Need help using points/miles
 

I'm fairly new to the hobby. Need good hacking ideas from more seasoned folks. Feedback greatly appreciated.

Currently have:

125,000UR points
170,000 United miles
50,000 HH points
25,000 Stash Reward points
3,000 MM

Looking to travel from either JFK or EWR to San Francisco, anytime in either Late June, July or August (3 adults). Preferably business, but will take economy (unless business is a great deal).
Staying between 6 to 7 nights. Can fly into SFO or MRY or vice versa... (Looking to cover US1 from Fort Bragg down to Monterey)... so can easily fly into one airport and leave out of the other.


Thank you!

Welcome to Flyertalk.

To begin, go to united.com and search for saver award seat availability on dates that you would consider. If you cannot find saver availability, look at the prices (in money) because this will allow you to compare buying tickets with points versus redeeming for a different award category.

Thank you Mia. I did that, went to UA. There was availability at 12500 one way in economy, but returning only 25K miles. So I tried snagging the 12500 one way, and of course, when I tried, that very same flight because 25K instead of 12500 if I went for a roundtrip.

Not really sure why...

So try booking the travel as two one-ways instead of one roundtrip. ;)