OK....so I wasn't expecting "much"....but I just became a FF, and am a novice on the first part of the learning curve....doing some 60,000 miles these last 12 months and the same each year for the forseeable future.

So I decide to book my first trip with FF miles to Rio from Calgary. A round trip costs me between $1,200 - 1,350 CDN each time.

No problem to go from YYC to MIA on Air Canada/Canadian.....with my miles. I don't want to use a lot of the miles for this trip, as I want to save some for another trip.

Advertised air fares from MIA to GIG in Rio are $469 USD or so. (approx.$690 CDN) So I figure...OK...what's $690 ?

Well I get an itinerary from my agent...it's $1,040 CDN !!!

Can anybody here enlighten me as to why my backside is sore right now ? I don't blame my agent.

Any suggestions besides using miles to go all the way ?

Thanks for your help.....interesting sarcasm is also welcomed.