Anyone Have First Hand Experience?

Have any of you ever used Gary Leff at www.BookYourAward.com for assistance with booking airline award seats?

I thought this was an interesting article in the NYT Travel Section:

Frequent Flier Pros to the Rescue - NYTimes.com

I have exchanged emails with Gary several times in the past and have found his observations interesting as well as creative. I have yet to actually use his service.

However, we are starting to discuss some ideas for 2013 travel. Although we usually manage to nail down our award seats without too much trouble, a couple of the destinations we have on our radar appear to be a bit more complicated and may require assistance from someone such as Gary or Matthew Klint at www.Upgrd.com

Normally I wouldn't want to pay the extra $150 these guys change, but if they can come up with the seats (one leg involves BIZ or FIRST on a long-haul Thai Airways A-380-800), plus an extended stop-over in a certain city....well, who knows, it's only money.

Anyone used them?

I've never used an award booking service but there are many booking services out there. Below is a link with a list of many of them, along with user questions and comments.


Award booking services - a list - FlyerTalk Forums

I've attended presentations where Gary was a speaker on one of the panels, and I've also met him personally but never used his service. My impression is that he is one of the most knowledgeable and a good guy. But I also have the impression that his business has grown so much that he may not be able to take all potential clients any longer. I'm sure that article will make him even busier! :)

How uninformed can I be? I didn't even know services like this existed.

BTW, I did send an email to Mr. Leff and laid out my current miles totals in several frequent flier programs. I mentioned some destinations of interest and he replied with a couple of recommendations for me. No charge for the ideas.

I guess he still has time to write back, jmbklj, even with his success.

What seminar did you attend where he was a speaker?

For the most part, I make all our travel arrangements myself. However, I have had occasion, where I needed the help of an AA or UN frequent flyer agent, and I must say, their helpfulness was worth the $25 fee per ticket. I am sure, these Frequent Flyer Pros charge quite a bit more. On a complicated, multi-country itinerary where partner airlines are involved, these guys might be helpful and worth the fee.

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Originally Posted by LL_Travelfan

For the most part, I make all our travel arrangements myself. However, I have had occasion, where I needed the help of an AA or UN frequent flyer agent, and I must say, their helpfulness was worth the $25 fee per ticket. I am sure, these Frequent Flyer Pros charge quite a bit more. On a complicated, multi-country itinerary where partner airlines are involved, these guys might be helpful and worth the fee.

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Trust me, LL_Travelfan, I wouldn't need to pay Mr. Leff a fee of $150 or even pay a res agent $25 for most award bookings. Even I can do most of those on the web.

It would be something very, very special or really complicated for me to call in a Hired Gun!

For instance, say I was looking for lay-flat First Class seats for a family of four on
Lithuanian Airlines on one of their Saab 2000 planes and I needed to use partner miles, then I might be willing to pay a higher fee.

Mountie, it was a Flyer Talk weekend seminar I attended where Gary was a panelist and an attendee for the weekend.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmbklj

Mountie, it was a Flyer Talk weekend seminar I attended where Gary was a panelist and an attendee for the weekend.

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Flyer Talk weekend seminar! Sounds interesting.

Are you in the travel business or just a points and miles collector?

Any additional comments regarding what you learned or contributed during the seminar?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mountie

Flyer Talk weekend seminar! Sounds interesting.

Are you in the travel business or just a points and miles collector?

Any additional comments regarding what you learned or contributed during the seminar?

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If I told you, I'd have to kill you! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmbklj

If I told you, I'd have to kill you! :)

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"TRY TO" before kill!

By doing so, you name would be added to a very long list of prior attempts in several countries.

So, disregard the second sentence, since the answer is none of my business anyway.

What did you learn at the seminar you would care to share with your fellow lounge members?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmbklj

Mountie, it was a Flyer Talk weekend seminar I attended where Gary was a panelist and an attendee for the weekend.

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Interesting.

I have read about these services in articles published in travel publications such as Travel & Leisure.

I think it might worth exploring, if you were unable to secure the award seats on your own and there is no charge unless they goal is accomplished the task.

jmbklj, I've never thought about attending a seminar centered around frequent flier. I guess I don't fly enough, but it might be worth while if one does a lot of business travel. I'm sure there are lots of little tips to be shared.