This is so true, and quite sad. It is frustrating to have a CSR that cannot even understand the question, let alone solve it. After learning Spanish to the point of indistinguishable fluency, I learned the somewhat disturbing fact that you often get better service in America by speaking Spanish.

Here are some reasons:

1) the Spanish call center usually has better Spanish than the overseas English call center has English

2) there is often less of a wait on hold (e.g. once I got through immediately in Spanish when the English line was a 1 hour+ wait)

3) there is a better chance that the automated voice system (the bane of modern technology) does not work in Spanish and you get through to a person easier.

Actually, a few airlines do publish what the inventory buckets are that FF seats are tied to (or at least very closely approximate). I know that DL did when they switched to the 3 tier program. And I know that CO has shared some of the details but not all of them.

Most airlines do not just allocate NN seats to reward redemption. They tie the points to some arbitrary dollar value internally and then they can determine whether to allow redemption based on the "price" that seats are selling for. The allocations are fluid as demand (and consequently prices) increase for a particular flight/route. At the same time there will be flights that never have a redemption seat available. The guys at JetBlue were rather explicit about this during our meeting/T5 tour back in June. They might open seats up very close to departure on some of their highest demand peak flights (think JFK-SXM/AUA around the winter holidays or spring break), but generally they just won't do it.

DL's pronouncements about FF seats release tied to inventory fare buckets are basically useless pronouncements when it comes to the public trying to know the full picture of what is going on for award seats -- the existence of the likes of journey control being in play and the amount and extent/duration of availability of inventory fare buckets that may map back (somewhat or greatly) for the "standard" (i.e., most marketed pricing level in miles) awards are up in the air near-constantly, and so the general public really has no clue about how much is and is not being made available for award redemptions at the "standard" (e.g., 25k miles for domestic trips) award pricing level.

Didn't see it mentioned yet, but I like AA because it seems they are more generous on their stopover rules on awards. When I decided on a primary carrier that and lifetime status helped make my decision.

They are more generous for domestic runs. For international rewards most carriers offer the stopover/open-jaw options.

I was under the impression that many carriers allowed either a stopover or an open jaw not both like AA allows.

Most only allow either/ or, not both. AC recently allows 2 stopovers on the award to Asia, but you have to fly partner airlines to avoid the fuel surcharge on AC flights.

AA is even more generous on international awards to / from North America.

Correct. AA also allows 2 stopovers - 1 each at North America / International Gateway, PLUS open-jaw, though you must fly the most direct route.

AA awards allow more stopover/open-jaw options on international award tickets at no additional miles than DL, NW, US and UA.

With AA awards for say US-Europe or US-Asia roundtrip, I've managed city A-B o B-C o C-D o, E-F (i.e., where "o" = stop) and then stuffed it with some creative connections (i.e., "x" = connection) to allow for sub-24 hour connections internationally.

The same sort of 40k AA mile coach award trip in the case of US-Europe-US would have cost anywhere from 80k to 175k DL miles (in coach) when recently attempting the same sort of thing -- or even something far more simple -- with DL miles.

FWIW, Southwest's standard (saver) award availability has been decent of late. The online booking engine shows availability accurately, and seats often open up a week or so before the travel date. Changes are free of any fees, so you can keep fine tuning your trip. Yes, it's frustrating having to wait so late to know whether you will get the flight, but it's better to get a seat this way than not at all.

From the Southwest website:

Each credit is valid for 24 months from the date earned. Your Rapid Rewards account will contain only valid credits collected within the immediately preceding 24 consecutive months. If a credit is not applied toward an Award within 24 months of the date earned, it will be deleted from your Rapid Rewards account balance. Southwest Airlines reserves the right to cancel the membership of any Member with no credits in the account and who has earned no credits for at least 12 consecutive months.

Maybe THAT explains the so-called "decent" availability. Take away credits you earned before you can use them EVEN if you are still actively flying on the airline. No thanks! I will stick with UA. I also prefer to fly in first class, something not even possible on SW.

Rolling expiration is a negative feature, as is automatic issuance of awards that expire in 12 months. (JetBlue's TrueBlue has an even harsher 12-month rolling expiration.) The solution for Rapid Rewards is to get their credit card for $59 and 16 free credits with one of the seemingly constant promotions. Churn it annually if you like. The 16 new credits rescue any about to expire credits, turning them into an award.

For kids' accounts it's tougher. I use Amex Membership Rewards to top off those accounts with the precise number of credits needed to avoid having credits expire.

All FF programs require a certain amount of gamesmanship for best results. If this were not the case the programs would be less rewarding, as you say.