Update at 11:45 PM: A previous version of this post speculated the space was phantom because I couldn't book it on my only attempt before writing the post and rushing to dinner.

I booked a few awards to Thailand and Egypt in January. The awards would have allowed me to explore new areas and fly some of the world's fanciest First and Business Class products.

There's a weird tax that you pay on awards leaving Colombia that you get refunded at the airport. American Airlines takes advantage of this by not fully refunding to you the tax you've already paid.

Check out this one way award from Bogota to Houston on united.com.

There's a weird tax that you pay on awards leaving Colombia that you get refunded at the airport. American Airlines takes advantage of this by not fully refunding to you the tax you've already paid.

Check out this one way award from Bogota to Houston on united.com.

Look in your email inbox for the subject "Your chance to win the trip of a lifetime."

The email explains that American Airlines wants to familiarize everyone with the AAdvantage program, so it is offering 1,000 bonus miles

Look in your email inbox for the subject "Your chance to win the trip of a lifetime."

The email explains that American Airlines wants to familiarize everyone with the AAdvantage program, so it is offering 1,000 bonus miles

American Airlines is running a sale on the purchase of their miles through Thursday, April 30, 2015. You can buy up to 100,000 American Airlines miles during the sale and get up to 60,000 bonus miles.

American Airlines miles cost 2.95 cents each plus a 7.5% excise tax, and every purchase has a $30 processing fee.

This is the seventh 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 flyer miles, and my goal is that by the end, you know enough to fly for free anywhere you want to go.
Where We Are and Where We’re Going
We’re in the section on redeeming miles.

What’s so special about Etihad’s route from Sydney to Abu Dhabi? It’s the longest route of the fanciest commercial cabin in the world, with the westbound flight clocking in at just under 15 hours.

This suite with a couch/bed and seat costs only 60,000 American Airlines miles between Australia and the Middle East/India.

Plus the Etihad A380 has a shower for First Class passengers and onboard lounge/bar.

Pretty soon I’ll head to Europe for four months, and I would love to fly the Etihad A380 between London and Abu Dhabi while I’m there.