Help- frequent flyer dilemma!
 

I'm trying to use amex points to purchase two business class tickets on thai (the JFK-Bangkok route). In order to do this, I have to deposit my points into a Star Alliance airline and then have that particular airline book my flight on Thai. The problem is, the airlines won't tell you flight availability until you deposit your amex points! It's infuriating because I'll be stuck if I deposit my points and the airline doesn't have availability on the dates I want to fly. Also, it takes a few business days for the points to transfer from amex to the airline. SAA and Singapore wouldn't give me any information unless I had miles in my account. I spoke to a nice representative from ANA who informed me that one of the dates I wanted was not available and the other had limited availability, which still presented a problem because there could be zero availability by the time my points transfer (if I choose to transfer them to ANA).

Has anyone had a similar experience? What is the best way to handle the situation?

Thanks!

You haven't indicated how far in advance you want to go. The Thai flight from my experience has had good availability but we usually reserve 10-11 months in advance - that is for high season (February). We use United three years in a row to reserve and in spite of the fact that the call center is in India they have been fairly helpful. If I don't get the answers I want from the person I'm talking to, I just hang up and call back.

I don't know what Amex's policy is on transferring points back - you might look into this. Also there is more than one way to get to Bangkok - look into the alternatives with connections on the Star Alliance airlines if you are on a short time frame.

If you're talking about Membership Rewards with AmExp, then I've been on that program forever and I've always had to send the AmExp points over to the airline before I could do anything at the airline. I sent some over some months ago in order to cash in 70,000 frequent flyer miles with Delta/Singapore Air to get an L.A.-Taipei-Singapore-Bangkok and home ticket for this coming summer. And as of a few years ago, AmExp now charge a fee to send them over. In the old days there was no fee. Happy Travels!

First thing I would do would be to go to the Thai Airways website and read about their frequent flyer program.

One thing I might expect is that for awards booked on Thai flights using Thai FF points you would have more flexibility with changes.

I know that when using my United miles on a non-United parter award trip that no changes are allowed after departure from home. No date changes or time changes, etc. But when using United miles on United flights I know that I can change dates/times anytime.

You probably aren't planning to change your travel plans but the more flexibility you have the better.

Another reason I would put my miles on Thai's program would be if their website allowed searching for Thai award availability. Again, on United's website I can search for United flights but not for Star Alliance partners. I don't know if you can search for award availability on the Thai Air website.

You can search for *A availability at the ANA website if you are a member of their ANA Mileage Club. Search there and then call Thai to book.

Another consideration would be how easy it is to get an award reservation over the phone - does their phone res number answer 24/7.

I booked that flight last year with am ex miles going to US Air and they gave me availability before I had to send the miles -- problem is I don't think AmEx partners with them any longer. Can you tried Air Canada? They link with thai air and you can transfer AmEx miles to them. I've heard there is rarely a problem getting thai flights through them if you give yourself enough time.

We had a similar situation come up for our trip to Bangkok this past March. We were making reservations for this flight last May (plenty of time to get Business class seats using award travel). We had 200k Member Reward points and availability through USAirways, but, alas, USAirways no longer had a relationship with Am Exp. Our solution, after much calling around and looking at various alternatives, was to go through AirCanada (a Star Alliance member). We had to joing AirCanada frequent flyer program. We secured availability through discussion with AirCanada representative on Thai flight JFK-BKK (also Star Alliance member). We transferred points from Member Rewards to the new Air Canada FF account. Transfer was virtually instantaneous (in fact, was on the phone with the AirCanada rep while I did online point transfer and he confirmed arrival of points in my account and booked reservations). Cost was minimal...don't remember exactly what it was, but pretty insignficant...$25 or so? Whole process went smoothly and quickly, once we decided on AirCanada as primary booking airline. Interestingly, we never even flew on a AirCanada plane...used Thai and USAirways, both Star Alliance members.