Great Article comparing FF programs
Mar 29, 2010 | 6:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Castro, San Francisco, California
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Aegean Air, Cal Alumni (go Bears!)
Posts: 594
Great Article comparing FF programs
In this month's (April '10) Condé Nast Traveler, there is an excellent article for those who do not have time analyze all the details. The article was succinct and very informative in its comparisons of all of North America's major carriers...from the standpoint of earning reward travel.
Mar 29, 2010 | 7:36 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Plat 2MM
Posts: 74
Mar 29, 2010 | 9:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: Delta MM, Marriott Life Titanium, Hilton Diamond, United Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,908
Actually that advice on booking 6 months out is counterproductive on DL. DL seems to release award inventory into the lower buckets about 90-100 days out. If you book at 6 months you'll end up in higher award levels.
Mar 29, 2010 | 10:03 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AC Million Miler & long time SE; StarwoodPlat for 10+ yrs & lifetime Gold; Hilton Honours Diamond; IC Ambassador; AMEX Plat;Avis Presidents Club; Airmiles GOLD; and just about everything else!
Programs: aeroplan & 25+year loyalty
Posts: 3,824
Nothing really new in this article, true to Conte Naste form, except the after weekend issue (#8) which remains somewhat vague. But still good basic advice.
Mar 30, 2010 | 9:16 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: EWR/LGA/JFK
Programs: AA - EXP, Marriott - Sil, SPG-Gold
Posts: 120
Confirmed what we knew/Book Your Award
I would agree that the article confirmed what we already knew: Delta is not that great, Star Alliance is better than most, OneWorld is good but has drawbacks.
I did find the Mission: Impossible survey interesting. Does anyone have an opinion with respect to the Book Your Award service provided by Gary Leff and if it is really that much better than the other options? Is the service worth $250 bucks or was this just an opportunity for them to throw Gary some glory? I ask because given what I just went throught to find two business class round trip tickets to South African around New Year's $250 seems like a bargain if he delivers.
I did find the Mission: Impossible survey interesting. Does anyone have an opinion with respect to the Book Your Award service provided by Gary Leff and if it is really that much better than the other options? Is the service worth $250 bucks or was this just an opportunity for them to throw Gary some glory? I ask because given what I just went throught to find two business class round trip tickets to South African around New Year's $250 seems like a bargain if he delivers.
Mar 30, 2010 | 9:30 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: TX
Posts: 2,734
If you are persistent and creative you can find awards easily especially on codeshares. You might not find what you want on Delta one month out or even one week out, but if you look at KL or AF codeshares you will be surprised. At the end of February I booked a standard J award ticket on *A to Europe leaving out of Houston and returning to Dallas. This was 9 days prior to departure. As to respect to the article, I agree that US is stingy with its seats. However I found them very easy to deal with when booking *A tickets and very generous in their mileage promotions.
Apr 29, 2010 | 1:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
I would agree that the article confirmed what we already knew: Delta is not that great, Star Alliance is better than most, OneWorld is good but has drawbacks.
I did find the Mission: Impossible survey interesting. Does anyone have an opinion with respect to the Book Your Award service provided by Gary Leff and if it is really that much better than the other options? Is the service worth $250 bucks or was this just an opportunity for them to throw Gary some glory? I ask because given what I just went throught to find two business class round trip tickets to South African around New Year's $250 seems like a bargain if he delivers.
I did find the Mission: Impossible survey interesting. Does anyone have an opinion with respect to the Book Your Award service provided by Gary Leff and if it is really that much better than the other options? Is the service worth $250 bucks or was this just an opportunity for them to throw Gary some glory? I ask because given what I just went throught to find two business class round trip tickets to South African around New Year's $250 seems like a bargain if he delivers.
Apr 29, 2010 | 2:13 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Location: East Bay, CA
Programs: AA EXP, Marriot LTP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 291
Gary is terrific at what he does, and a really great guy to boot.
You can read his blog at:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
You can read his blog at:
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/
Last edited by wcrhkd; Apr 29, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Apr 29, 2010 | 2:24 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: GOT, LAX, CDG, NRT, ICN
Programs: M&M, FB, DL, BA, UA...
Posts: 792
Gary's award booking site is http://www.bookyouraward.com/ and I can recommend his service, especially if you're short on time and interested in premium class awards. He has very good knowledge of different routes to look for on different carriers and maximizing the use of your miles to allow for stopovers, open jaws, etc.
Apr 29, 2010 | 4:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 160
Gary's got good insights and I'm sure his service is worth it, if you're bumping into problems.
Follow these two on boarding area for good incentive opportunities and other information:
boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing
boardingarea.com/blogs/milesquest
Follow these two on boarding area for good incentive opportunities and other information:
boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing
boardingarea.com/blogs/milesquest