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Getting a rewards seat on an airplane can be a challenge. |
| By Bobby Tanzilo Managing Editor E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Bobby Tanzilo |
| Published May 5, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. |
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All aboard! It's Travel Week at OnMilwaukee.com as we bring you stories big and small from destinations near and far. When you post travel-related reader blogs -- from Monday, May 5 through Sunday, May 11 -- you're automatically in the running to win an all-inclusive trip to a Mexican resort courtesy of Apple Vacations. The OnMilwaukee.com editorial staff will pick the best travel blog of the week and the winner will jet off to sunny Mexico! Get writing!
After a decade of traveling to Europe, my wife and I finally accrued enough frequent flyer miles to earn something. But thanks to expiring miles (what the hell is THAT?!) we suddenly realized we had to book a ticket fast or lose them all.
We travel enough to know that while the Internet has put a lot of (relatively) great fares at our fingertips, a smart shopper lets his fingers do some serious walking before clicking "BUY." Sometimes the best fares are on the airline sites, sometimes on broker sites like Expedia, sometimes elsewhere.
So, we plotted out a plan for a summer trip out west and did some good research. But nothing prepared us for the five phone calls totaling well over two hours required to finally get a single round-trip ticket out east.
Of the five people we talked to, a couple were helpful -- and one made a valiant, valiant effort on our behalf -- one basically blew us off completely, one was somewhere in between and another did her best to make it abundantly clear that she was really doing us a favor by doing her job.
Apparently the only thing more frustrating than flying these days is trying to book a frequent flyer ticket to fly. Of course, this may all depend on the airline you're loyal to. I know people who have used Midwest Airlines miles and have nary a complaint.
I'm still loyal (-ish) to my overseas carrier, but a little less so now that I know when it comes time for me to cash in the miles on our second account (there are two of us, after all), it's going to be a real douleur dans l'âne.
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4 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Posted by drew_106 on May 6, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (report)
I ve heard through the grapevine that Delta Miles are somewhat easy to use.
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Posted by brendarosin on May 5, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (report)
I am a very loyal Midwest Airlines flyer and until recently, haven't had a problem using my miles. I planned an annual girlfriends getaway for Sept. to a friend's condo in Hot Springs, AR (flying into Little Rock) but can't use any frequent flyer miles. Its hard to believe that planning 5 months out to a place, not really all that popular to travel to from Milwaukee, is "sold out" not only for the days I want to go, but for any even remotely close. Hard to believe they aren't playing games.
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Posted by yinger73 on May 5, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (report)
The only airline that I've ever had it "easy" with when it comes to using miles is Midwest. And even they are difficult if you want to use your miles on a popular route like Vegas, Phoenix or Florida. I have tried to use miles to Europe and have never been able to receive the desired flights, even when booking travel as much as 6 months ahead of time. You're almost better off buying a coach ticket on the day/time you'd like and then use your miles to upgrade to business class.
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Posted by arks00 on May 5, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (report)
Midwest Miles were very easy to use. check the flight online, book it with the miles submitted, pay the taxes, done. I would agree with your friends that its simple and easy to do.
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