Ok, so assuming how I can put this thing on hold. How would I go about fixing my screw up? I have no clue when I will be going to Europe next year. So how long would I have to book that flight. If I have to do it right now, then I wouldn't be able to. My girlfriend and I are both educators, so we have to schedule our travel at mostly peak times and around our school's schedules.

Did you already book it (pay the fees and get a confirmation)? If so, it's water under the bridge and you should just enjoy. On AA, you can opt to hold it at the end instead of book.

We'll hold off on the latter question until knowing if you're booked.

It's a done deal now. Booked, confirmed, the whole deal.

I learn from experience, so I see what you mean now.

Thanks anyway for the help. I will enjoy!!! Next time, I'll make sure that I get a better deal!

This would have been my advice as well; maybe spring break would work with your school schedules. In fact, even if you've already made the booking, it may be worth paying the fee to reinstate the miles so you can do this. As pointed out by others, that was almost enough miles to get you 2 off-peak tickets to Europe (with a possibility of throwing in a free one-way to Hawaii at a later date). It would cost you $175 (I believe) to get those miles reinstated but I would seriously consider it as it may be worth it.

The X'mas and Spring Break time is within off peak - Oct 15 to May 15 is off peak to Europe. Off peak coach seats are aplenty you can book quite close to departure date.

Next time, read up a little on program rules and award charts before you jump in.

I feel like an idiot now. But one more question and I'll stop posting on the thread.

How would I reinstate (buy back) the miles? What's the process?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

You might not have to. Just because AA has taken your payment information does not necessarily mean that your award ticket has been issued. If it has not been, AA might let you cancel and reinstate your miles without charge. If you have not already received an Email with a ticket number, I would call AA immediately and ask if it's possible to cancel the award and have the miles reinstated without charge.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

(Duplicate post.)

Don't worry, I felt like an idiot for a long time around here and still do from time to time! :) Also, definitely no need to stop posting as the continued exchange of information is what makes FT great.

Regardless of whether those of us that posted agree with the use of miles, you've still gotten a couple of free tickets and that's a good thing! We just want you to get more of them. ;)

Dont feel too bad on this. Everyone has a learning curve. You were a bit too excited for what you could do with the miles. I was surprised you started a thread for suggestions but within hours you already booked your trip.

There are still options you could consider.

My guess is your award reservation has been ticketed as you purchased it this morning.

You should have received the e-tickets in your inbox by now. However sometimes AA email function died and no email ever comes. If you dont see your e-ticket email, then go to AA website to make sure.

Check My Reservation and pull up the reservation details - if it is TRULY ticketed, you would see the status "Ticketed June 7th, 2011". Also there is a button Print Itinerary and Receipt on the far right top corner where you can click to get the receipt and the e-ticket numbers.

If the status by any remote chance is still "Purchase" - Call AA immediately to cancel the booking.

If it is already ticketed, here is your Plan B:

Option 1)

Keep a close eye on your itinerary for any schedule change. If the schedule change is substantial, like over 2 hours difference for example, call AA and tell them you cannot accept the change. The tickets then can be canceled for free and miles go back to your account, taxes refunded to your credit card.

If no schedule change happen, enjoy your free trip.

Or, change the dates to much later in the year and hope schedule change may happen in the Fall.

Date change is free on award tickets. Travel must be completed within 1 year from the date of ticketing. So you literally have up to 6/6/2012 to finish your travel.

Option 2)

Cancel the award and pay $150+$25 re-instatement fee to have the miles re-deposit back to your account. This can be done anytime between now and the ticket expiration. (1 year from today).

I were you I would take Option 1) and change the travel dates. Then wait and see if I get a chance for free cancellation, but be prepared I either still need to travel on this itinerary or act on Option 2).

Now that you have used your AA miles, I would concentrate on quickly acquiring Continental miles before it merges into United. Both Continental and United are Star Alliance carriers. That alliance has lots of really nice flights to Europe. My preferences are Lufthansa and Swiss Air.

Take a look at what I have to say about Continental credit cards on my website below in the Credit Cards > Annual Fee Cards section. There are at least 65,000 miles (and maybe 125,000 miles) available for each of you from the Chase Sapphire and the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold cards. Then more will be available after you cancel your Continental card before the merger (so it won't automatically be converted to a United card by Chase) and then apply for a United card after the merger for whatever bonus they offer then.

Then take a look at my Finance section. There are very good brokerage offers for Continental and United (and others). Also, you could start to replace your AA miles via BankDirect.

From personal experience: It is essential that you get your girlfriend interested in and aggressive at acquiring her own free miles, so she can use them to fly with you. Years ago it took me a year to convince mine, and she has been behind me in total miles ever since.

I applied a month ago for the Sapphire. Denied. Applied again today...I was given the "we have to investigate" screen.

I called a few hours later and they said that I was denied because I was just approved for a month ago for the CO. I told them that I was trying to convert all of my CC accounts to Chase because I was tired of all the other banks that my old CCs were affiliated with, the CSR placed me on hold and then came back and told me that I WAS APPROVED!!!!

Now, I'd love to get rid of the CO before the merger, but will they take my miles away? I have my 50,000 from the initial offer and wouldn't want to jeopardize that. And what would that do for my credit?

Sapphire can transfer to several programs so I'd keep them in the account for the flexibility. What do you mean by getting rid of CO?

OOps. I meant getting rid of the Chase Continental Card. I just got it like a month and a half ago (with the bonus 50,000 miles for the first purchase). The miles have posted to my OnePass account, but I am worried that if I cancel the credit card, they will pull the miles away. I have read somewhere on this board that happened to a few people.

Ideally, I'd like to cash in/not make a mistake with my miles in the CO/UA merger.

Once the miles post to your Continental account, they will not take them back. However, if you cancel your card this soon, Chase might not like you very much. I would wait until closer to the merger. Telling them that you want to cancel then might even get you a good bonus offer to keep the card.