Originally Posted by gemac

Most who have Frequent Flyer accounts have no clue how to best redeem them. I have a friend who is fairly typical. He has a lot of KLM miles (lives in Holland). Every year, he tries to get his award tickets six weeks before his vacation starts, and complains that there is no availability. I have told him that if he wants to get 3 award tickets on a complex itinerary, he should book them 330 days out. He knows his vacation dates more than a year in advance, but again the next year, six weeks before. His miles keep stacking up, he chuckles bitterly that they are worthless, but he won't do what is necessary to redeem them. This year, we were meeting his family in England to vacation together. We were going during his son's spring break (in May). I e-mailed him a dozen times to find out what the dates were, no action, finally got the dates in February. I was barely able to get my award tickets, and I have some flexibility. He tried to book his awards in late March, came up empty again. Lots of people like him, and airlines love them. I just wish I could get them to will their miles to me.