We flew first class, and now we are screwed.

[zippie26]

Check out Million Mile Secrets and The Points Guy. It will open up a whole new world.

[mendelssohn]

Finding and booking award flights is part of the fun in this game for me. I don't think I would ever pay someone else to do it. But that's just me.

 

Agreed. If you put in the time, you can certainly do it yourself.

 

Check out Million Mile Secrets and The Points Guy. It will open up a whole new world.

 

They are a good read for beginners, but keep in mind that they are both owned by Bankrate.

[zippie26]

I'm pretty new here...by your response I'm assuming Bankrate is the devil?

[mendelssohn]

I'm pretty new here...by your response I'm assuming Bankrate is the devil?

 

They are owned by a company that makes money on CC referrals, and are in business to get people to apply for CCs.

Edited December 8, 2016 by mendelssohn

[zippie26]

Gotcha. Although I'm pretty sure they both did that before they were owned by Bankrate, as do many of the travel rewards blogs.

[mendelssohn]

Gotcha. Although I'm pretty sure they both did that before they were owned by Bankrate, as do many of the travel rewards blogs.

 

Yes, they did. The best travel blogs don't pimp cards the way those 2 do, and the information is great for beginners. Once you have a little knowledge of the subject, they don't have much to offer and their CC pimping probably stands out even more.

[DiegoC]

Guys

 

I totally agree on several things.....

 

It is fun to search for award travel however what I stated I only used my guy in trips i want to fly first and business class.

 

I travel alot so the simple ones I do myself.

 

Big Bear

For what i recall on the Hong Kong, Thai trip we did it this way.

SPG sign up bonus mine

SPG sign up bonus my wife.

Transfered to AA and got a bonus.

AA to Japan Airlines, Mia to Hong Kong , if I remember it was around 120k miles

Hong Kong to Thai

MR points to British Aways, very little points.

I think I did MR points or UR points don't remember but those were transferred to Korean Air, don't remember how many but I dont think it was more than 120-150k in First Class Comodo Suite.

 

Now for the nay sayers....

 

You can find my threads of the beginning of the year or last year, Mendelssohn and everyone was willing to help book these flights but the reality is a was a Rookie and I will guarantee this... to get a US To Asia trip in First Class in the Christmas Holidays is not for an enthusiast. That trip has to be time to the last minute when awards travel becomes available 9-10 months prior.

 

So as I said again, for $200 bucks which by the way he accepts credit cards, it was a balance of cash back I had on my Venture.

 

Zoebella

 

Yes hes like Lucky. I researched over 20 award booking agents and this guy by far is amazing.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mendelssohn]

Guys

 

I totally agree on several things.....

 

It is fun to search for award travel however what I stated I only used my guy in trips i want to fly first and business class.

 

I travel alot so the simple ones I do myself.

 

Big Bear

For what i recall on the Hong Kong, Thai trip we did it this way.

SPG sign up bonus mine

SPG sign up bonus my wife.

Transfered to AA and got a bonus.

AA to Japan Airlines, Mia to Hong Kong , if I remember it was around 120k miles

Hong Kong to Thai

MR points to British Aways, very little points.

I think I did MR points or UR points don't remember but those were transferred to Korean Air, don't remember how many but I dont think it was more than 120-150k in First Class Comodo Suite.

 

Now for the nay sayers....

 

You can find my threads of the beginning of the year or last year, Mendelssohn and everyone was willing to help book these flights but the reality is a was a Rookie and I will guarantee this... to get a US To Asia trip in First Class in the Christmas Holidays is not for an enthusiast. That trip has to be time to the last minute when awards travel becomes available 9-10 months prior.

 

So as I said again, for $200 bucks which by the way he accepts credit cards, it was a balance of cash back I had on my Venture.

 

Zoebella

 

Yes hes like Lucky. I researched over 20 award booking agents and this guy by far is amazing.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I only fly First and Business as well, but I understand why people use award booking agents. It does take time and work to find the flights.

[whipped]

#lifegoals for sure. I've never flown First Class other than drooling over at the idea of flying back to Japan with my g/f (but will set back $4,500/pp business class otherwise).

[DiegoC]

Whipped

 

Thats $9000k which I was conservative when i said a $20k trip to not have everyone say, oh I can do the trip for 15-20k, but its really worth around $25k total.

 

If I remember i spent around 250k - 300k points and around $700 bucks all in.

 

For few here its a couple of sign up bonuses however for me it is sign up bonuses and I run around 1,5 million points a year thru my business cards.

 

So the redemption value on those 300k points is like 0.08 a mile.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[whipped]

Whipped

 

Thats $9000k which I was conservative when i said a $20k trip to not have everyone say, oh I can do the trip for 15-20k, but its really worth around $25k total.

 

If I remember i spent around 250k - 300k points and around $700 bucks all in.

 

For few here its a couple of sign up bonuses however for me it is sign up bonuses and I run around 1,5 million points a year thru my business cards.

 

So the redemption value on those 300k points is like 0.08 a mile.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That's amazing Maybe I'll focus on that and get her a nice big shiny stone

[mendelssohn]

Whipped

 

Thats $9000k which I was conservative when i said a $20k trip to not have everyone say, oh I can do the trip for 15-20k, but its really worth around $25k total.

 

If I remember i spent around 250k - 300k points and around $700 bucks all in.

 

For few here its a couple of sign up bonuses however for me it is sign up bonuses and I run around 1,5 million points a year thru my business cards.

 

So the redemption value on those 300k points is like 0.08 a mile.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I flew First from DFW to Japan (two people) for 250K total miles. The cost at the time for First was $7000 per ticket round trip. I booked it myself FYI.

