milliebz

I hate to admit this but I have never attempted to use frequent flyer miles. I would like to plan a trip but barely where to start. I don't thing the United FF website is particualarly helpful. I would really like to know how to figure out how to go to Morocco using some miles. Help anyone?

DonTopaz

You can get a LOT of info from United's Star Alliance award chart, at http://www.united.com/ual/asset/Star...d_chart_v2.pdf

That will tell you how many miles you need, and some of the conditions.

United doesn't fly to Morocco, so you'll need to fly on other carriers using a United Star Alliance award.

Award seats are usually difficult to obtain, so the earlier you plan ahead and the more flexible you can be about your dates, the greater your chance of success.

milliebz

Thank you so much. This is what I was looking for but could not find on their website. The eleven page document that I found does not even tell you how many miles you need to travel.

Has anyone out there successfully used miles to travel to Africa?

Ericka

If you are only going to Morocco while in Africa, your best bet is to use miles to fly to somewhere in southern Europe like Spain. Then buy the ticket hop the pond from Spain to Morocco. The *A charges A LOT more miles to fly to the African continent than they do to Europe.

Also, you'll want to book as early as possible. Most major airline schedules open up 330-331 days ahead.

RBCal

I've found that you have to call to book FF miles. The United website never shows availability but a United agent can usually find something.
I booked tickets to Capetown from LAX via LHR than SAA to CPT. If you fly to Africa from North America it will take 80,000 miles. To Europe it only takes 50,000 miles using a saver award. It is also possible to take a ferry to Morocco from Spain and this might be the cheapest option.

DonTopaz

Yes, it is possible to get a FF award to Africa -- I'm traveling to Botswana on 1 later this summer.

Does anyone know whether Morocco is considered to be Africa or Europe in terms of FF award tickets? In certain cases (for example, a RTW ticket on OneWorld alliance), Morocco is actually treated as if it were in Europe.

welltraveledbrit

I think Morocco is considered Africa for United FF awards , however, I agree with the poster above who suggests calling. The perenial problem with flights to Africa is finding availability on the European section.

One thing that is worth considering is that you can make a stopove OR an Open Jaw (flying into and out of two different destinations)on FF awards. This opens up a range of possible combinations including stopovers in Paris, London, Germany etc.

If you decide to go the Europe route (you could use your 80,000 miles for a business class tickets)and then a low cost carrier to Morroco there are several options from the UK. Atlas Blue flies from Gatwick and Easy Jet which has just begun service to Morrocco also from Gatwick.To find out about additional European low cost carriers into Morrocco see
www.whichbudget.com

Hope this helps!

milliebz

I love this board. Thank you all so much!

Ericka

Morocco IS considered an Africa award on the Star Alliance which makes it a bit of a rip-off.

SAnParis

Perhaps you should check your geography ? Last time I checked Morocco, was indeed, part of the African continent.

Patty

Geography sometimes has little to do with airline frequent flyer or hotel frequent guest program rules. Example - Marriott doesn't consider Russia to be part of Europe for award redemption purposes. They make up their own geography!

welltraveledbrit

Yes - FF geography is an entirely different business.

We flew SFO-Vienna-Yerevan and it was considered a "European" award. Clearly Armenia which is East of Turkey is NOT in Europe. Similarly United and the Star Alliance consider several of the Stans (including Turkmenistan)in Central Asia to be part of Europe!

If you fly to unusual destinations it often pays to know these things in addition to undertand where Morrocc is really located. As someone who has lived in various parts of Africa I know and I'm sure most people here are more than aware that Morrocco is in North Africa!

Ericka

I think it's unfortunate that most people don't do enough research related to FF usage. This whole Morocco discussion is an excellent example. Often times, it is a better use of money and miles to fly somewhere VERY CLOSE to your final destination on the award and then use cash for the rest of your itinerary. For our upcoming award trip to the Maldives, we opted to fly into Sri Lanka which is an hour away from the Maldives but cost us 60,000 fewer miles!

milliebz

That is why this board exists. So that people get the benefit of other people's experience. I appreciate the advice I have gotten on this board and will direct my research to use my miles expeditiously. Thank you.

kleroux

We're using FF miles from United to fly to Morocco in Sept. We need to fly Lufthansa into and out of Frankfurt with about a 6 hr layover. I think they only have one flight a week into Morocco. We never thought to check flying into the UK and paying for a cheap flight to Morocco, altho I'll bet it would have been both cheaper and an easier connection.