Starwood Preferred Guest - Want to use SPG points to fly SF-->DC this Christmas

Hi,

I have 47,181 SPG points and they tell me that can transfer them to any of several airlines, including american, continental, delta, united and US Air.

My dates are flexible around Christmas, and I am willing to travel from SFO or Oakland to DCA or IAD or , less preferably, BWI--looking for anyone with knowledge of which airlines have least holiday blackouts and most availability so I can transfer my points there and get a ticket. Lower points cost is also a plus.

I am :-:very grateful:-: to anyone who can help me on this with any tidbits as I have never redeemed points from any program before.

Lauren

some websites will allow to check availibility on line
otherwise you will have to call each program and have them check for availability, including their partners

and check to see if alaska, jet blue, air tran are also options

Hi,

I have 47,181 SPG points and they tell me that can transfer them to any of several airlines, including american, continental, delta, united and US Air.

My dates are flexible around Christmas, and I am willing to travel from SFO or Oakland to DCA or IAD or , less preferably, BWI--looking for anyone with knowledge of which airlines have least holiday blackouts and most availability so I can transfer my points there and get a ticket. Lower points cost is also a plus.

I am :-:very grateful:-: to anyone who can help me on this with any tidbits as I have never redeemed points from any program before.

Lauren

Hi,

I have 47,181 SPG points and they tell me that can transfer them to any of several airlines, including american, continental, delta, united and US Air.

My dates are flexible around Christmas, and I am willing to travel from SFO or Oakland to DCA or IAD or , less preferably, BWI--looking for anyone with knowledge of which airlines have least holiday blackouts and most availability so I can transfer my points there and get a ticket. Lower points cost is also a plus.

I am :-:very grateful:-: to anyone who can help me on this with any tidbits as I have never redeemed points from any program before.

Lauren

This could be an option

Use Starpoints for flights with new program -- SPG Flights (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=861682&highlight=flights)

SPG Flights is just what I was looking for. Thanks!!!:D

You're likely to get much more value by using your SPG points on hotel stays vs. using them through SPG flights. SPG flights gives you about 1.3 cents per SPG point. If you were to redeem them for hotel stays you could easily net 3 to 4 cents per SPG point or possibly more.

Unless you're very hard pressed for cash right now IMHO you shouldn't use SPG flights.

Once you are capable of trading on coupon connection, you can get a much better redemption value by arranging a trade.

plus virgin america has some excellent fares on SFO-IAD. I'd buy the ticket if you can by any means, and use the reward at any times.