Did my first look at Delta as we are 331 nights out from departure (01/10/12). It has been over five years since I have tried to book an award seat exactly 331 days in advance; no luck. Delta just has "medium" award buckets available. In fact, between now and next January, there are only three days with low buckets for business class seats. Economy is much better but only for four to five months out. Delta is easy to Europe or Asia because of all the options. With only one flight a day to Buenos Aires, this is not a good Delta itinerary for miles.

Coach is much better in both availability and price. As coach configuration is 2-3-2, coach is a reasonable option.

Has anyone else tried to get their air yet? Do other airlines hold off in making inventory available? At least with Delta, you can (almost) always get award seats paying a higher amount of miles. This really helped us out for Kangaroo. Given the short distance involved in flying to Buenos Aires, I would prefer not to pay 200,000 miles per person.

Next call, maybe from Kangaroo when both directions are available, is to see Amex 2-for-1 pricing; not often a good deal.

Can't comment about Delta , but with Continental the conventional wisdom that you get better FF seat availability 331 days prior does not apply. Many times they make FF seats available much later. For example, for our WINES cruise in August, a few months ago FF seat availability for Newark-London was almost non existent. I kept checking almost every day. Then , a couple of weeks ago they showed availability in all their flights to London (they have about 5 flights a day)!

We used Gary Leff and hasn't always found the best routes/seats immediately upon availability. I agree with Maria.

Marc, I've been keeping an eye on AA availability & they aren't opening up Milesaaver business/first awards at 331 days out, only the AAnytime awards, which are double the miles.

I need the Milesaaver awards, don't have enough for the AAnytime ones. In fact, right now I only have enough for business one way. Has anyone ever purchased miles? It would cost me $1000 for enough miles to get RT business.

I've purchased miles occasionally to top up the account as needed for awards.

Actually right now (through 2/28) AA is giving bonus miles with miles purchased.

Buy the Miles You Need to Get There
And Earn Bonus Miles!
With American Airlines AAdvantage® miles, you can get to extraordinary destinations this year. What are your travel resolutions for 2011? Take a vacation, visit friends or family and immerse yourself in a new culture.

Simply purchase the miles you need to reach your next award and start planning the trip of your dreams. Plus, when you purchase miles through February 28, 2011, you’ll earn up to 15,000 bonus miles!


The More You Buy, The More You Earn!

Purchase Bonus
2,000 500
6,000 2,000
12,000 4,000
40,000 15,000

The link is https://buy.points.com/AAdvantage/i...BuyFeb11&c=AASoloBuyV4DomEngBuyFeb11

We've certainly purchased Delta Skymiles, but only when they were giving huge bonuses--once I think they even doubled the purchased miles. Of course then you have to try to get award tickets with those miles, which we know is a challenge, especially with Delta :( .

----------

Eugene

If you are interested in Delta and have Membership Rewards miles; if you make a "first" transfer, you can get 50% bonus. In addition, if you transfer 50,000 MR you get 25,000 Delta MQM; a good deal. Alas, my membership rewards from FUN have still not been receeived. :(

Alas, my membership rewards from FUN have still not been receeived.

Nothing here either :mecry: :mecry:

Peter, I saw that AA promotion. The 40,000 miles costs $1000 and you actually get 55,000 miles. Not too bad. I'll just keep checking until the Milesaaver seats open up.

Lauri - AA has only opened up Milesaaver awards through 12/31. I've got an alert set for you - I'll get an email when one opens up for the 10th.

That's very cool Andrea!

We were able to snag two round trip coach tickets for 60,000 miles each; we are very pleased.

Now we have enough miles left that we might be able to use miles for GRAND PRIX. :)

Nice job Marc! Since I have mucho AA miles I'll be flying in F on the 777. Only have the outbound ticketed right now since they haven't loaded milesaaver award seats for the return yet.

I've got the outbound booked in business. Now I've just got to come up with the miles to get home!

Booked the outbound a couple of weeks ago. Today I booked the return. Only business option with saver miles on AA was via MIA then on to LAX so booked those flights. Had to pay some taxes, not much $60.00 or so each. We leave 1/30/2012 at 9:45pm.

I'm coming back via Miami too.
A miles fairy paid me a visit and I am ever so grateful!

