"But don't tell that to Bill Burford, a Dallas art gallery owner who tried to use his miles on Delta to send his daughter and her family to Paris in mid-November. He offered four dates and more than two months' advance notice, but says the carrier couldn't accommodate him. "It's a farce," says Mr. Burford, who ended up buying tickets on US Airways instead."
http://interactive.wsj.com/articles/...5948412915.htm

"...more than two months advance notice..."----IMHO, I don't think that Mr. Burford was being fair and gave USAIR enough time, expecially since he was trying to send a large group (daughter and whole family) to a popular destination. When I am trying to book an award ticket, I will try often six months in advance.

I cannot recall EVER not being able to use an award ticket, even for tickets to popular destinations such as Europe. If AA cannot provide me with a seat, I will ask if they have a codeshare they can put me on, or if I can use the ticket on an alliance carrier. Or even, if I can't get to Paris, try London and then take the Chunnel.

I wonder if we (FT'rs) are just more flexible in our scheduling or just more savy to the FF game?

onedog.

I think it's both.

Being self employed, I have no problem flying mid week if need be, but by planning ahead far enough, I almost always get extactly what I want.

I have stayed up to 12:01AM to book award tickets 330 days in advance. But even this doesn't always work. The only time I really had a hard time was booking a Skymiles award NYC to UVF on Air Jamaica. When a partner is involved, it gets complicated. I finally did get 3 seats, and had to purchase one for my daughter.

As you pointed out, two months is unrealistic on a popular route.

Sadly with the oceans of FREE miles the airlines are tossing about it will get a LOT harder in 2001.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/003228.html

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~ Glen ~

My experience has been planning too far ahead, there are no award seats released into inventory (at least in F). Eventually most clear, but I've had little success in planning award trips far in advance.

I am currently in the early planning stages for LAX-ARN in May 2001 for myself and the Mrs. (and perhaps one other adult). I am planning (hoping) on flying AA, perhaps with an upgrade using miles to J. Hopefully ticketing by January is enough? Anyone have experience on this route?

Thanks.