Award booking services - a list and some reviews
 

I tried about 5-6 different search combinations before I posted this and couldn't come up with any threads more recent than 2005-2007.

Is there a service that I can hire to make award bookings for me? I am a frequent reader of TPGs blog and would have hired him to keep income coming into a product that I use regularly but his blog states that he is no longer taking new award booking clients.

I am probably wasting my time posting this but please do reply that it is something I can do myself for free. I work 60-70 hours a week and have neither the time nor the patience to search the various airlines websites that I have mileage balances with hoping to find some combinations of days that would work. For me, it is money well spent to hire someone to do that for me.

Thanks for all the forthcoming suggestions.

go to www.viewfromthewing.com. Gary Leff is a well known and very savvy blogger who is possibly the best known of the award bookers. Full info on his site.

I believe he charges $250 for two tickets and doesn't charge if he can't deliver. He's a good guy and you would do well to contact him.

Actually, TPG has posted on his site that he is still doing award bookings for Premium members, at quoted from his blog:

"Price: Generally $125 per person. Due to capacity I am not taking new award booking requests for new clients at this time. I will still book awards for new and existing Premium and VIP program members."

Per his site, for Premium membership, you get:
- Daily email of posts, ad-free, generally before they post to everyone else
- Email blasts of breaking deals, like mistake fares and limited time offers (these emails will be rare, but when they are sent, they will be valuable)
- Choose either 1) Award booking benefit: 2 award tickets at 50% off ($50 per ticket fee instead of $100+) or 2) 30 minute phone consultation and evaluation of your current points and miles strategy
Annual fee of $125

Good luck!

Lot of folks

Gary, view from the wing
Lucky, one mile at a time
Brian, thepointsguy
Not sure exactly whom but folks at upgrd.com
many more.....

Rates are almost more or less the same for everyone.

Ben also know as Lucky9876coins has been a contributor here and has a blog at http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime also has a service to find award seating.

"Having trouble using your miles for that dream trip? Consider using my award travel booking service, Points Pros. You can find more details, including what we do, how to contact us, our pricing, testimonials, and more, at PointsPros.com."


Never used it myself, but I've read Lucky for years and the man is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He also serves on the board here at flyertalk.

I realize I may be a bit late for the OP here, but for future reference - I too run an award-booking service. You can check it out here, or in my signature :)

Cheers!

Award booking services - a list and some reviews
 

I have done plenty of award bookings- but at times its quicker to pay for the help as Im on travel etc. Or the multiple friends & family "bugging" me for help.

I would like to divert them to competent and reasonably priced consultants.

Could you please post links to relevant services here, and possibly add your experiences. Feel free to add basic pricing etc.

I will update this post with all links provided.

The search function revealed very scattered info over the years. This might become a master list.

THERE IS NO NEED FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE NEED FOR SUCH SERVICES OR BASHING OP OR OTHERS FOR NOT DOING IT FOR FREE

Edit:
Some of the veterans dont take new clients. Will add info posted on thread.

http://www.awardtravelconsulting.com/ My personal favourite based on requests to all services. YMMV.

www.awardexpert.com

http://bookyouraward.com/

http://pointspros.com/ (unable to take new clients at time of October 2012 update)

http://travelfreecoach.com/ (no e-mail adress on web site - only link for form)

http://premierawardbookings.com/ (no e-mail adress on web site - only link for form)

http://www.travelconcierge.com.au/ (no e-mail adress on web site - only link for form)

www.milevalue.com

http://www.maximizingmiles.com/services/ (unable to take new clients at time of July 2012 update)

http://www.firstclassandbeyond.com

http://crankyconcierge.com/ (Word of warning: contrary to other services this require full pre payment)

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/thewan...aramean/about/

http://www.worldclassperks.com/

http://upgrd.com/award/ (no e-mail adress on web site - only link for form)

www.awardplanners.com (very nice website!)

www.awardbookingservice.com (no e-mail adress on web site - only link for form)

http://www.extrapackofpeanuts.com/aw...oking-service/

http://shrewdtravel.com/award-booking/

http://awardassist.com/ (no e-mail adress on web site - only form)

www.awardmagic.com (no e-mail adress on web site - only form)

http://www.upgradeguru.com/ (contactdata under ToS!))

http://www.juicymiles.com/

Out of service as of time of writing (OP date);
thepointsguy http://thepointsguy.com/about-me/ "If you are writing to ask about booking travel using points, I do not currently offer that service, but hope to add it again soon."

Concur that a master list with reviews would be a great addition.

gleffp - http://bookyouraward.com/

lucky9865 - http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemil...ed-award-help/

thepointsguy did or does, couldn't find link on his blog - http://thepointsguy.com/about-me/

You really think your friends & family will pay for this service when they know that you will help them if they bug you enough? :)

What is even more interesting is instead of helping "friends & family" he will rather have them pay. (wow)

And I don't see the point of paying someone for that.

Agree with why wouldn't you help family/friends???

I would, but OP clearly says "at times its quicker to pay for the help as Im on travel etc"

Award booking is time sensitive

I believe lucky and thepointsguy are not currently accepting new customers (for award bookings that is). But I may be way off.