Ken and I are coming back via Miami also. I think we will all be taking that route home.

Booked my flights this evening RDU-ATL-EZE and return using my Delta Skymiles.

Great everyone seeems to be able to use miles that sure helps!!

We have to get on this soon. Haven't done it yet.

Beth, are you flying down on 10th and returning on the 30th? If so, we will see you ATL-EZE.

Marc, I am flying down on the 10th and returning the 31st. See you on board. :hello1: I'm in 30F.

I decided to take the longer flight and will be flying through JFK back to BOS.

Ngaire I was watching the direct back to DFW for Lauri & thought you & Ken had grabbed the milesaaver awards!

I will be on the Delta flight from ATL using ff miles. There is a non-stop from Houston to BA, but I didn't have enough Continental miles. That flight's price has actually dropped in the last 2 weeks, but still not cheap. The cruise price is enough to make me gag so why make it higher with an air expense. Now to call Hyatt and see if those 2 free nights are available at their BA property.

Andrea,

I have been watching the AA flights from EZE to LAX or SNA via DFW very closely. My conclusion has been AA was not going to open up the milesaver awards for the flight from BA to DFW. I think Ken and Ngaire came to the same conclusion. One could get the flight to DFW if using the anytime level. That was twice the milessaver as you probably know. One aspect of the MIA flight is it leaves earlier so less time spent at ESE lounge.

Betty, will be good to see you again. Been a long time since LAMB.

Ralph, yes it has been way too long. Since I am having to cancel most of my 2011 planned trips, I will be so ready for this cruise/expedition. Acquiring cold weather clothing is my next big challenge. Looking forward to meeting Brayden besides seeing you again. I have a high school reunion this year. One of the questions on the form is Best Adventure. I listed a past one (Egypt) and ZODIAC as the future. I already know that's exactly what it will be.

You do not need much in the way of cold weather clothing. The water proof pants are the most important. I got mine for ARCTIC at REI for around 60 to 75. I am sure Ngaire can provide good info in this area. You may have most of what you need. It gets toward the cold side in Houston in the winter. The one item I am going to take I did not take on ARCTIC is a balaclava to keep my ears warm. It is actually quite warm on the ship. On arctic it was shirt sleeve weather. Brayden wore basketball shorts many days when playing hearts. Oh to be a teenager again.

We picked up water proof pants today at Sports Authority for $30. I think we are ok with every thing else. Now, we just have to wait ten months.

It's the waiting that gets you

Well, Beth and I are set. We have our possum gear...

Andi, I am a Possum Queen in name only. I didn't actually purchase any possum products, just looked around as you and Crystal made your possum purchases!!

Then I will be the ONLY true possum queen on Zodiac and will take my honored position. As an aside, here it is March 27th...full spring...and we had weather in the 20s today. I have been putting my possum goodies to very good use.

Andi you will be deserving of your "queen" status, possum girl - I'd be your maiden in waiting hoping for a possum toss here and there - :hug: :hug:

Joanna, You are just royalty from another kingdom! I can't believe I had to give up my place at Kate and Will's wedding to go on ROAR. I would have thought they would have rescheduled to accommodate our vacation. These young people just have no manners!

AHHHHH the wedding time for rejoicing - I often play, from you tube, "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace" Westminster Abbey Choir" from the funeral IF you have never heard it PLAY IT! - the words are haunting and so moving...one of William's Mums favorite hymns

Make me a channel of your peace.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving to all men that we receive

And in dying that we are born to eternal life

Oh master, grant that I may never seek

So much to be consoled as to console

To be understood as to understand

To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

I have heard this before, but just listened again... just beautiful

We are on LAN (through British Air) from JFK to Lima and Lima to EZE on 1/7 arriving on 1/8 and returning on a direct AA flight at 9:30 pm to JFK on 1/30.

Gary and Doug did miracles. Since it is a codeshare, we were able to use fewer miles with BA than AA. Gary also found us a 40% bump up for converting AMEX to BA miles through month end too. So, for any of you who haven't yet booked, and didn't know, I hope this helps.

Yeah! We are going!

Yes, we sure are!

Gary Leff is wonderful. He just knows what he is doing & does it.
I hate paying bills, but I never hate paying him for what he does.
A professional is always worth the price.

Doug