It's the biggest complaint among members of airline frequent-flier programs: how difficult it is to redeem points for free travel.
Just ask criminal-justice consultant David Beatty of Ashburn. Airlines, Beatty says, "always have blackout dates and other limitations which often make using them very impractical."
So which airlines are the most and least accommodating? Airlines' 10-K filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission give a strong clue.
American Airlines last year awarded 2.8 million round trips, which represented 9.2 percent of total passengers miles flown on the airline, putting it at the top.
Continental, the nation's fifth-largest carrier, was second with 7.6 percent, or 1.4 million trips. United, which was the nation's largest airline last year, came in third at 7.2 percent. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2001May22.html
We live in Chicago but quit flying UA because the ff miles were so hard to use for our family. UA has a history of blacking out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during spring break weeks. Of course, this is when we are looking for leisure award travel.
We used all our UA miles for 4 tickets to Hawaii over Christmas and now only fly AA.
Location: From Southeast, MM, Former DL PM Now FO,FC and fly too much me thinks
Programs: DL, NW
Posts: 5,382
I usually have decent luck getting flights. Any problems usually are due to last minute requests or heavy traffic times. When I happen to look online, I usually see that the plane is 80% full already, so getting free seats may be hard.
And, many times I have been able to call three days ahead and still get either my first choice or second choice.
Not perfect, but they still have a business to run.
Originally posted by NoStressHere: Not perfect, but they still have a business to run.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. The world's most profitable airline (NYSE: LUV) has no capacity controls on their frequent flyer awards. Meanwhile, the airline losing the most money (NYSE: UAL) has one of the most stringent capacity controls.
Good business? Coincidence? No, and no. Happy customers = repeat customers = more $$$.
Note to doc:
Is American Airlines counting their "$298 + 20,000 miles" awards as awards? If so, those numbers are worthless. Anyone who has to pay several hundred dollars plus cleaning out their account is getting nothing "free" from the airline.
I've had pretty good luck redeeming award tickets on bothe UA & CO. Many non-elite members complain about not be able to use their miles that have been accumulated on various credit cards & other related programs. I think it is somewhat unreasonable to expect an airline to book anyone on short notice during high season. I've been able to book award travel on holiday weekends, Hawaii during February and Europe during the summer - you just have to be a little flexible sometimes.
In April I tried to book for late September in first class for two from Sacramento to either Paris or Amsterdam on United. I had about a two week window because I have a confirmed condo exchange in Paris. The best I could get in my window was business class to Paris and business return from London. Even this was not on the most desirable routing. I was surprised a six month lead time in non peak season would be so difficult.
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AS MVP Gold, UA PremEx, HHonors Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
__________________
This year I'm mostly a nobody - UA Prem, HHonors Silver, Hertz 5 Star
In April I tried to book for late September in first class for two from Sacramento to either Paris or Amsterdam on United. I had about a two week window because I have a confirmed condo exchange in Paris. The best I could get in my window was business class to Paris and business return from London. Even this was not on the most desirable routing. I was surprised a six month lead time in non peak season would be so difficult.
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AS MVP Gold, UA PremEx, HHonors Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
__________________
This year I'm mostly a nobody - UA Prem, HHonors Silver, Hertz 5 Star
Location: Huntsville AL, previously Kwajalein - Republic of the Marshall Islands
Programs: CO Plat, DL Plat
Posts: 234
Kwaj boy & I booked CO F/C award tickets last December for KWA/CNS/KWA as soon as the window opened up (or so we thought) at 330 days before flight time. We both got KWA/GUM but there was only 1 F/C seat available GUM/CNS on the outbound so Kwaj boy gallantly let me have it and waitlisted for first while getting confirmed in coach. We tried alternate dates and were told that everything in F/C was already booked up, but that his Silver status would place him on the priority waitlist (assuming no Plats or Golds were ahead of him) Just yesterday his F/C seat finally cleared, so he's happy at last. Patience worked...THIS time!
Continental is the worst for using Business Class to Europe and Hawaii. They have grown at a 25% growth rate to Europe, but still it is impossible to go there up front. Therefore, I continue to build up on American
The best solution for this problem = redeem points for upgrades instead of free tickets. This has the added advantage of keeping the wheel running towards elite status in your favorite FFP.
__________________ Come to Argentina & try the Wines from the RIGHT side of the Andes... Visit Terroir Fine Wines - www.terroir.com.ar
When I redeem miles for my personal use, I request international upgrades from coach to business class. When I redeem miles for family and friends, I generally request domestic first class. My record with American Airlines has been outstanding.
I have had extremely good luck with AA in cashing in miles for my destination as well as dates in the window given...quite the opposite with UA...never,I REPEAT NEVER!!!in 12 years have I been able to redeem an award with them,thus I am sitting with a ton of UA miles(which I keep adding to...living in chicago)but AA is definately my carrier of choice for this reason.
