In the good old days the only thing travelers valued more highly than cheap travel options, whether cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages was airlines miles that could be redeemed for free travel. These days, members of frequent flier programs are often disappointed when calling to redeem their mileage only to be told that there are no seats available for award travel on the flights desired.
Airlines will readily share how many travel awards they distribute each year. What they wont say though is how many times their frequent flier members were able to book their first choice of award flights. Nor how frequently members had to revise their award travel plans because their first, second, and even third choices of award flights were unavailable. Nor will they share how many times their frequent fliers had to redeem twice as many miles for unrestricted award tickets. Or how often their members were unable to find any award flights.
The following are suggestions on how to successfully redeem miles for airline tickets:
Be flexible when trying to use points. If you first choice of flights are unavailable, keep trying to find alternative available award flights.
Your chances of securing award travel increases if you book early. Award seats usually become available 330 days prior to the flight date. Alternatively, sometimes it is easier to secure award seats within two weeks of the flight date when award seats are sometimes added back into award inventory on flights which have not sold out.
Identify the days of the week or times of year when demand for travel to a destination is lowest and try to travel at that time. Peak travel days vary depending on your destination. Peak days tend to be Tuesday through Thursday to cities like Chicago which is a business oriented destination. Trips to Las Vegas or Orlando have peak travel days around weekends because of their leisure appeal. Similarly you should be aware of annual cycles and not try to book winter holidays trips to Hawaii or summer trips to Europe.
Although it is very difficult to reserve award tickets on days just prior to and after holidays, award seats are often available on the actual day of the holiday.
Often award trips to smaller, less in demand destinations (such as Omaha, NE) represent a good value for your miles.
Take advantage of airlines periodic award sales, where they discount award tickets to select destinations.
Try to attain elite frequent flier status since elite members are often given better access to award seats.
If you are trying to fly as a family of three or more, be willing to divide your family into two or more groups so that you are more likely to find award seats.
As a last resort be willing to use more miles (typically twice as many) for unrestricted airline award tickets. www.cheapfares.com