[kayvebear]

What I am realizing is I need to start accumulating miles other than UR. I thought I was going to wait 15 months for 5/24 to pass so that I could get the CSR but now am thinking that is dumb.

[whipped]

 

Whipped

 

Thats $9000k which I was conservative when i said a $20k trip to not have everyone say, oh I can do the trip for 15-20k, but its really worth around $25k total.

 

If I remember i spent around 250k - 300k points and around $700 bucks all in.

 

For few here its a couple of sign up bonuses however for me it is sign up bonuses and I run around 1,5 million points a year thru my business cards.

 

So the redemption value on those 300k points is like 0.08 a mile.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I flew First from DFW to Japan (two people) for 250K total miles. The cost at the time for First was $7000 per ticket round trip. I booked it myself FYI.

 

 

Dang...ya I think it's around $8K for first class last I checked. $4-$5K for business. I'm only looking into it because I've flown on the peasant class number of times between Japan & the US and those 12-14 hours aren't fun back there

Edited December 9, 2016 by whipped

[credidimus]

I'll probably end up flying upgraded business. If the flight is less than say... 4 hours i can handle premium economy but any longer and my almost 6'6" frame just hurts from being crammed in those tiny spaces.

Edited December 9, 2016 by credidimus

[mec]

I flew economy from Pittsburgh to Taipei in about 1990 on a mostly empty 747 from Seattle to Seoul on Northwestern. You could pick your row and stretch out. The route was packed on the return trip. But I was about 23 then. Would be a whole different ballgame today.

[Big Bear]

 

Guys

I totally agree on several things.....

It is fun to search for award travel however what I stated I only used my guy in trips i want to fly first and business class.

I travel alot so the simple ones I do myself.

Big Bear

For what i recall on the Hong Kong, Thai trip we did it this way.

SPG sign up bonus mine

SPG sign up bonus my wife.

Transfered to AA and got a bonus.

AA to Japan Airlines, Mia to Hong Kong , if I remember it was around 120k miles

Hong Kong to Thai

MR points to British Aways, very little points.

I think I did MR points or UR points don't remember but those were transferred to Korean Air, don't remember how many but I dont think it was more than 120-150k in First Class Comodo Suite.

Now for the nay sayers....

You can find my threads of the beginning of the year or last year, Mendelssohn and everyone was willing to help book these flights but the reality is a was a Rookie and I will guarantee this... to get a US To Asia trip in First Class in the Christmas Holidays is not for an enthusiast. That trip has to be time to the last minute when awards travel becomes available 9-10 months prior.

So as I said again, for $200 bucks which by the way he accepts credit cards, it was a balance of cash back I had on my Venture.

Zoebella

Yes hes like Lucky. I researched over 20 award booking agents and this guy by far is amazing.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I only fly First and Business as well, but I understand why people use award booking agents. It does take time and work to find the flights.

I'd be more concerned about giving them access to the points and transfer information. But perhaps I'm paranoid.

 

At least good to see that "the guy" didn't just use up a bunch of UR for a simple search.

[Big Bear]

I'll probably end up flying upgraded business. If the flight is less than say... 4 hours i can handle premium economy but any longer and my almost 6'6" frame just hurts from being crammed in those tiny spaces.

This speaks to me all too well. The legroom is a minimum to be able to recline enough so the headrest isn't in the middle of your shoulders. I can stick it out with economy for the shirt flights, but even those I've been gravitating to a premium economy or else car mentality.

[credidimus]

 

I'll probably end up flying upgraded business. If the flight is less than say... 4 hours i can handle premium economy but any longer and my almost 6'6" frame just hurts from being crammed in those tiny spaces.

This speaks to me all too well. The legroom is a minimum to be able to recline enough so the headrest isn't in the middle of your shoulders. I can stick it out with economy for the shirt flights, but even those I've been gravitating to a premium economy or else car mentality.

Haha yep exactly. I'm not very wide per se but as you said the leg room is usually the root of all discomfort.

[Konrad2012]

Guys

I totally agree on several things.....

It is fun to search for award travel however what I stated I only used my guy in trips i want to fly first and business class.

I travel alot so the simple ones I do myself.

Big Bear

For what i recall on the Hong Kong, Thai trip we did it this way.

SPG sign up bonus mine

SPG sign up bonus my wife.

Transfered to AA and got a bonus.

AA to Japan Airlines, Mia to Hong Kong , if I remember it was around 120k miles

Hong Kong to Thai

MR points to British Aways, very little points.

 

Everything on that trip sounds nice except Thai. Did they have you on that beat-a$$ 747 from HKG-BKK? Cathay was overbooked once and offered me a biz class ticket on Thai if I would take that flight on that route. It was a great upgrade from my $200 economy ticket, but I'd have been wholly unimpressed if I paid the revenue rate for it.

[DiegoC]

My reservation shows this plane in First Class

Boeing 777-300ER (twin-jet)

(B77W)

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Konrad2012]

My reservation shows this plane in First Class

Boeing 777-300ER (twin-jet)

(B77W)

 

 

That should be nice then.

 

The inter-Asia F and Biz aren't always as nice as long haul. Like Cathay biz HKG- Manila is nothing like Cathay biz HKG- LAX

[DiegoC]

Big Bear

 

I agree with you of being paranoid with someone logging in to your account but with my guy he put all the taxes on his card and sent me an invoice to pay by credit card.

I was pretty protected by my cc and also he seem pretty trustworthy.

 

What we did is that he lays out a plan like...

 

Go to your SPG and Transfer 100k points to your AA.

Open up and account with Korean Air and transfer 100k MR points.

 

Then once your accounts have the funds he will either reserve your ticket or get a 3 day hold on your ticket.

 

So really if he did something I didnt want I could always call to cancel and get my points back.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk