Top Ten Tricks for Getting the Flights You Want with the Miles You Have

[omegaet]

...just in case anyone missed this in The Perrin Post:




http://perrinpost.truth.travel/2010/...yer-miles.html

[bonniejoy03]

Thank you O. I probably have the fewest ff points compared to some of the other LL community however, I think the points I have I really make them work for me! I appreciate the tips. I found the last trip to Chile was amazing by buying some points and working directly with AA who worked with LanChile (their partner). It worked wonderfully! My goal for 2010 is to work more directly with the airlines when trying to use ff points! (also, when working with the airlines directly, they will (hopefully) offer their partners as solutions!)

[omegaet]

bonniejoy03.(1) is without a doubt the best approach.if you should happen to make contact with a representative who is unwilling or unable to assist (this has happened to us).thank them, hang up and try again. (5) is often a huge advantage, if you have enough time to plan months in advance. (7) when were in the hunt.I put the awards desk number in my speed dial and try to take a shot at them at least once a day. (9) Ive never used a booking service such as http://bookyouraward.com/ (we read his blog now and then and he certainly seems to know most if not all of the secrets) but if I really, really wanted to go and really, really wanted to use FF miles and just couldnt get it done, I would certainly investigate and be willing to spend the $250 to get it done.

[[email protected]]

I don't fly enough each year to accumulate alot of miles but when I do get some stored up I use them for upgrading. Continental is usually pretty good about upgrading with miles and sometimes I don't even have to use miles becausese the day before the flight if there are 1st/business seats still available, Continental will let you upgrade for a pretty decent price. My only trick is to be very nice on the phone to the agent and they will usually respond in kind!

Denise

[LL_Travelfan]

I recently worked with American Airlines FF desk for our Flight to Paris and Munich. Since American does not fly into Munich, I wound up booking a ff flight to Paris and a separate flight from Paris to Munich on Lufthansa, Lufthansa running a special for $125 for rt flights within Europe. The question of the baggage allowance came up since AA allowance is 40 kg (88 lbs) to Europe, but European flights allow only 20 kg (44 lbs). The AA agent told me by checking my baggage through to Munich, I can take advantage of the agreement AA has with Lufthansa to check luggage through to its final destination without paying for the difference in weight allowance within Europe. Now that was a very useful and money saving tip which I would not have gotten without contacting the AA representative. It always pays to be nice to the agent. A few kind words can work wonders....