How early do you book award travel?
Jul 20, 2002 | 2:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon USA
Posts: 63
How early do you book award travel?
The technical limit is 365 days. What is your strategy? To clarify, tell me your destination, time of year of travel, and which program/airline you are using.
Personally, I'm curious in particular about international awards in summer, and when the award seats are used up.
Personally, I'm curious in particular about international awards in summer, and when the award seats are used up.
Jul 20, 2002 | 2:57 pm
#3
Moderator: LGBTQ+ Travel & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,301
International awards particularly to Europe in Summer especially if you want Business Class will go very quickly. So try to book as soon as possible. That's not to say that there will never be availability close to travel date since more inventory is sometimes released and people do change/cancel reservations.
Jul 20, 2002 | 4:20 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Very simple for me.
I call to book as soon as I know where and when I want to go on a free or upgraded award ticket.
Doesn't matter if it's 330 days out, or 1 week out.
I don't put it off. Even if you have to go waitlist, being the early bird sometimes gets the worm.
I call to book as soon as I know where and when I want to go on a free or upgraded award ticket.
Doesn't matter if it's 330 days out, or 1 week out.
I don't put it off. Even if you have to go waitlist, being the early bird sometimes gets the worm.
Jul 20, 2002 | 7:40 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Northport, NY
Programs: Advantage 4MM
Posts: 1,742
I have stayed up to midnight to call @12:01AM 330 days out for air awards. I have booked Hilton awards over two years in advance. I usually get what I want as I can be somewhat flexible on dates.
Jul 20, 2002 | 10:22 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: So Cal
Posts: 88
How far in advance will Hilton let you go?
I book flights 331 days in advance too, whenever possible.
The only problem with this is you can't pin down the return as the same time as the departure...
I book flights 331 days in advance too, whenever possible.
The only problem with this is you can't pin down the return as the same time as the departure...
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Schutzee:
I have stayed up to midnight to call @12:01AM 330 days out for air awards. I have booked Hilton awards over two years in advance. I usually get what I want as I can be somewhat flexible on dates.</font>
I have stayed up to midnight to call @12:01AM 330 days out for air awards. I have booked Hilton awards over two years in advance. I usually get what I want as I can be somewhat flexible on dates.</font>
Jul 20, 2002 | 11:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: MO, UA 1K, HI Plat, Avis First
Posts: 263
Ayyyyeee, Crikey. I didn't realize rewards were really planned 330 days out. I am wanting to take my wife to Hawaii October, 2003 for our anniversary. I wasn't planning on starting the request until after I had all the miles needed (was planning for February/March of 2003). You guys are saying I really need to start around November/December of this year???? Are FC awards to Hawaii (with some date flexibility) that hard to come by???
Jul 21, 2002 | 8:24 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,950
I usually book my August award trips (coach) to Europe in January. This is the first year that I have had serious challenges making it happen, but I put that mostly on Northwest not having adequate availability. It did finally work out, but took extra points to book business on the trip home (not all bad), and I had to cash in a Southwest ticket to fly to a Northwest hub--they had zero trips out of PHX.
I booked coach on Continental for a November trip to Hawaii back in Feb. or March, and got what I wanted right away.
JP
I booked coach on Continental for a November trip to Hawaii back in Feb. or March, and got what I wanted right away.
JP
Jul 21, 2002 | 2:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Northport, NY
Programs: Advantage 4MM
Posts: 1,742
I don't know Hiltons official policy, but I did book a week in St. Lucia for April 21, 2003 on July 20, 2001. The first time I called I was told one year was the limit, so I called back and got someone who booked the reservation. Countless times I get different answers from different CSR's. This isn't just with Hilton, but all tha airlines, hotels, etc. I don't know if is employee indifference or inexperience.
[This message has been edited by Schutzee (edited 07-22-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Schutzee (edited 07-22-2002).]
Jul 22, 2002 | 1:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: CT
Programs: UA Member/Marriott Silver/SPG Gold/Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 156
I booked awards tix for my wife, mother and mother-in-law (bought mine of course for the miles 
) from BOS to LAS. I called 5 months ahead and got the last 3 seats on the flights I wanted (11:10 AM out and 10:55 AM back). Since this was my first time booking an award, I was surprised that I got the last 3 seats with 5 months to go! 
) from BOS to LAS. I called 5 months ahead and got the last 3 seats on the flights I wanted (11:10 AM out and 10:55 AM back). Since this was my first time booking an award, I was surprised that I got the last 3 seats with 5 months to go!
Jul 22, 2002 | 3:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: YYC: UA 1K, HH Dia, SPG Plat
Posts: 422
I booked my Hawaii trip for this coming Xmas season back in early January - AC seats and Hilton HHV and HWV for 4 of us. Was more worried about the airline seat availability than the hotel but managed to get both, primarily due to status however.
Jul 22, 2002 | 5:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Posts: 18
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jimjamkc:
Ayyyyeee, Crikey. I didn't realize rewards were really planned 330 days out. I am wanting to take my wife to Hawaii October, 2003 for our anniversary. I wasn't planning on starting the request until after I had all the miles needed (was planning for February/March of 2003). You guys are saying I really need to start around November/December of this year???? Are FC awards to Hawaii (with some date flexibility) that hard to come by???</font>
Ayyyyeee, Crikey. I didn't realize rewards were really planned 330 days out. I am wanting to take my wife to Hawaii October, 2003 for our anniversary. I wasn't planning on starting the request until after I had all the miles needed (was planning for February/March of 2003). You guys are saying I really need to start around November/December of this year???? Are FC awards to Hawaii (with some date flexibility) that hard to come by???</font>
Jul 22, 2002 | 5:17 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAD/DCA/BWI
Programs: SQ, LH, AMEX, Citi, Cap1
Posts: 4,113
I booked int'l Asia award seats in March -- with travel in December. Been doing this for the past 4 years.
For NW upgrades, I typically book those between May and June -- for travel in December. For CO upgrade awards, I book those between one week to two months prior to departure.
- Pat
For NW upgrades, I typically book those between May and June -- for travel in December. For CO upgrade awards, I book those between one week to two months prior to departure.
- Pat