Originally Posted by SanDiego1K
I've used miles a lot for family and a time or two for friends. The challenge I find is that they get fixated on dates, which often mean I have to come up with miles for saver first or standard coach. Even though I articulate what I am willing to offer - a saver coach ticket - that has no meaning to someone without miles. Once I have created an expectation, no matter how inadvertently, I feel an obligation to follow thru.
Still, many of these tickets have been used to motivate siblings to visit aging parents - and their visits are priceless.
My biggest problem has been been the opposite when gifting family. Since I come from an airline family (Dad was a captain for National Airlines; brother is right seat on AA), they are used to making travel date/time decisions at the last minute, since they were accustomed to flying standby. It has been hard to get them to understand that I can get them
confirmed space if they plan ahead. A couple of times I have had to bail them out using double miles on the day of departure when they were unable to clear a couple flights as non-rev. I am more than happy to book them using FF miles ahead of time; after all, Dad's profession gave me my love of travel and the knowledge to become a road warrioress!