United allows you to book trips to and from ZFV, Philadelphia's 30th St. train station. Such fares include flights to or from Newark and trains from there to Philadelphia.

Because in the short term an airline's ticket prices have more to do with competition from other airlines than anything else, United often sells tickets to ZFV for cheaper than flights to Newark, even when the trip to ZFV is the same flights to Newark plus a train ride.

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.

I just booked myself a five city, four country award for 15,000 United miles + $73. Let's back up a little bit before I explain my current award.
My 2013 Euro Hopper
Two years ago, I flew a Seven City, Seven Flight, Six Country Award in Europe for 12,500 United miles plus taxes.

Here's how to cancel an American Airlines award without paying the $150 fee to reinstate your miles and cancel the award.

Be an Executive Platinum canceling an award booked with miles from your account.

Wandering Aramean writes a Boarding Area blog and also has created a suite of tools that can be used for free by anyone. One I just saw (thanks Million Mile Secrets) is his Avios Map.

The Avios Map works like this:

Type in any airport in the world.
The map shows all the airports you can fly to directly for 4.5k, 7.5k, 10k, and 12.5k Avios in economy.

You can use the map to see where you can go from your home airport for what price.

Wandering Aramean writes a Boarding Area blog and also has created a suite of tools that can be used for free by anyone. One I just saw (thanks Million Mile Secrets) is his Avios Map.

The Avios Map works like this:

Type in any airport in the world.
The map shows all the airports you can fly to directly for 4.5k, 7.5k, 10k, and 12.5k Avios in economy.

You can use the map to see where you can go from your home airport for what price.

Through 11:59 PM tomorrow February 25, 2015, British Airways is offering a 50% bonus on the purchase of Avios. This is the biggest bonus ever offered on the purchase of Avios.

The maximum Avios you can purchase in a year is 35,000. With a 50% bonus, that means you can add 52,500 Avios to your account.

The Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 85,000 bonus points after spending $2,500 on the card in the first 90 days.

Last month, I wrote about saving money on paid tickets by using a "fake location." The idea is that airlines charge different amounts for the same ticket depending on where you're from or where you say you're from.

I just had the opportunity to use the trick, and I saved 47% on an intra-Egypt flight.

I'm going to spend a week in Egypt in May, and I want to split the time between Luxor and Cairo.