So why the fee?...

Here it goes (and this has 2 parts that maybe a real airline employee on here might know):

My wife said to me, “Hey let’s go to Florida THIS WEEKEND—using miles!”

In the old days, I recall being able to do things like walking up to a desk agent and get on any plane that had a seat. BUT NO, today, things are quite different.

Now I know that one needs to book most trips including the awards well in advance to get what you want. I also know that there are fees for such things as booking award tickets at the last minute, but I still ask you all WHY? Honestly, what on earth justifies these fees? $75 just for using your award when you want to! Humbug!

We actually found the flights we wanted and it was even the times and airports we wanted. Usually you’ve got to do that like 800 days in advance when planning award travel. But $75 each person to use an award on US AIR because we were NOT doing the booking 3 or 7 or 14 whatever days out?... That’s kind of harsh, considering the flights I found would only have cost about $250+/- RT, BOS-FLL or MIA.

Needless to say, I decided to go with my AA awards for only a $50 fee each, but then we decided to bag it all together and no now airline gets our business this weekend. Boo hoo. As a wise man once said, their rule becomes their loss.

Part 2: Does anybody know if there are still airlines that let you take some award you have (say you ask them to mail you a certificate for your award to use within one year or something) and do it like the old days? Can you still ever walk up to a desk agent with your miles award and get on any plane that has a seat available anymore?

Thanks for all your thoughts!

[Oh, and though many of my posts are often long, and I am no English major, I try to say things nicely and put a creative spin on it. I like opinions that theorize on mile ideas and that save myself and YOU some $ in the process. My goal in the FT is to have fun, ask, learn, give ideas and get miles. I think I speak for most of us when I say: “If you can’t say something nice in response, then kindly say nothing at all” Well, back to the 2 questions, but with a positive spin on it, OK? Thanks.]