amolkold
Jun 17, 12, 1:48 am
I've been status matched to TK E and am looking at keeping it as my go-to program for *G. I joined last month and will reach 22K miles by the end of next month, so I shouldn't have any problems reaching 25K by May 2013 to get *G through May 2016.
That being said, I'm looking at mileage redemptions on the TK side. I know that miles expire 3 years after they are first earned, so I'm looking at redeeming on routes with TK metal, which seem to be cheaper than *A partners, and allow one-ways. Mainly because I don't think I could fly more than 100K paid miles on *A without transfer options.
Two redemptions that interest me are North America-IST-Europe (70K on TK J or 42K J one-way) and North America-IST-India (100K on TK J or 60K one-way).
Anyway, my main questions are:
1) I've tried to do dummy bookings but barely anything shows up as available from North America to IST in J for a 3-month period in the distant future. Is availability always this scarce? I did have better luck with JFK than LAX and ORD, but I think that has to do with more flights offered...
2) On a scale from 0 to BA, how bad are the taxes/fees/surcharges when redeeming on TK? I ITAMatrix'd a J fare from LAX-BOM on TK, and it came out with $569 in taxes including a $480 YR. Would that YR be included in a mileage redemption? I can't do a dummy booking online, even in Y/Y+, because I don't have the miles yet.
Sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere ... I searched back, but a lot of threads were from at least 3 years ago, and I don't know if things have changed.
That being said, I'm looking at mileage redemptions on the TK side. I know that miles expire 3 years after they are first earned, so I'm looking at redeeming on routes with TK metal, which seem to be cheaper than *A partners, and allow one-ways. Mainly because I don't think I could fly more than 100K paid miles on *A without transfer options.
Two redemptions that interest me are North America-IST-Europe (70K on TK J or 42K J one-way) and North America-IST-India (100K on TK J or 60K one-way).
Anyway, my main questions are:
1) I've tried to do dummy bookings but barely anything shows up as available from North America to IST in J for a 3-month period in the distant future. Is availability always this scarce? I did have better luck with JFK than LAX and ORD, but I think that has to do with more flights offered...
2) On a scale from 0 to BA, how bad are the taxes/fees/surcharges when redeeming on TK? I ITAMatrix'd a J fare from LAX-BOM on TK, and it came out with $569 in taxes including a $480 YR. Would that YR be included in a mileage redemption? I can't do a dummy booking online, even in Y/Y+, because I don't have the miles yet.
Sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere ... I searched back, but a lot of threads were from at least 3 years ago, and I don't know if things have changed.