usvi-on-line
Warning - air miles reward flights
Warning - air miles reward flights
Just thought that I would share what's happening with our frequent flyer flights. I booked May 07 flights for my husband and I way back in August. Buffalo through Dulles to STT, leaving Sun May 6 and returning Thurs May 17 on United. Well I decided to check the status yesterday since they have changed the times in the past and when I did the United flight was no longer showing. It did show similiar flights on those days for United flying as US Air. United was now only flying on Saturdays. I was also told only because I called did they see this as normally they don't check these things until two months before the travel dates. Aeroplan called United and was told that my seats were not protected, but they finally did agree to honor our tickets on the Saturday flights. We would just have to add three more days on to the trip. Well the problem is we really do not have it in our budget to pay for that.
I had booked through Aeroplan and asked why I couldn't switch to the US Air flights since they are also in Star Alliance. Well it seems that they didn't have any reward space left. I asked what would have happened if I hadn't called and this wasn't discovered until two months before we went and all the reward seats were gone. Well, they could give me my points back. I wasn't impressed. That doesn't help when you have a villa reserved, and think that your flights are free - especially when I booked flights back in August.
I then went on a search for options. What I ended up doing was getting an reward flight to Ft Lauderale and buying Spirit to STT. That ends up costing me $400 more that I expected, but still less than three extra days. My only fear now is that they cancel or change the AC or Spirit flights!
I had booked through Aeroplan and asked why I couldn't switch to the US Air flights since they are also in Star Alliance. Well it seems that they didn't have any reward space left. I asked what would have happened if I hadn't called and this wasn't discovered until two months before we went and all the reward seats were gone. Well, they could give me my points back. I wasn't impressed. That doesn't help when you have a villa reserved, and think that your flights are free - especially when I booked flights back in August.
I then went on a search for options. What I ended up doing was getting an reward flight to Ft Lauderale and buying Spirit to STT. That ends up costing me $400 more that I expected, but still less than three extra days. My only fear now is that they cancel or change the AC or Spirit flights!
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susan & herb
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:02 pm
- Location: northern nj
Sorry to say we had a similar situation with our AA miles. We have used our AA miles for at least 8 years booking the tickets about 5 or 6 months out with no problem, JFK straight thru to STT, even though we live in NJ, just less complicated. They have even held our tickets for a month until we accumulated the extra miles needed for balance of tickets.
Well last week my husband called to make reservations for May 16-29, and was told there were miles left in first class. I must mention that we have gone to lthe caribbean every year about the same time, and first class in most cases is half empty when we take off.
Well to make a long story short, after talking to a supervisor, paying additional money plus our miles we got first class seats on the flight. (My husbands best friend from second grade had dropped dead last week and we both said screw it and went for the tickets. AA said they hold the rest of first class until the last minute to see if they can sell them. There were not even economy seats available to use our miles. So this is an addenda to one of the post I responded to a few weeks ago where I said get the villa first. Seems now we had better get the air first. We were lucky that we could even get these tickets.
Well last week my husband called to make reservations for May 16-29, and was told there were miles left in first class. I must mention that we have gone to lthe caribbean every year about the same time, and first class in most cases is half empty when we take off.
Well to make a long story short, after talking to a supervisor, paying additional money plus our miles we got first class seats on the flight. (My husbands best friend from second grade had dropped dead last week and we both said screw it and went for the tickets. AA said they hold the rest of first class until the last minute to see if they can sell them. There were not even economy seats available to use our miles. So this is an addenda to one of the post I responded to a few weeks ago where I said get the villa first. Seems now we had better get the air first. We were lucky that we could even get these tickets.
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beachluvers
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:19 pm
- Location: Cumming, Georgia
I have had similar experiences using United frequent flier miles. I find that if you don't book the trip many months in advance (for vacation spots like STT), it is difficult to use the miles BUT nearly every time I have booked the trip early using miles, UAL cancels or changes the flight and then advises me that there is no frequent flier availability on the new flight.
