Recently went to book a flight to Hawaii using my United miles...booked in October this year for April next year. What a head ache. Why do airlines make it so difficult to redeem miles? Word to the wise...book your award miles early...

the hawaii booking is popular, i did the same as you. it wasn't so bad tho. i didn't get to go when i wanted to, had to go 3 weeks later. the good news was, i didn't book any rooms til i had the tix. my biggest beef was that i couldn't fly in and out of the same island. i had to pay for an interisland flight to honolulu to get home - i had no plans to even go to that island, i had 5 days on kona, maui and kauai! (united's idea of round trip didn't include coming and going from the same place!)

I booked the first day available when united and usair combined flights for frequent flying. i wonder with the new merge of us air and america west if i still have united flights available for frequent flying....

well, they were free, weren't they? So, don't complain!

No, the miles aren't "free" for many of us. For one, some of us use credit cards to earn miles in favor of earning cash back or some other card benefit. For another, I consider actual mileage from an airline to be a kind of rebate. Miles are actually valued by many analysts at about 2 cents per mile...so they are not "free."

To the original poster: since the airline slowdown that began after 2000, most airlines have severely tightened their FF programs: reduced the number of flights available for FF miles, raised mileage requirements (while fares have not increased in general), and added restrictions and fees. So it is just getting harder every year to use your miles. In the 90's American had a terrific program, but it has become so restricted that I canceled my AA credit card and haven't flown AA in a couple of years. I have enough AA miles left for one 1st class domestic ticket and tried to use it over the holidays. Two years ago this was easy at the holidays even three months ahead of time, this year everything was already booked! I booked a 1st class ticket using my Northwest miles instead. In May I used Delta FF miles for a coach ticket. So it is not impossible to use tickets on some of the airlines, but it has gotten harder.

Andrew

You have learned what many people have - some the hard way. I read too many stories where people think they can book FF tickets for a cruise to Alaska 5 months out!

I am dismayed by the new combined FF program b/w USAir and America West. My husband had just earned Gold status and was earning a 100% mileage bonus. (Under silver he had a 50% bonus). Now, gold members only get a 50% and silver members only a 25% bonus. That stinks. This is only the 2nd time in about 8 years he's earned gold, so I was hoping to take full advantage of it - oh, well.

Truly, I cannot complain. Last year our family of 4 flew to St. John over Easter and to San Francisco for vacation in July - all on award tix.

I have found the only way to really take advantage of the FF miles is to buy the acceptable coach ticket and use the FF to upgrade to business class. At least that works with NW. I know I am still spending money on the ticket but being in business class is so nice. I am now low on FF miles, I hope I have enough to go R/T in business class to Europe next year.

Andrew, I guess it's all perception and/or semantics. I still view FF programs as a bonus.

Hi Howard, I look at the FF miles as a bonus also. If the airlines stopped their FF mile programs I doubt this would cause airfares to be lowered.

If CC companies stopped offering FF miles it would not change anything that I can see. The CC I have does not charge an annual fee and I pay the balance monthly so I do not pay any interest.

So like you I do look at the FF miles as a bonus. But perhaps someone with more knowledge in economics than I have could disagree of course.

It's totally a bonus...for me it's reward with all the pain of traveling for my job.

Just a tip to all...book early! We were very flexible with the dates and resorted to asking United what dates were available.

I'm whining...but all in all...first class to Hawaii...

Oh, also, not totally free...have to pay for taxes on the tix....