Well, no whistles, bells, or ribbons, but my partner & I called some friends of ours (one of whom has been very ill and can't travel like he used to) and said, 'how about London for Thanksgiving'?

They said great, we said great, away we went. I don't think they were disappointed that there was nothing to unwrap.

But the book is a sweet idea. Open tickets are full fare (not cheap), but award fares are fully flexible, only costing if you want the miles put back into your account ($75).