How to Use ExpertFlyer to Find Award Space

You signed up for a credit card, met the minimum-spending requirements and earned a welcome bonus. You’ve done everything the credit-card issuer told you to do to take your first free flight on points, but you just can’t find any award space.

Don’t worry. This happens all the time.

Before you throw away the credit card that didn’t meet your quite reasonable travel expectations, let me teach you a valuable trick.

Redeem American Airlines Miles: Part 4, Award Rules & How Many Miles You Need

I am updating this post in light of the fact that American Airlines has added a new award rule: International awards are now limited to four segments per one-way and domestic to three per one-way. While it's never a great thing when further restrictions are put in place, this one probably won't affect tons of you--but those that redeem AAdvantage miles often should be aware. 

Let's talk about constructing American Airlines awards.

Delta Has Access to More Air Tahiti Nui Space than You Find on Expert Flyer

It seems that experflyer.com is not accurately displaying Air Tahiti Nui award space that Delta agents can book. Multiple Delta representatives confirmed with me over the phone that four seats in Business Class are available on seven different Air Tahiti Nui flights, all of which show zero award seats in Business Class available on expertflyer.com.
What Air Tahiti Nui Is and Why it Matters
Air Tahiti Nui, headquartered in Papeete, Tahiti, is one of seven airlines that flies into Fa'a'ā International Airport in Tahiti.

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Using Expert Flyer to Redeem Delta and American Airlines Awards

This is the twentieth post in a monthlong series that started here. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete. I am writing this for an audience of people who know nothing about frequent flier miles, and my goal is that by the end, you know enough to fly for free anywhere you want to go.

Anatomy of an Award: Membership Rewards to Argentina

I recently booked a family of four an economy award from Miami to Buenos Aires with their Membership Rewards. It was an interesting award that I think demonstrates the complexities and fun of booking with American Express points.

I won't talk about that award specifically, but I'll use it as a jumping off point for discussion since it illustrates a typical Memberhip Rewards situation.

Free First Class Next Month: Using Expert Flyer to Redeem Delta Miles

Hey! You're reading an outdated Free First Class Next Month series. Check out the latest version published in April of 2015 here.

This is the twenty-fourth post in a monthlong series that started here. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete. I am writing this for an audience of people who know nothing about frequent flier miles, and my goal is that by the end, you know enough to fly for free anywhere you want to go.

A System to Get to Europe with Delta SkyMiles

I use three steps to get to my European destination with Delta SkyMiles. For each direction:

Find transatlantic space.
Find domestic space within the US on Delta or Alaska from my home airport to the international gateway.
Find intra-European space to my destination.

Those steps are roughly in order of difficulty--though many times finding domestic space on Delta is impossible at the low-miles price.

What AA.com Adding Finnair and airberlin Means for You

American Airlines has added the ability to search Finnair and airberlin award space on aa.com! If you follow thepointsguy, View From the Wing, or One Mile at a Time, they all beat me to the story, so I'll try to add some valuable information if you want to book one of these airlines.

It's always great news when an airline adds the functionality to its award-booking engine. American Airlines has made big strides this year, so you can now book American, Alaska, Hawaiian, British, Qantas, Finnair, and airberlin online with your AA miles.

The Five Cardinal Rules of American Airlines Awards

There are five cardinal rules of American Airlines award tickets that I wanted to put together in one place for reference. All AA awards must comply with these rules and several other minor ones.

You should consult this post when planning an AA award, especially if you are trying to add a stopover or free oneway.

1. Stopovers are not allowed on American Airlines awards.

All connections on purely domestic itineraries must be less than four hours. All connections on international awards must be less than 24 hours.

2.

Free First Class Next Month: Using expertflyer.com

Hey there, you're reading an outdated post! The updated series from April 2015 can be found here.

This is the twenty-seventh post in a monthlong series. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete.