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You can increase the value of all your miles by using them for their highest-value uses. You can get more out of this hobby by collecting the right miles for your goal trip.

The first truism is why I started the MileValue Award Booking Service. The second is why I offer Free Credit Card Consultations.

This is the eleventh 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. Previously How to Meet Multiple Minimum Spending Requirements at Once.

There are six basic types of frequent flier miles.

Award seats are bookable when airlines load their schedules. And there are two relevant airlines that need to load their schedules: the operating carrier of the flight and the airline whose miles you want to use.

You can't book a flight until both of the relevant airlines are ready.

For instance, American Airlines allows its miles to be used to book flights 331 days before their departure. Qantas loads its flights' award space space 355 days before departure.

Hey! You're reading an outdated Free First Class Next Month series. To read the latest published series click here. 

This is the tenth 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.

Cathay Pacific has initiated four-times-weekly flights from Hong Kong to the Maldives with an A330 aircraft with fully flat business class (but no first class.)

The route opens up an exciting ultra-luxury way for Americans to get to the Maldives with a combination of American Airlines miles and British Airways Avios on Cathay Pacific flights.

What's the optimal use of your miles on these flights?

Cathay Pacific is a Hong Kong-based member of the oneworld alliance, which flies to the US with what many people consider to be the world's best

Speculation is running rampant that US Airways will join oneworld November 1. The most recent fanning of the flames came from a post on FlyerTalk purporting to rely on an internal memo to US Airways employees.

Then View From the Wing pointed to this article quoting J.

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Here's a common problem with an easy solution: two or more people want to take a trip together, but the miles that will be used to book the awards are spread across two or more accounts.

How do you get the companions on the same flights and preferably seated next to each other?

The first--and perhaps most important step--should take place well before you're ready to book the awards.

1. Make sure you are earning compatible miles.

Compatible miles could mean a lot of things.

The 50k mile bonus offer is back on the Lufthansa card mentioned in this post until 6/30/14.

British Airways has just announced that it will operate Los Angeles <-> London Heathrow twice daily with A380s starting April 10, 2014.

British Airways First Class looks awesome, and its Club World Business Class is awesome.