Hi,
My sister is planning her trips around US to take her interviews (residency). She has one bunch near Chicago - (Chicago, Peoria), and Cleveland in early Nov, then Philly, NYC, Sayre, Boston in early Dec. Chances are she will have to return to the NYC area in late Jan as well.

So we are trying to make the best use of award tickets - the early Nov one can be accomplished in 15,000 - I had though she could fly into Peoria and out of Chicago. But the Cleveland interview has messed up the plan. The second set I was thinking of basing her in philly or Neward (I thought NYC would be too expensive/ risky to stay for an extended period).

We can do a couple awards on American (of course I did the 20/20 for her), a couple on United, one on Delta -maybe even one on Continental.

So what do you think?? What would be the best way to do this? Can I have her fly SJC - ORD - PIA Interview 1 night stay then PIA-ORD 3 interviews - five nights - then onto Cleveland? Is there a multicity award?

Thanks
alka

As I understand it, the domestic award codes have the same terms and conditions even though they have been reduced from 25/20k to only 15k.

American and Delta allow stopovers on the domestic awards but Continental and Northwest do not. There is a separate award for 35k domestic. Not certain about United as I try to avoid them when I can- even if you have the miles, you can't use use them.

You have some good fares out of Clevland, you could fly some people in or out of there.

------------------
"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."

If it were me, I'd probably use one award from SFO to CLE with stopover in ORD on AA,UA. Then just take a bus or rent a car for peoria. For east coast I'd either open jaw into Philly out of Bos, or sfo-bos with stopover in NYC, and train from NYC-PHL. This kind of depends on specific dates though. it looks as though she will have 3 weeks to kill between cle and phl, so it makes to sense to go back home. If that's only 2 days then diff. story.

a quick glance tells me renting a car is better than trying stopovers . i assume that residency is a md in a hospital? does she have to do all 3? what if the first 1 clicks? i guess that u r looking for cost reducing info. i think that i would look @ advance purchase tickets vs awards to start. the time between the trips seems to be long enough to get a good fare w/o going thru the award process. maybe do an award for the first one.

I agree with Clacko. Take separate trips to Chicago and New York with advance purchase tickets and rent a car.

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but there may be a problem with renting a car unless you are at least 25. I think this has been discussed in FF somewhere.

Good luck,

DD

Renting a car is not possible. She is not used to driving here in the US, and I don't want to take a chance at this important stage.

But the suggestion about stopovers with Delta and AA are great. I just assumed that like United, none of the airlines would offer stopovers. Thank you VERY much.

United doesn't permit stopovers

I think it is fantastic that AA offers stopovers on their domestic awards.

I use that benefit every time.

Generally, I begin the trip on the east coast, and stop in the midwest to see family.

I continue the trip west a fews days later to my final western destination.

I have also stopped in the midwest and continued on to Florida or the Carribean.