Flight Dilemma
 

Hey everyone,

Newbie here, just started with all the credit card bonuses in July and now I want to redeem the miles but I am a bit confused because of the timelines. I have been doing a lot of reading and hope this is a good way to do it. the miles i have so far are:

US Air 80k
Amex 350k (if amex lives up to their promise)
AA 300k

Flight destinations NYC to Seattle 9/15/12 then cruising to Hawaii 2 weeks

Returning 10/1/12 HNL to NYC but want to use NYC as a layover to Barcelona in April of 2013.

My plan is NYC to Seattle one way using US Air or AA, and then using AA from HNL to Barcelona taking advantage of their 12 month layover and then booking another one way back from Barcelona to NYC.

Is this right? Is there a better way of doing this? I only included the Amex points because if they do honor the bonuses, maybe someone has an idea how to incorporate these into the mix.

Thanks for the assistance!

a quick look, looks good...book to sea tomorrow!...

you may have to book bcn w/o the layover & hope you can change the dates later...good luck..

actually, you could book sea today if you want anytime awards....perhaps you may want to try a day or so early....

US one way awards price the same as round trips, so you wouldn't want to use them on a one way.

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"and then using AA from HNL to Barcelona taking advantage of their 12 month layover"

You don't get a 12-month stopover at the North American gateway on AA international awards. All travel (including post-stopover travel) must be completed within one year of award-ticket issuance, not within one year of the first flight on the award. So if you want to fly to BCN in April, 2013, you would have to wait until the Spring of 2012 before trying to book the HNL-NYC-BCN award.

how many pax?.....what aa cabin?....

All travel (including post-stopover travel) must be completed within one year of award-ticket issuance, not within one year of the first flight on the award. So if you want to fly to BCN in April, 2013, you would have to wait until the Spring of 2012 before trying to book the HNL-NYC-BCN award.

Thanks, I did not realize that part of it-- this might be a stupid question, but what are the odds that I would still find available awards erom HNL at that time?

how many pax?.....what aa cabin?..


2 people, leaning towards first class but can go coach if I need to.

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"this might be a stupid question, but what are the odds that I would still find available awards from HNL at that time?"

It's certainly not a stupid question, but unfortunately, it's an unanswerable one. Every traveler who wants to take advantage of a lengthy stopover on an award ticket faces the same issue.

"It's tough to make predictions -- especially about the future."

-- Y. Berra

What would happen if:

1. OP booked flights he wanted including stopover in NYC and flight to Barcelona a month later

2. Called before the first flight to change the date of the Barcelona flight?

Would there be the same restrictions? I know there would be a rebooking fee but is this a work-around?

Unfortunately that won't work. The original date of issue is carried over to any subsequent date change.

Unless the OP were to completely redeposit the miles and rebook, then it would be treated as a new ticket and have a new 1-year validity. However, redeposit fee will likely be due, and whatever HNL-NYC seats that was held will have to be given up.