I've been trying to book award tickets for a trip to Europe next summer on BA, there are no return flights from LHR to SFO all summer and I've been looking for two months. Just for fun I looked at United's site....and there are tickets. Of course, most of my miles now are with BA or Delta. I miss the days of NWA and being able to use Continental's user friendly site to find award tickets. I switched to BA a few years ago because I was frustrated with Delta when they merged with NWA. I still have 200,000 difficult to use Delta miles. Enough ranting, what are the best airlines for being able to get award tickets to Europe? United? American? I know I can use my BA miles for American but I've been trying to use a 2-4-1 voucher for miles for BA and it has to be on BA planes. I think it's time for me to just completely switch loyalty but if I switch to United you can't top up your account with Amex miles. I remember when you could fly round trip to Europe in biz on NWA for 80k miles, sure seems like a long time ago!

We used to use UNIted miles to upgrade to Biz for numerous theater weeks in London . It became more difficult or impossible.

Now upgrade with Regent on every cruise - hassle-free. That perk is why I. stick with Regent

I've had luck with my American and USAirways, because Star Alliance has SO many partners, American too. Maybe depends on where you live, and what hubs operate there, as well as where you like to go. I really like American and United, because both have one way fares available, and you can mix two for one award at same points. Did that last time, using BA miles to Europe, and home from South America with United.

Delta points for me have been good for getting to Africa, or at least paid upgrades to biz class, in my experience (only 25K each way, and you still earn mega points for miles because it's so far). If you ask me, that's about it, but they are notorious among the flyertalk people for being difficult in getting award seats. I have stopped using my Delta Amex for just that reason. Once I paid double points, full RT both ways, because I was flying to and from different "regions" (South America and Africa on a crossing cruise) Marc Levin may have different thoughts.

Seems lately I never have luck anymore on my own. You call your own airline, and often they cannot see what is available within the consortium they are in. Then, I just call one of the points people, who are great. Guys with other jobs who just make extra money, charging a few bucks compared to the cost of international air and can find you what you want for $250 per couple, no matter where in the world.

Hi Julie,

I tried, very persistently, to redeem AA miles for our outbound flight into Edinburgh for next year's trip and return from London. It was a lesson in futility. I finally gave up and used our United MP miles, which was a snap to redeem. I have found that MP consistently offers better award availability and redemption, specifically for flights with Lufthansa. We are going United and Lufthansa for outbound and return. We've been Mileage Plus members since the inception of the program and redemption hasn't really been an issue for us. At some point, hopefully, we will make good use of our AA miles. Good luck!

Julie, why don't you try Ben at http://pointspros.com/ and see what he can do with your Delta points. I've read in various places that 'he get it done', and I don't think he charges till you accept the routing he finds.

We've from Florida, where "everything goes through Atlanta" and have had decent luck using Delta miles - business class to Tokyo returning from Beijing and one way (upgrade) to Spain within the past few years, to Vegas this year, and to San Francisco, returning from Calgary next spring, the later two in first class, booked on our own with Delta.

Good Luck!

I love British Air because of being able to combine into a "family" account and it worked so well for us to/from So.Africa. OTOH, I've had really good success with AA miles to Europe (sometimes stopping off in NYC for a few days) and love being able to get 1 way tickets.

I used our UAL miles to book one way flights LAX to Istanbul then back Rome to LAX on MARINER flight in Oct. (should add I got up at 2:30am when flights opened and got exactly what I wanted) so that's worked out well too.

Like others, I have given up on Delta. They NEVER have any flights for the least amount of miles nor do they do one ways. It is just not a good fit for us so no longer even trying to accrue Delta miles. I'm sticking with One World and Star Alliance.

I do wish that the AmEx Starwood card had better redemption with UAL, it's 2:1 instead of 1:1.

Like Ted, there's always Regent Air where we use the air deviation perk which is great.

Good luck Julie. I hope your persistence pays off.

I have me ER had any problem getting tickets to Europe with AA miles, in fact, if you have lots of miles you can get the anytime award with no blackouts. I usually don't do that because I am too much of a cheapskate. So I plan way ahead. Once my husband and I were on separate flights cross the Atlantic, but both in first class.

Just had to book w/ Delta. They had the only schedule that worked for us.
Maybe one day, we'll get to use the miles.... but better in the bank than lost. They do seem to be the hardest to use.

