Airline miles - Anyone ever get to use them?

[glennkawesch]

Hello, my name is Glenn Kawesch. Hopefully someone from the airline which will remain nameless but has our country's name on it, will REMEMBER MY NAME! Glenn Kawesch! HA.

Anyway, spoke to a representative who was very less than helpful. I have tried to use my airline miles countless times and never can. I'm interested to know if ANYONE has ever been able to use them. Went round and round and round with the CSR and my airline miles appear to be useless.

I guess that is my saving advice. LOL.

What a mess,

Glenn Kawesch

[PRICEPLUS]

Never used the miles! Frankly I don't know anyone who has!

[catlinye_maker]

I use miles on Southwest (reward points for them, actually) and on USAir regularly. I've been lucky so far and never had a problem redeeming points. In fact one of my CC's rewards points can be transferred into the airline's program, and that's mostly what we've used those points for, to get free airfare so that I can go along with my husband on some of his trips.

At least recently, I've been doing this online rather than on the phone, using the airline's online frequent flyer program. Maybe try it that way?

[Squantum]

I've used miles. Booking far in advance is important. Catlinye is right -- most airline websites now list what dates are available for miles usage. Also, if you have a LOT of miles, most airlines now have a "premium" award -- they charge you twice as many miles as the "standard" or "economy" reward. Could be worth it, depending how many miles you have, how much you paid for them (ie did you accumulate them thru trips you paid for yourself, or through CC points or business trips), and how much the trip would cost otherwise.

[syracusa]

All I know is we use the Delta Skymiles card (AMEX). We charge all we can on it, pay it off in full at the end of each month and collect points. We have traveled internationally twice so far with skymiles (we've had the card for about 3-4 years).

We have just collected 100,000 points (50,000 required for a round trip to Europe) and have just booked a trip to Italy for two, virtually for free, plus taxes. We only had to buy one discount ticket for our almost 2 yo son.
1000 dollars total with taxes and everything for a round trip to Europe, for three people. Not too bad.

This card works best for us - because we have to travel to Europe every year (we have family there). But we booked last week in order to fly in May 2007. Basically half a year in advance. Some people say that even this is late. Many book a year in advance. It all depends on your needs and how flexible you are.

[glennkawesch]

They sure do make it difficult.

Glenn Kawesch

[vsjhoc]

I've used miles for free flights on USAir, United, and Delta. I didn't have enough on American for a flight, but was able to redeem them for free newspaper subscriptions. You don't always have to book far in advance; I got a First Class trip from the East Coast to Sydney, Australia, and I booked it only 4 - 6 weeks in advance. I paid about $80 for a $15,000 ticket. I agree with the other posters about using the airline programs' websites rather than trying to book on the phone.