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It's a Big Wonderful World (And it's yours free) Well, almost . . .

The holidays are over, you’ve sobered up, the gift cards have been spent, and you’ve completed your holiday travel.  Well, if you’re planning on using frequent flyer miles for next year’s holiday travel, you’d better get on it now.

Most airline seats for booking are released 11 months and one day before the flight is scheduled to depart.  So, if you’re planning on award travel for Christmas it’s already time to get on it.  Here’s the rub: you won’t be able to book your complete itinerary if you are planning on returning after Christmas – it’s too early.  So, for those of you that are planning to return before Christmas, you’d better book away.  You may already be too late!

The Wall Street Journal has a good primer on what to do to maximize your odds of being able to book award travel.

Even though recession-weary consumers may want to cash in frequent-flier miles to get free trips and upgrades more than ever these days, it’s gotten harder to snare those awards. Even though recession-weary consumers may want to cash in frequent-flier miles to get free trips and upgrades more than ever these days, it’s gotten harder to snare those awards.

Read on →

If you haven’t booked an award travel for several years, be ready for a shock.  Airlines have increased the amount of miles you need from each seat.  In 2003 on-United Airlines, the required frequent flier miles, in economy, was 50,000 miles.  In 2010, the Saver Award in Economy is 55,000 miles and the Standard Award is 110,000 miles!

I’ve already booked my summer award travel to Europe.  I booked that travel last November and it was already slim pickings.  I didn’t get my ideal times and ideal cities.  I wasn’t able to book any first class seats (for 2, singles were available) and settled for business on a partnered airline.  Note: The intra-European flights are easy to book; the “over-the-water” flights are the problem.  There are only so many flights “over-the-water”.

I enjoy traveling during the December holidays and since I am unable to book the return portion of my trip (post Christmas) at this time, I have to be poised to jump on the seats for the date the moment they become available.  The problem I will find, by then, is that the departure seats will be slim pickings.

Be diligent and it will pay off.  Remember, to keep working hard and keenly to get those miles.  You deserve the flights you want for that dream holiday.

Happy Tripping,

Carter

Hey Trippers,

Having just returned from a good ole winter airline travel experience, I decided I needed to write about this subject again – Airline status.

Having status with an airline can be a big asset to negotiating all the peaks and valleys of a trip.  Without my airline status I would not have made it to our destination – period.  Because of my status I was offered another earlier flight when my original flight was delayed and threatened with cancellation.  Due to the horrendous weather I decided to arrive at the airport 4 hours early which opened up my opportunity.  The flight had a long list of standbys but because of my status, I was bumped ahead of most people.  I was able to get on the flight and out of town.

At my next connection, Chicago, O’Hare, always a nightmare during perfect weather, I had a long wait for my original connection.  I requested an earlier flight that was scheduled.  Due to my status, I was bumped to the top of the standby list.  Tragic thing is I still arrived at my final destination an hour and a half later than my original itinerary despite arriving at my first flight 4 hours early and leaving from my connection on an earlier “scheduled” flight.

The final flight ended up being delayed for two hours because their flight attendant couldn’t make it to the flight!  They threatened to cancel the flight outright because of this.

Also, these flights are all packed and overbooked.  So, with my status I’m allowed to board earlier than others.  Why is this important?  Because then I have overhead bin luggage storage space available – by my seat.  This helps me to efficiently depart the plane rather than wait for others to exit while I wait for access to my baggage in a bin above a seat down the aisle. also given preferential booking for seating.  My status enables me to access my exit row aisle seat (a must for me) with more leg room.

When I call the airline to book, I am given a separate phone number to call for assistance and don’t have to queue with the general public.

Airlines want your regular business and they value your repeat business.

In order to acquire enough miles to attain status, I would pick a major airline than have a wide variety of destinations and partnerships with other airlines to fill in the gap.  Here is a list of advantages you may have access to when joining a mileage program with an airline and gaining status:

(Note: it varies from airline to airline and may depend on the level of status you attain)

• When booking a flight you get a priority telephone number

• Access to additional award travel inventory

• Access to preferred seating; exit rows

• Priority Check In Service

• Waived Baggage Fees

• Streamlined Security Clearance

• Boarding priority

• Access to on board storage bins sooner

• Priority Stand By Wait listing

• If your flight is canceled or delayed you get priority clearance on another flight

• Free airline travel once you accrue enough miles

All of the above is why I encourage you to try to stick with a single airline for your travel.  I will even pay a few dollars more, over the cheapest fare I find, to book on my priority airline.  It pays off in the actual enjoyment of your air travel.  Vow to join at least two mileage programs in 2009 – it’s free!

Happy Tripping in 2009,

Carter