Just found this site and it is a wealth of useful information, though a bit daunting too. If this is the wrong forum for this question I apologize. Anyways, my girlfriend's grandmothers 80th birthday is this coming July and we would like to attend but she is in London (UK), and flights are a bit pricey especially in the summer.
If it's even feasible, we would like to know how you would go about trying to get at least 1 free ticket there between now and July for a couple of miles newbies.
The specific airline isn't that important as we will be flying out of Pittsburgh and there are no direct flights anyways. For what it matters, my credit rating is excellant, we currently fly infrequently, spend an average amount each month (nothing extravagant), and the only 'miles' card either of us has now is the citi aadvantage american express select. Thanks in advance for any advice.

you can look for award flights on aa.com....on the upper right of the home page is a reservation box......on the upper right corner you can check the award box......try it and see what is available.....you can also call aa and ask for help, but there are more fees if you book thru an agent....i think that it takes 60k mi's / ticket....good luck

edit to add.....just for the heck of it, i checked aa and a 60k award is available every day in july for pit-lhr.....however ,you need to have the mi's to book it....

edit again.....if your ? is how to get the mi's [which i suspect], then look at your ff mi balances, take the biggest 1 and go to that program and look at the many posts on accruing mi/pt's....

also note that i was surprised that the aa flights were available....they won't last long....

Virgin Atlantic is offering 40000 miles for their new AMEX Virgin card. Their economy flight JFK to LHR is close almost free for 40,000 miles.

One problem you may run into is that award flights during peak season, which July is, get booked up 330 days out. That means that many of the award seats may already be taken. Airlines often release additional award seats throughout the year but you need the miles first to book the seat. Try looking at all the various airlines and sign up for their e-mail alerts. Then if there is a sale to your destination, be prepared to jump on it and buy the ticket. Make sure and look for alternate routes. Maybe through Miami, DFW or Chicago and not just New York. Sometimes the routes have good sales. Also try looking at Expedia and Travelocity type sites to get routing ideas. Getting creative can save money.

I remember when Iceland Air (I think) had a big fare sale. You had to spend a stopover there but the fare was half everyone else. Get creative and you may find you can buy two tickets and be happy knowing you're going when you want.