr33]

I have always found booking award trips on American pretty easy if you are somewhat flexible. So much easier than delta or Continental thats for sure.

Bonaire is a good air miles destination. Tickets are expensive to purchase but only 30,000 ?? miles for an award ticket. Cheap diving makes for a very reasonable trip.

The downside is that you will be flying a turboprop out of Peurto Rico and you baggage may not arrive with you.

Another neat airmiles location is Saba. Fly to St Martin on American and just purchase the 10 minute flight to Saba.
Saba is great. I want to get back there someday.

Bear in mind that you can book Award tickets up to a year in advance,so you could book the ticket next year and go the year after. Whatever you do,dont waste them !!!!!!

[namabiru]

Yeah.... I hate to say it, though, but anymore you take a real gamble when you check a bag with a US-based airline anyway. So what would it matter if you flew a prop job out of Puerto Rico when the fools in the Stated didn't bother with loading your bag on the first leg... I found it hilarious when United/Delta announced they would charge $25 for a second bag. So you're paying them $25 to not put *either* bag on the plane!!! Nice business practice right there...

Now there are, of course, exceptions. Continental still cares, and still does a good job.

[Byte Me]

I just used almost all of my Northwest miles for a flight to Jamaica in November for my wife and I. It helps if you're not flying on "typical" days. We're flying out on a Wednesday and back on a Tuesday. We also booked in February so it was well in advance which also helps a lot. Another thing to consider, if there are regular flights there - Northwest has a handful of flights to Jamaica so that opened up inventory.