FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - ARCHIVE: 2017 HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance

Jan 23, 2017, 10:57 am

#125

josmul123

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: FNT, but DTW if I can't help it

Programs: AAdvantage Former EXP/Current PLT / Total Rewards - Diamond / Hilton HHonors - Gold

Posts: 757

Quote:

Originally Posted by usafltg

Hi Guys,

I'm trying to help a buddy of mine get to Kiev (KBP) originating from Chicago O'Hare (ORD) using my awards to book him an award ticket in business class the whole way. He is natively from Ukraine, and his grandmother is not doing well, so I'm trying to help him out as he doesn't have a lot of money, and I have a ton of points.

He's trying to depart Apr 28th 2017 or after, and be back in Chicago NLT than May 21st.

Unfortunately, when I try to do this on American's web-site, I seem to be getting hit up with $650 worth of airline fees in addition to 100k+ points i'm using. Everything I seem to find passes through LHR and connects via British Airways.

Is there anything I can do to get him a Business Ticket the whole way, on points only (minus minimum taxes)? Seems completely pointless if I have to fork over $650k on top of 100k miles.

The availability of sAAver awards, particularly the business ones, is very hard to come by. You could either use an AAnytime award (and spend substantially more miles) or diligently look for routings that don't include BA.

ExpertFlyer subscriptions come in handy for searching entire weeks at a time for availability.