FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - WSJ: Best and Worst Airlines for Award Travel
Old May 8, 2014, 5:12 pm
  #12  
Mike Jacoubowsky
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
Originally Posted by Duke777
I've managed to only redeem saver. I refuse to use miles otherwise. On DL, I used the last if miles for two J on AF. UA is definite better than DL and easier to use. Increase in partner awards is a huge negative for UA though.

You're not going to be able to redeem every flight. It's about the trade offs and being content overall.
Fortunately, the way it's seemed to work for me is that the outrageous $$$ ticket flights are the ones that often have saver award availability. It's very rare that I have to redeem at standard rates (and, as a Plat, it's been the case all but once that I've been able to swap at no cost to a last-minute saver seat that became available).
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