Doug

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I like reading other people's experiences, it makes you feel you are not alone in this 'war' to redeem your miles. LOL - why does it have to be so difficult? I think I'm going to pay for professional help to get the tickets I need - seems really worth it to me!

Rachel, you mean NEVER.? I've had good luck with AA twice now :-), and charge all my electric to them (big bill, unfortunately, a big and sort of old house), and get double points for supply through Engergy Plus, but you have to check the rates compared to your local company, and keep an eye on them to make sure you're saving money in addition to that. I'm too much of a cheapskate too, but have found availability close in as well, I think more award seats are available in time along the way, of course, based on their bookings, I booked my last cruise air maybe 6 months out with awards. Just depends on whether you are planning a last minute trip as opposed to a cruise. For my last cruise, I didn't book way out, and had no trouble with this time frame. WIth Regent, at least you can include their modest RT upgrades, or take the credit. I love this about Regent, and hope they never overprice it.

Not happy, however, that they are cutting down on the credits for people who get their own air. As well as cutting down on hotel credits for unused "included" benefits. To me, it is a price increase that never gets published.

Julie, you are right, it is a "war", and we all go through it before posting cheerily that we got flights after hours on the phone. Believe me, those points guys can help you, if help is to be had, just like the one Mike mentioned above. There are others, but they all likely have the same programs or will work a little harder to find more (who knows). I am almost relieved to write that check, knowing I will have the most comfortable flight I can get, and you never know when they will offer you FIRST on a 3 class aircraft, which is so tempting! Better save that for Asia or other outposts, when you can really get some sleep!

Jhp, you are right. My auto correct corrected my never.

Seriously you can get the flights with AA miles if you work at it. Sometimes you have to tweak things a little, come in a day early or leave a day later. But its be done.

I do have delta miles, but they are a mess to use. Only as a last resort.

Julie:

I actually had to forfeit one of those BA 2 for 1 vouchers a while back because we just could not find flights that worked before the voucher expired, and we started looking when the flights first opened up. Even had the points pros guy try to help and he couldn't find anything that would work for us either (his words (sort of): "Award availability in Biz/First for Europe on BA is abysmal")

Right now I have boo coos of BA miles which we plan to use for a trip to Europe in 2014 (River cruise with stays in Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague and then return from Barcelona to US on Silversea). Once I use most of those miles up, I plan to focus mostly on AA, which I have personally found to be the easiest to redeem. I am a AA fan (I know a lot of folks don't like them, but we have had good experiences).

I recommend Ben the Points Guy too. Used him to So Africa and he was great, well worth the modest fee. I have however also been able to get tix w/ Delta miles on my own, almost invariably on either KLM or Air France but I don't mind that at all. I presently have 2 Biz tickets from LAX to YWG and return from CPH via Paris for 140k miles per ticket. I didnt think that was bad. And I do enjoy my Platinum medallion status (free upgrades, priority boarding, expedited security etc.) with them. These loyalty programs are masterful marketing as I really feel locked in to Delta and will only fly another airline if Delta doesnt go where I need to be. Feels like too many accumulated miles to "start over".
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Helen

Helen, I too have used Ben twice now, and also Gary Leff same, with more than satisfactory service, both of them are so nice and responsive from my experience! I know it has been mentioned before, but www.viewfromthewing.com is a great site to see what is happening and to keep up with the frequent flyer world and how to gain additional miles.

I don't fly enough to reach Platinum on any airline. Best I ever got was one year on Gold USAir. I think it got me one upgrade to Mexico! Branded credit cards give priority boarding, etc. Then there's Global Entry, etc. and Fast Pass or whatever it is called for elites.

Fortunately, like you said, those loyalty programs are masterful, giving double miles for the right credit card, bonus miles for status holders. Just paying normal bills by credit card same to me as writing a check, and the miles are a bonus. Only way I can get miles, since I am retired, and I hoard them like a little squirrel gathering nuts for the winter!

We mostly use our FF miles on AA and BA and airlines in the One World Alliance. We have always been able to use our 2 for 1 BA tickets but it is NOT easy. We got four of us to South Africa in July this year on those tickets (family safari).

We have Delta miles but the awards levels are so much higher not sure when we will ever use them.

AA has always been the easiest to redeem (unless we are tying to get Qantas that airline has become almost impossible) I also find AA's website the best but of course that is because I am so used to using it.

We just booked First Class on Singapore rt SFO to SIN with the help of Gary Leff at bookyouraward.com. As before, he did a great job for us....well worth the fee he charges.

