Eleven Months Out: Booking Thanksgiving Travel Now

Award travel reservations can usually be made up to eleven months in advance. Often, but not always, eleven months out has the best availability. Eleven Months Out is my new series looking at what you can book today for travel in eleven months.

Thanksgiving is in less than 11 months. Turkey, pie, potatoes, family, and giving thanks may be your highlights, but travel doesn't have to be a lowlight.

Book Now to Europe for Next Summer: Business

Want to book a dream summer vacation to Europe? The time is now. Award space is still very good on a number of great routes on great products and will deteriorate in the coming months.

Here's how I would go about booking my dream award. Step one is the miles--more on getting those at the end of the post.

The Amazing Race: Denver Departure Services

Tahsir's Itinerary Around the World in First Class is too long for one post.

International First Class to Hawaii for 70k Roundtrip

A lot of people read about incredible international business and first class beds, and they want to enjoy those beds on their next trip.

Thai First, ANA First, United First All for 60k

Hot off the heels of FTU LAX, I'm writing a post to show people how to construct an awesome, yet rare aspirational trip. It's a trip with United, ANA, and Thai First!

For the past few months, I've been super busy with our Award Booking Service and haven't had time to post here. I was amazed at how many people actually came to me this weekend and told me to write more! Everyone also asked me to write about my upcoming trip that I booked.

For many, the question is simple.

Anatomy of an Award: South America, Africa, Europe, and North America in Biz for 100k

Or: Help Me Choose Which Business Class Products to Fly I got trigger happy and booked without asking

Or: How An American Can Exploit the South American Sweet Spot with US Airways Miles

Or: How to Get an Open Jaw AND a Stopover on a US Airways Award

Or: How I saved 20k miles

Necessity is the mother of invention. I wanted to think of a way to get from Buenos Aires to Europe next summer with a stopover in South Africa, then from Europe to Chicago in time for the Chicago seminars.

AMEX / Virgin Atlantic Transfer Bonus & United Club Fees Increase

Virgin Atlantic-35% Bonus on Membership Rewards Transfers

According to the American Express Membership Rewards website here, Virgin Atlantic is offering a 35% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards into Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles.

This offer is available through December 29th. Transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 Membership Rewards. The minimum transfer will yield 1,350 Flying Club miles.

 Is this a good deal?
Unfortunately not. Virgin Atlantic features an incredible onboard product and great club lounges.

Master Thread: Free Oneways on United Awards

Introduction to Free One Ways (this post)
Master Thread: Free Oneways on American Airlines Awards (dead as of April 2014)
Master Thread: Free One Ways on United Awards
Master Thread: Free One Ways on Delta Awards (dead as on January 2015)
Master Thread: Free One Ways on US Airways Awards (dead as of April 2015)
Master Thread: Free One Ways on Alaska Awards
Three Vacations on Two Awards

Six months ago, I was the first person to write about Free Oneways on United Awards.

Tricking United.com’s Award Calendar

I generally love united.com's award calendar, the calendar that shows up at the top of your award search results that lets you know what other days have award availability.

But there are two things I hate about united.com's award calendar. The first is that it is color coded to show economy space, business/first space, or both.

Avios Awards within South Africa

I book a lot of awards to South Africa through my Award Booking Service. Most people want to hop around the country, seeing Johannesburg and Cape Town at a minimum.