Originally Posted by GUWonder

I am wondering when pretty soon is and where that will be applicable.

In most US airline programs in which I participate, I can make a booking for a "free ticket" without all the miles actually in the account. It's just that the booking for a free ticket doesn't get ticketed until the miles are in the account.

However, in the realm of the hotel programs, things usually work differently than they do with the US airlines' programs. For those who still know how to do it, HHonors is still great for making award bookings even when all the points for all the award stays are not in the account.