Turkish Business Class award space is widely available from this summer through the beginning of next year to Europe.

On roundtrip United awards, you get one free stopover in addition to your destination and up to two open jaws.

I was having lunch with my friend the other day, and we started talking about miles and points. She has some credit cards and has even made a few redemptions, but from the conversation it was clear that there was a lot about our world she didn't know.

I gave her one homework assignment that I thought would greatly improve her grasp on miles.

I use united.com for most of my award searches when redeeming Star Alliance miles because it shows most Star Alliance partners' award availability, but it does have some drawbacks. Namely, it doesn't show all partners and it sometimes displays phantom award space--award space will show as available but in reality, it doesn't exist.

Star Alliance Airlines Whose Award Space I Want to Search

The best way to confirm Star Alliance award space is using the All Nippon Airways (ANA) search tool. ANA's tool is trickier to use, but it's the most reliable.

United is releasing an unusual amount of award space to Europe for Summer 2016. A lot of flights have 9+ award seats in Business Class on the same flight. Book now before it disappears!

United award space can be searched on united.com, and the Saver award space can be booked with any Star Alliance miles.

Open jaw awards are valuable because they allow you to see two cities for the price of one. You can always book American Airlines awards to include one or even two open jaws, right on aa.com.

So, what is an open jaw anyway?

An open jaw happens when the origin of one direction of an award does not match up with the destination of the other.

In January, I'll be in the United States, and I'll need to get back down to Southern South America.

In January, I'll be in the United States, and I'll need to get back down to Southern South America.

There is fantastic flat bed Business Class award space for two people on Delta flights to Europe next summer for the Level 1 (on the former, now deleted chart) price

United now shows its award routing rules online. (Dummy) book an award, and on the page where you review your complete award itinerary, click "View fare rules and restrictions."

You will get a very long list of the award rules that pertain to your award ticket.