We're off to North Cyprus next year with my folks and have recently been building up the BMI miles thro shopping and BAA. To get there you can either fly tukish cyprus airways or go via turkey.

So I thought we could use our miles and am having real problems getting the call centre to give me real dedemption values etc. Looking at the table I would need 6000 plus cash or 9000 plus cash (J) to get to Istanbul and the same for the flight to North Cyprus.

Made a phone call and the guy today told me for miles + money I need 10,000 (J) miles plus 105 pound plus the 110 tax. Is this really correct, as if so I'm going to try to book it as the TKY a330 looks really nice and business for up to six hours at 215 quid seems a bargain. Any advise would be very welcome.

PS as a new-be from the dark side why the hell can't *A allow you to book their flights online wouldn't it be so much easier.

Cash & Miles Z1/Z2, LHR - ERCAN in business, with a connection in IST should be,

One Way - 7500 miles + �75 + taxes
Return - 15000 miles + �150 + taxes

Anything that cut out the call centre would be a bonus

I have done the route twice. Once from BFS-ECN with a stop in AYT due to not being allowed to have direct flights between EU and the Northern part of Cyprus and the other time with TK LHR-IST-ECN. Both were good flights and I have to say (KTHY) Kibris Turk Hava Yollari were very good. At the time BFS was chosen as at the last minute DUB wouldnt allow the flights.

Due to the fact that TK are now Star it makes sense to go that way. Also they have a nice J class and lounge in IST. If the connection warrants it certainly worth a visit . I took a trip to IST on the A330 with my BMI miles a few months ago and can confirm it was a fantastic experience. The seats are amazing for such a short journey.

We've given up trying with that and gone direct with BA to cyprus then a taxi ride for 265 in CE which seems worth it to me and a whole lot less hassle but back to the dark side I'm afraid. I also can't understand how each airline has different amount of miles need for rewards on *A carriers I phones United and they wanted 20000 for a european flight but BMI wanted 12000! Doesn't make sense to me.

All miles are not created equal.

A United mile has a lesser (or greater?) value than a bmi mile (or an Air New Zealand one). You can also 'earn' the miles at different rates with different carriers.

Do AA/BA/IB/QF all require the same amount of miles for a european journey?