Originally Posted by
mooper
Maybe I'm unusual, but my business travel often arises near-term, not far in advance. I travel for leisure last-minute, too, but the business travel is where I get the best value. Also, availability tends to be quite good up to two or three months out, and I find that ample lead time for some vacations. When it isn't, I'll book months out, often at higher rates (usually not exceeding 32.5K/ticket) and then improve them to 25K when inventory opens up (yes, it requires Platinum status or above to do this free).
Not to hijack the thread or anything...OK...to totally hijack the thread, and I ask this not intending to flame, because I am seriously interested in your answer: Why, in god's green earth, would you ever book a business trip with miles? From my perspective, you're simply handing 1/3 to 1/2 of what the ticket would have cost to the IRS. Do you have an accounting method whereby you still manage to record these trips as an expense, and if so would you care to share?