This happened last year going to St. John - United cancelled my original flight and then said there were no seats available in first class (I have LOTS of miles!), on my new flight yet the seat map showed every seat open (did I mention that my new flight also had a stop in DC where my original flight was dired?) I placed no fewer than ten calls to United speaking to multiple representatives and finally found one that would book the new flight. Spent hours trying to get it resolved. It makes you really hate the airlines.
This happened last year going to St. John - United cancelled my original flight and then said there were no seats available in first class (I have LOTS of miles!), on my new flight yet the seat map showed every seat open (did I mention that my new flight also had a stop in DC where my original flight was dired?) I placed no fewer than ten calls to United speaking to multiple representatives and finally found one that would book the new flight. Spent hours trying to get it resolved. It makes you really hate the airlines.
We have used Aeroplan points many times on both United and USAir. Considering how much the tickets actually cost, plus the 40,000 points for each ticket, how many times they change the flights,how far in advance you have to reserve the flights, plus having to overnight in ORD or PHL or any other place, I have found it better to keep checking (everyday) for seat sales, and its CHEAPER!!!!!
Just my experience!
Just my experience!
Thanks for the warning! I booked yesterday on United using miles, so I'll keep an eye on things. I didn't have enough miles to go first class (40,000 miles short) so we booked economy. I did have one minor issue in that the remaining Economy Plus seats are blocked right now. After talking to a United agent and supervisor we are at the top of the list for those seats when the block is removed, but that's no guarantee! As long as we get there, I guess we can handle a normal economy seat if we need to.
I've used miles on United for several other vacations and have never had a problem with flight cancellations, etc. We fly out of O'Hare so maybe that's the difference.
I've used miles on United for several other vacations and have never had a problem with flight cancellations, etc. We fly out of O'Hare so maybe that's the difference.
...ron
Time to start working on convincing the wife that we have to go back soon!
Time to start working on convincing the wife that we have to go back soon!
Ron L - We fly out of O'Hare, too! I have had less issues when I used miles for economy (UAL seems to have an easier time rebooking economy tickets than the first class). Our next trip we are paying cash (for economy) so hopefully we won't have any issues. So far, we are in economy plus (I fly between 50,000 and 100,000 miles a year on UAL, so usually these seats aren't a problem). I would check back frequently with UAL about getting those economy plus seats - call enough times and you will probably find someone who can do it!
Yea....frequent flyer miles are great....aren't they!!
I have so many NWA miles, but they never seem to have seats available for me to use the miles!!
We booked a flight to Hawaii using AA miles the begining of Oct. for April travel with NO problem....now I'll check to make sure we still have a seat!!
I have so many NWA miles, but they never seem to have seats available for me to use the miles!!
We booked a flight to Hawaii using AA miles the begining of Oct. for April travel with NO problem....now I'll check to make sure we still have a seat!!
Delta is famous for changing the flight times/numbers (thus resulting in you losing your chosen seat) but you don't lose your reservation altogether.
Its a catch 22. You have to book way in advance - like 330 days to get the seats, but then you have to check (I do it monthly) to find out if they've changed things & if so, to call and reclaim your seats. It only matters to me because traveling w/ 5 we want to sit together.
Its a catch 22. You have to book way in advance - like 330 days to get the seats, but then you have to check (I do it monthly) to find out if they've changed things & if so, to call and reclaim your seats. It only matters to me because traveling w/ 5 we want to sit together.
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beachluvers
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:19 pm
- Location: Cumming, Georgia
Go Delta! I have my tickets reserved. We usually use the miles for first class, but I'm trying to save enough for the whole family(5 tickets!), so I wanted to book coach. One flight automatically upgrades to first class (the return flight)on the sky saver flight. Whooo Hooo! I am still watching for super rates out of Atlanta and Detroit for friends and family that are coming to the wedding. I have added my email address to Spirit's red alert list. Thanks for the tip!
Jo & Bryon
