Did United Already Pull Qatar Award Space?
September 8, 2012
UPDATE: Qatar space is still bookable. That's the good news. The bad news is that there will be more errors than usual online when trying to book. And if you call, many agents believe they can't book Qatar or that they can't book Qatar flights that depart on 9/15 or later. Hang up and call back until you get a competent agent. My clients are headed to the Seychelles on Qatar with United miles, and you can too...
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Free First Class Next Month: Star Alliance Award Searches on United.com
September 5, 2012
Hey there, you're reading an outdated post! The updated series from April 2015 can be found here.
This is the twenty-third post in a monthlong series. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete.
URGENT: Last Days to Book Qatar Airways with United Miles
September 4, 2012
Bad news for anyone who wants to book awards to the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, the Maldives, and even Europe with United miles.
United's relationship with Qatar Airways ends September 14. Tickets booked by then can include Qatar segments up to 337 days out or so, which is generally how far in advance you can book United awards.
Two Even Cheaper Ways to Get on the Dreamliner’s Beds
September 4, 2012
I've been on a Dreamliner kick the last few days. This is the last post on the topic for a while. I just had to share two even cheaper ways to get on one of United's Dreamliners on a BusinessFirst bed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJEA3JQA_FM&feature=player_embedded
I always chuckle at that video. "You got an upgrade. And the seats go completely flat."
Upgrades are mainly a domestic phenomenon. Flat seats are mostly an international phenomenon.
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Free First Class Next Month: seatguru.com
September 3, 2012
Hey there, you're reading an outdated post! The updated series from April 2015 can be found here.
This is the twenty-second post in a monthlong series. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete.
Domestic United 787 Dreamliner Award Space Update
September 1, 2012
Yesterday, I wrote about the United Dreamliners' domestic routes being announced for this fall, and how you can score six and a half hours of flying on one of its beds for only 25k United miles.
I advised locking up space yesterday--reserving not purchasing--because today was the day United said its schedule would be updated to reflect the aircraft change, and I was worried United wouldn't offer space on the Dreamliner flights.
Well today I went to united.com to see if space is still available.
Six and a Half Hours on a Flat Bed in a Dreamliner for 25,000 United Miles
August 31, 2012
United recently acquired several Boeing 787 Dreamliners and announced the first international routes that will be serviced by the plane.
But before those routes start, United will fly the plane between its domestic hubs. The very first flights haven't been announced, but United did release the routes the planes will fly between November 4 and March 31. (H/T Mommy Points.)
To me, this is huge news.
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Not Anatomy of an Award: Just Book with Cash
August 30, 2012
This is a blog about frequent flier miles. Almost everything I write is designed to help you accumulate miles and points efficiently then redeem them for free travel--up front if possible.
But sometimes using points for a ticket is a huge mistake. Sometimes, just book with cash. JBWC. I'll give two examples, and I'll tell you how to figure out whether you should book with cash or miles on a particular trip.
LAX to Honolulu
The first example comes from yesterday.
Get on an A380, 787 Dreamliner, and New 747-8 on One United Award
August 29, 2012
Some people are plane enthusiasts. They'll do anything to fly the new mega-jet A380, which I'll be doing in Qantas business in January. Or one of the new Dreamliners, which United's taking more deliveries of and releasing the routes they'll operate on.
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Anatomy of an Award: Triangle Award in the US for $10 out of Pocket
August 28, 2012
This is another post in my Anatomy of an Award series, in which I take a real award I’ve booked and break it down step-by-step to elucidate the award booking process.