Latest Posts

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.…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Searching Delta.com to Redeem Delta Miles

This is the nineteenth 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…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Searching Qantas.com to Redeem American Airlines Miles

This is the eighteenth 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…

Free Giveaway Friday: Pair of United Club Passes

The contest is over. There were 209 comments and 107 retweets. Congrats to Mike Faust (twitter retweet) on winning! Check back every Friday for potential MileValue giveaways. Longtime reader Jeff is…

Delta to Fly Los Angeles to Cancun Daily with Surprisingly Good Award Space

Delta miles are the worst. I would rather have United, US Airways, American, and in most cases British Airways Avios. But that doesn't mean Delta miles are useless. When a good use pops up, I like to…

British Airways Improves Award Search Tool (Again!)

According to this thread on FlyerTalk, British Airways has made some enhancements to their Avios booking functionality on BA.com. I normally cringe when I hear the word "enhancement" associated with…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Searching BA.com to Find oneworld Award Availability

This is the seventeenth 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…

Anatomy of an Award: US Airways Last Hurrah, a Nine Segment First Class Award through Europe and Asia

The balance in my US Airways account was practically blinking like a giant Las Vegas neon sign. 120,368! 120,368! 120,368! As luck would have it, 120,000 miles is the exact amount needed for a…

Best of MileValue July 2013

July was MileValue's most popular month to date. Readership continues to grow, which is really exciting to everyone who writes for the site.

Greetings from Johannesburg, South Africa. My Impressions on O.R. Tambo Airport

I just arrived in Johanneburg, South Africa about 90 minutes ago from Buenos Aires, Argentina on a direct flight operated by South African Airways in Business Class (and paid for with US Airways…

You Don’t Need to Be a Hub Captive When Collecting Miles

I think it's a big mistake to be a hub-captive. There's no reason that the credit cards you open have to be related to the dominant carrier at your airport. Your life will be better if you instead…

You Don’t Need to Be a Hub Captive When Collecting Miles

I think it's a big mistake to be a hub-captive. There's no reason that the credit cards you open have to be related to the dominant carrier at your airport. Your life will be better if you instead…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Using AA.com to Search for Awards

This is the sixteenth 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……

Will US Airways to onewolrd Mean Avios to Europe without Fuel Surcharges?

Long time reader Ken just blew my mind: "No one in mentioning whether this looming merger will affect redemptions via BA. It seems this may be a great time to focus on Avios. With US Airways…

Will US Airways to onewolrd Mean Avios to Europe without Fuel Surcharges?

Long time reader Ken just blew my mind: "No one in mentioning whether this looming merger will affect redemptions via BA. It seems this may be a great time to focus on Avios. With US Airways…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Using United.com to Search for Awards with United or US Airways Miles

This is the fifteenth 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.…

Summer 2014 Award Space Picture to Europe Right Now

Early planners are looking to book their summer trips to Europe

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Airline Partners and Hubs

This is the fourteenth 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…

Free First Class Next Month 4.0: Airline Partners and Hubs

This is the fourteenth 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…

Should You Focus on One Airline Program or Accrue Miles in All of Them?

Many people ask me a variety of the question: should I focus my earning on one airline program, or should I try to earn miles in all programs? Let's divide mileage accrual into two categories: Miles…

Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Terminal

My friend, Ryan from MA, recently took a trip to Italy and Taiwan during which he flew Lufthansa First Class, Asiana First Class, Thai First Class, ANA First Class and entered some of the world’s…

Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Terminal

My friend, Ryan from MA, recently took a trip to Italy and Taiwan during which he flew Lufthansa First Class, Asiana First Class, Thai First Class, ANA First Class and entered some of the world’s…

Debunked Award Rule: US Airways Star Alliance Hub Stopover

Note: This post may have a shorter shelf life due to the impending US Airways merger. Our Award Booking Service receives numerous requests from clients trying to maximize the value of their miles.…

Debunked Award Rule: US Airways Star Alliance Hub Stopover

Note: This post may have a shorter shelf life due to the impending US Airways merger. Our Award Booking Service receives numerous requests from clients trying to maximize the value of their miles.…

Buy US Airways Miles for 1.88 Cents and TACA Miles for 1.5 Cents. Worth It?

Two Star Alliance carriers are selling miles at a discount this month. US Airways will sell you up to 100k Dividend Miles for $1,881.25 (1.88 cents each.) TACA/Avianca will see you up to 150k…