How many sucessful 25k award ticketers out there?
Apr 8, 2007, 11:38 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
How many sucessful 25k award ticketers out there?
I have 21k US miles now (mostly former HP miles).
Since I bank US to UA and get double miles, there's no reason for me to bank to US at this time.
But, I figure I should get to 25k so i can book a free ticket and be done with it. So I've been putting some hotel, car rental, etc purchases that way.
But, my question is, is US award availability as rough a road as it appears to be? How many of you have success in booking these awards?
I see a lot of threads about them not being available. But I see similar threads at UA forum, but find availability decent.
Thanks!
Since I bank US to UA and get double miles, there's no reason for me to bank to US at this time.
But, I figure I should get to 25k so i can book a free ticket and be done with it. So I've been putting some hotel, car rental, etc purchases that way.
But, my question is, is US award availability as rough a road as it appears to be? How many of you have success in booking these awards?
I see a lot of threads about them not being available. But I see similar threads at UA forum, but find availability decent.
Thanks!
Apr 8, 2007, 11:49 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: RDU
Posts: 818
If you're going somewhere that is even slightly in demand, don't expect to find any availability. OTOH, if you're going somewhere way off-peak or with plenty of service, you'll be in luck. For example, I checked BOS-PHL for this month and there's plenty of 25k award availability. Of course, those seats also sell for $120, so you'll get a nice $0.0048/mile return if you choose that. Your choice.
Apr 8, 2007, 1:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: RIC
Programs: Delta Gold, National EE, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 889
I never really have trouble getting saver award tix. I do not fly to peak places during peak season though. I hate going and being with the crowds, lines, and all of that.
Check UA too. Typically the same avail. but every once and a while they will have a saver award when US does not.
Check UA too. Typically the same avail. but every once and a while they will have a saver award when US does not.
Apr 8, 2007, 2:15 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: US CP, DL nothing
Posts: 165
My only datapoints in the past year for 25k tix have been RDU-LAS (fairly peak period) and 2x ILM - LGA. If you're flexible, you should do fairly well, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the way X inventory is released at times (ie on the LGA trip, we bk'd it 48 hrs in adv and were on full flights). Whereas, I've checked routes that one would think would be easier to score an award ticket on with no dice.
Apr 8, 2007, 5:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Programs: DL Silver, UA Silver, Marriott Lifetime Silver, IHG Plat, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,695
I have booked two 25k saver awards this year. It can take some persistance and playing with dates.
Apr 8, 2007, 5:10 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: From: PWM
Programs: United GS, Fairmont Platinum,SPG LTPlat, Hilton Diamond, MarriottGold..like the rest of the world
Posts: 4,401
Flexibility is the absolutely key to 25K award. That and wanting to be in LYH, ELM, or MDT and not LAX, LAS or SAN.
Apr 8, 2007, 5:25 pm
#7
Moderator: American AAdvantage & Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: PHX
Programs: American ExPlat; Marriott/SPG Lifetime Plat; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 8,116
I've had luck recently -- sort of
I have booked two 25K awards for family members recently using US miles. In both cases, US agents had to book them on UA flights, as US had no availability at the 25K level.
In both cases, they were well in advance and US seat maps were wide, wide open.
In both cases, they were well in advance and US seat maps were wide, wide open.
Apr 8, 2007, 6:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: DL Diamond, VS Silver, Priority Club Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 585
I was able to get 4 25K seats on the same flight, PHL>SFO RT, 29 March to 03 April
Apr 9, 2007, 9:41 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: St. Croix, USVI
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum & Million Miler. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 915
I've had luck....but mostly with going the UA route to ORD from DCA or IAD. My wife's best friend lives up there so every few months I'm able to burn either 25k miles to get here up there in Y on UA or 50k miles to get her up there in F on UA while only Y has been available on US for 50k miles. The ability to use miles for UA trips is one of the reasons I like the US program.
Sean
Sean
Apr 9, 2007, 9:52 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,068
Nonstops are sometimes hard, but connections I've often found the discount awards.
But randomly checking a few weeks out Fri 5/4 to Mon 5/7, PHL-LAX, there were nonstop options available at the 25K level (roundtrip).
But randomly checking a few weeks out Fri 5/4 to Mon 5/7, PHL-LAX, there were nonstop options available at the 25K level (roundtrip).
