Is there a secret to booking reward travel that AC doesn't tell Elites? I tried last year to book 2 business class seats to Antigua - phoned in September prior to a planned February vacation and of course nothing was available - Jan, Feb, Mar or Apr. OK I thought - perhaps I waited to long.

This year I called in June for San Juan PR so we could take a cruise on Princess. Once again either nothing was available (business or economy) or they could get us down but back only on Saturday (the day before the cruise was to return) if they could get us back at all. I felt like the old Monty Python Cheese shop routine - "does this cheese shop actually have any cheese?" - maybe it would be easier if you told me what you DO have available instead of me having to guess. The agent was very unhelpful.

Is there a secret? Do you have to book 2 years in advance? Am I better off booking through the cruise line? Are my reward miles totally useless unless I want to fly to Buffalo in February?

It really gets me mad when I see the Rewardissimo ads that shout that a reward is claimed every x minutes! Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.