Getting what I want when I want, the way I want it, so I could maybe go somewhere

[10CaratBlue]

Not to be picky or anything, but I have 600k frequent flyer miles that are beyond tough to use. I have a few perameters. I like to get out and rest every 14-15 flying hours. I don't like to fly west when I'm going east. I don't like making half a dozen stops, or starting the journey at 4AM, particularly from a city other than the one I live in. So I recently planned to be the first caller 331 days in advance when the airline calendar opened for my target dates. I rang up at 6 AM Pacific time. No availability. Of course, my daughter and I had agreed to fly separately --on different dates because we realize two seats in one cabin isn't happening any more, unless they can't sell it, in which case it becomes available just before the flight date. But we can't book an expensive tour and make our plans last minute because she has a life (I don't. I could go anytime.) The airlines are cultivating anger in their best customers! How do they think I got this mileage?? If the mileage chart says something's available, and it really isn't, and there's no transparency or accountability for the consumer, it's kinda like...fraud! Misrepresentation, maybe. Let's be kind. One theoretical seat per flight per cabin, maybe, if they feel like it. Anyone got any tips for getting to Viet Nam over Xmas '09 in biz class with mileage??

[thepiranha]

Sorry that I don't have tips for getting to Vietnam, but I can empathize with your situation. The airlines are getting much more rigid in letting their loyal customers redeem their frequent flyer miles and it's extremely frustrating. I think that your problem is not that the seat(s) were already taken by frequent flyers, but that you're flying during a time that's blacked out. No frequent flyers will be getting seats during that period. My suggestion is to go forward and backwards from the date that you want to fly and see if and when something is available. It's possible that you may be able to get a free ticket by flying on the last day before the blacked out dates or the first date after those dates. Good luck! Incidentally, my daughter was in Vietnam for three and a half weeks last summer and she had a fantastic time. Great food, great beaches, friendly people and lots of historic and archeologically significant places to explore. On top of that, it's a very inexpensive country to visit.

[10CaratBlue]

Ah, yes... flexibility. I did that one. Some airlines are blacked out. We got seats on China Airlines, then Butterfield & Robinson flubbed the departure city and date, and we had to start again. We're now doing a week in Japan instead, in Oct., Singapore Airlines, flying separately. But during the saga, the head of PR for Korean Air told me, use'em up quick. The exec department at American Express concurred in the futility of it, awarded me $150 for lunch in Japan. It's beyond anything called rigid!

[kyshel]

we had no trouble using DL FF miles on Korean Air--around 90 days prior--for business class seats. 30K RT each for ICN and/or NRT to BKK and/or DPS (Bali) (Coach was only 25)
We flew Delta (standby employee pass travel) to Asia and then flew Korean Air with miles. Maybe a better way is to buy coach seats and upgrade with miles to business?
PS--you'll probably need $150 for lunch in Japan--but at least there is no tipping!

I'm working on a trip to Cambodia/Laos via Hong Kong and will do similar w/30k miles OR use them to fly to Fiji from Korea.

Keep us posted with more details. We have so few travelers who go to Asia so all reports are important! Which reminds me I have to finish my Bali review.

thepiranha--maybe your daughter will share her Vietnam trip with us? We've been told it probably won't be a good choice for us (by some recent visitors)

[betsyv]

Kyshel is right. Sometimes it is better to use your frequent flyer miles on one of the foreign partners. For example, Kyshel mentioned using Delta miles for a Korean Air ticket. I know it isn't fair to have to be tricky like that but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. You might trying looking at your airline partners and going that way. Also do look at paying for an economy class ticket but upgrading to business class with your miles. Those are the best two suggestions I have. Also don't forget that you have to consider foreign holidays along with your country's holidays. For example, it is hard to get a free ticket to Hong Kong around Chinese New Year.



I go to Asia quite often. Have tickets booked for Mid April-Early May and another trip Late May to Late June. It is a a fabulous place. Vietnam is great but if you get a chance, do go to Bali. It is one of my favorite places and the only place I would live other than the USA.



Side question for the Piranha and Kyshel-How do you write a review or blog on a place after a trip? I want to share all my goods and bads about So Africa after our trip along with some photos!

[thepiranha]

Betsyv, you might want to contact Katie or Michael at Luxury Link to see if you can start a travel blog. As far as I know, only VIPs have travel blogs, but someone who has traveled as much as you would be a great addition to the blogs. I'm still relatively new to Luxury Link and haven't taken many trips since joining, but I'm definitely going to add my trip to Mexico this month to my travel blogs, especially if I can figure out how to add photos . Have you read any of the travel blogs? Some of them are quite good.

[thepiranha]

Betsyv, I forgot to mention that using partner miles to get the flight you want is in no way unfair. It's being creative. I had been checking on flights for some time from Phoenix to Albuquerque last year. The flight was available before I went to bed one night, but unavailable the next morning. I immediately panicked, but then went to Orbitz and booked the exact flight at the same price with them. That's not cheating. Especially with the way fares change all the time, you have to do what you have to do.

[10CaratBlue]

I report as a survivor of The Bonus Mile Wars. See, I don't wanna go coach if it's more than 7 hours. And I'm far too cheap to upgrade a full Y class fare. So getting the goods from the likes of DL, SQ, etc is a battleground when you need prime-time. Last year it was do-able, even at Xmas. I had SQ to India via BKK and NRT. This year, forget it! Anyhow I do daydream as my retirement savings vanish by the minute. I go everywhere online, and think Ah Yes, This Could Be Me. By the way, I recommend to one and all the river cruise. Anywhere! Living on a boat is so great. Unfortunately, seasickness gets me from the dock. Watching waves on TV. So I can do rivers. The Nile is great fun. The Amazon was just breathtaking. Did the Yasawas decades ago and loved it, even though it's the big bad sea, they park in quiet lagoons every night. I can also river raft, and have done the Colorado and the Babine Skeena in Canada. So those of you who haven't done the river thing, do it. Lots of deals as they try to fill them ships this year. Oh, did a canal once in France, but you guessed it -- rain every day. Still fun.

[10CaratBlue]

also check CDC for malaria meds, rather dangerous scene in Cambodia at this time

[10CaratBlue]

And one more thing! If you're Asia-bound, a GREAT stopover is the Crowne Plaza at Narita airport. It's a trifle funky, but Kobe beef room service, friendly folks, cheap, and you can fool around in the BEAUTIFUL town of old Narita, walk among farms, go to the shrine and the park and the hardware store on the main drag and the sweets shop. Adorable town. Used it twice last year and going again in Oct. I just can't do those 21-hour flights anymore. Too cranky. Too arthritic. Too whatever.