Someone with experience with vacationmiles please help me. How do vacationmiles free flight/hotel awards work? Are there blackout dates? Can we get miles/points with the awards? For the "airline of your choice" award does that mean ANY airline, like Midwest Express, for example?

[This message has been edited by sheetz (edited 06-24-2000).]

All bookings have to be made through Vacation Miles which is basically a camaflage for a travel agent. You do get miles for your paid ticket. I think a 21-day advance "purchase" is required and a Saturday night stay. Even hotels have to be booked through them. I was misled - redeemed for 5.000 miles and am not too happy about it.

PLUS - there are blackouts. I'll find the award cert they sent me and post the details as soon as I can. If I forget, please drop me an e-mail!!

[This message has been edited by leroy11 (edited 06-26-2000).]

Does this means that vacationmiles from Mypoints.com isnt automaticlly transfered into your Aadvantage or Skymiles account?

Kempis--yes, in Apirl Vacationmiles stopped transferring program points into American Airlines miles. So, your Vacation miles need to reach at least 24,000 to be able to get a ticket (less for $50 and $75 off awards).
Sheetz--If you haven't already done so, the best thing to do is to check out the vacationmiles website (vacationmiles.com, I believe and the mypoints page which outlines the Vacationmiles program). Realize that there are some restrictions for Mypoints members who convert their points to Vacationmiles--not all of the options on the vacationmiles site are available to mypoints members.
I assume "airline of your choice" means just that, but for that question and others you may want to call Ann Marie at 1-800-343-4034 ext. 214. She was the point person for the American Airlines miles transfer when that option expired in April.
There is a clause on the award form, that the saver awards (x dollars of ticket of $xxx or more) awards apply to "any travel, worldwide, that meeting pricing requirements" I don't know if there would be any pricing requirements for the ticket awards, but you may wish to ask.
The form also says of the award tickets:
"Frequent flyer miles can be accrued. Passengers must return to the city of origin. Open jaw and stopovers are not allowed. Advance reservations and balckout dates apply. All travel must be on the same airline....taxes and surcharges are not included in awards". As leroy11 noted, there is the 21-day requirement as well.

You may wish to also check out the car rental awards--if you're needing a car rental and if your ticket isn't that expensive (midwest airlines), then getting a week of car rental plus $100 in traveler's checks for 23,000 vacationmiles (vs 28,000 for airline of your choice award) may be a better value.

Thanx for the answer, I was hoping for a different one though ;( Is it the same with Delta?

I am not sure if you will check back on this or not, but I'll post my thoughts anyway.

I just barely booked my first free flight with my Mypoints/Vacation miles. I used the 28,000 miles for an airline of my choice. I called the number on the certificate you get from Mypoints and spoke to a travel agent. It was very easy, just tell the person that they are mypoints vacation miles, apparently they are a little different, just give them the certificate number on the reward.

Anyway, the woman I talked to was very friendly and helpful. There is a 21 day advance purchase restriction, but I don't know about blackout dates. The only restriction not listed on the certificate was that the cost of the ticket must be under $450 (I assumed that this was the case for all free tickets within the CONUS).. My ticket was just under that (after she took the extra time to find a different return flight with a double connection), so I was quite happy...a free $450 plane ticket. I was also happy that she had no problem with whatever airline I wanted to fly. She took my United mileage plus number so I will get the miles for the flight and even gave me the economy plus seats since I am Premier with United.

I am very pleased with the program. One other thing...I had a 25,000 and 5,000 mile certificate. Since the reward I used was only 28,000 miles..they keep the 2,000 miles in my "account" for next time.

Hope you check back and that this helps!

Scott

On April 3, 2000, I received my 25,000 AAdvantage Miles Certificate from VacationMiles through MyPoints.Com. I faxed it to Ann Marie on April 9 or 10 and the miles were in my account in time for my May Advantage Statement. No problems. No hitches.

I'm impressed you all managed to get those American miles in under the wire - me well I'm still waiting for a reply to a since one of the dozen email I sent them.

I know AA doesn't participate in Vacation Miles anymore, but can Delta miles still be transfered or do you have to book a flight through them?