We booked the Voyager, Mumbai to Bali, Dec 1st but I could find no availability for BC/FC on rtn from Bali, 19 Dec, even after a half dozen calls to AA, and BA and their CSR's respectively. One email to Ben, viola, we're flying British Air, FC to Delhi from Atlanta and BC back from Bali on Thai Airways to Frankfurt then Lufthansa from Frankfurt to ATL. Ben is a magic FF mile award maker. Another strong recommendation for Ben at Pointspros.com

Wes:

We use a diff point expert & are just as happy with him as you are w/ Ben. These guys just know how to do magic and are so worth the cost.

Since you spoke so highly of Pointspro, I went to check them out. Don't know what it means, but it was interesting that the web address: pointspro.com is being offered for sale for $1,095.

Doug

Hi Doug, first learned of Ben from the LCT resident FF mile/hotel points pro--Peterpony. My experience with other award services--have attempted to use Gary Leff, frankly not as user friendly as Ben just have not been as prompt/timely as Ben is. Olivia and Joanna also have used Ben as I believe have other LCTr's. Doug what is amazing as Peter pointed out to me a few years ago is, Ben is a very recent College graduate--but he has flown over 2 million butt in seat miles and more importantly as an award service pro has booked hundreds of thousands of miles. Believe Gary is the top award service pro for Star Alliance awards, Ben for One World tho both can easily do awards with either/all awards, air alliances.

Doug add and s to your link above, Ben's award service is pointspros.com
vs pointspro.com (yep, this domain is for sale)

Also, Ben's blog, "one mile at a time" blog, imo, is one of the top three (along with Gary's view from a wing) that exist today (I read at least a dozen ff mile/points blog daily. Doug, If interested, Ben's blog is:

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/onemileatatime/

Also, Ben contributes regularly as a writer for Travelsort, his latest blog post here:

http://travelsort.com/blog/the-15-best-first-and-business-class-airline-awards-in-2012

Thanks Wes and Doug - I think I entered wrong link and wondered why I had not heard back - I remember reading about Ben and the fact he was a "kid" - a smart one I think!

Thanks Wes!!!
I will follow his blog. I don't read/follow as many as you, but am always interested in learning whatever I can to better play the system.
If Ben was recommended by our Peter, 'nuff said. Peter knows his stuff!
As far as he being "a kid", *please*... knowledge does not know age.
I shall watch this 'youngster'.

Doug

Doug I agree - I am so impressed with Ben

Well the big difference (in my opinion) between Ben & Gary is that Ben does this travel "stuff" (blog, travelling, booking awards) "fulltime" since his graduation from college. Gary's fulltime job is a CFO (for a DC area think tank). As such that probably explains some of the "turnaround" time of requests.

While I think that Gary's expertise is in Star Alliance awards. Ben also has done most of his personal redemption on Star Alliance. Although, I think he has been transitioning his personal flying to AA (and therefore oneworld).

Another unsolicited vote for Ben. He did wonders for us on Nile II. My travel since then has been pretty straightforward but he is definitely my "go to" guy for more complicated stuff.
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Helen

I hate to be a spoilsport but our experience with Ben was extremely unsatisfactory. Ben wrote me that he had unfortunately delayed starting work on our tickets due to a family emergency which was certainly understandable. He said that he was starting to work on our tickets. However, we never heard from him again, despite two emails 13 and 20 days later asking for a status report. Finally, I gave up and bought the flights through Regent.

I'm glad Ben did a good job for others. It's too bad he flaked out on us.