It appears from what I read that AA and USAir are negotiating a merger, and the result would be USAir leaving Star Alliance and joining One World (if that is AA alliance). I've always liked *Alliance, but the only thing is that I hate to have all my eggs in one basket, as I've used both alliances in the past, and for the last cruise one way for each to make it work. BUt I no longer collect Delta miles because they have been so difficult.

Bonnie, good job for Gary! These guys are great stress relievers, aren't they?

Bonnie: Gary did a blog post about -what I assume - is your trip!
Enjoy
Best to Jack, Doug

I am late to this party, but, damn......Olivia, you threw me for a loop. I love Star Alliance...always had good luck with them via US Air.
I normally hate USAir, but now they have a new configuration for Envoy class on flights to Frankfurt and London where it is like having your own little apartment......their configuration i 1-2-1, so as a single traveler, I have my own space, no one bothers me, and i dont bother anyone else.
I have had no problems with USAir miles but United has been a pain. I booked and they wouldn't confirm because I booked too early, and they didn't know how many seats would be available in Business class!!! None had been sold!!! Ridiculous!

Thought I'd give you an update instead of just complaining :)
I found seats from Chicago to Heathrow to Glasgow on BA and back GLA-LHR-SFO in first. Club would have been fine (don't like to burn all those miles). I used a 2-4-1 for my daughter's ticket. So for three tickets 270,000 BA miles and about $1200 each in taxes. I found 3 first class seats on AA from SFO-ORD, one way, to connect with BA (90k miles and $7.50).
I got some intra Europe tickets on BA to meet the ship and return back to GLA before we fly back to the States. Burned through 420,000 miles but hopefully it will be a great trip. Stockholm to Copenhagen on the Seabourn Sojourn.

Does anyone have a phone number for Gary Leff and his cohort?
I can't find a number on the website, and I have a question about a booking request I placed.

Thanks

Diane, I've used him twice, but never spoke with him personally. Did he not answer to email? Maybe put URGENT re: My booking
in the subject line if it's something pressing. I'm not sure whether she checks in often, but Bebop Bonnie perhaps knows the phone no. Or you could PM her via lct.

Diane - I haven't used Gary, but have used Ben at PointsPros and noticed that they too do not put a phone number for contact. Guess they would never get off the phone if they did. I think Olivia had a good suggestion, mark it URGENT in the subject matter.

I have found with Ben that if he is traveling, it can be awhile before I get a response.

We've used Gary Leff a number of times.
I had his old email (never a phone number) & last time he asked me not to use it.
He likes everything to flow thru his website.
Note: he had partners who work with him & you. You may not get Gary, but that could be ok (or not).
Last time I used Gary, I worked with someone else. Was not pleased with the way he worked with me, but the trip was booked wonderfully & we were very happy with the final trip & mile cost.
It is a service business. Not sure that he has the time to put into it as it grows, but I could be wrong.

Doug

I worked with Alex at Points Pros to use our United miles to fly my granddaughter to South Africa in biz and first classes RT.

I was very pleased - and so was Lydia!

Reasonable fee and I gave him a tip.

I contacted Leff one time but he was busy and referred me to Ben.
I have used Ben at Points Pros several times and been very pleased. Most recently Ben got us biz class on Delta from LAX to Beijing and return from Hong Kong for 120k miles pp. When I tried to book this trip myself using miles I could not find it for less than 250k miles. Dont know how these guys do it but they are worth every cent!
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Helen

I never did talk to the guys, but they helped me tremendously. Lots of emails on both ends.
They really are terrific

Got email today about the NEW points pros. Ben and Team are at: points pros.com - and also have a newsletter. $200 fee for first passenger and $100 for others - not much different than Regent deviation depending number of passengers.


FYI only: I'm not shilling for them, but Alex did a great job getting my granddaughter Lydia to S. Africa RT in biz and first class last summer.That's Lydia left below, Callaghan center and Caitlin, right! They're all now 7 years older!

wish those little ones didn't have to get so big so fast

Alas, we're all also 7 years older too - we get too old too fast!

ON my next go around I will surely use Ben or one of these services for sure. Called Delta again yesterday for like the 27th time and really got a nice agent and a smart one as well. I will not bore everyone with all the torturing details, but instead of overnight in London and then back to Boston was able to get two Biz class on Alitalia direct Rome to Boston which always seems like its never available.. Delta does not have one way awards, but I had to book these as two different trips, and glad I did the award level has tripled now..