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Add to del.icio.usSometimes better air travel is a matter of “first come, first served”
When redeeming miles, it pays to book award tickets and upgrades as far in advance as possible, particularly when you’re after the coveted Business and First Class airline seats. It also pays to know how far in advance you can actually secure a mileage booking, since it ranges from 329 to 352 days. Of the US carriers, Northwest has the longest window, 352 days.
Redeem miles early and the odds of getting your preferred Business and First Class seats increases because inventory dwindles quickly. Bear in mind, too, that there is no reliable way to foresee what seats might come up. In other words, follow the air travel bird-in-the-hand rule: Don’t pass on what is available on Northwest now for what might be available on Continental later.
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Some flyers make the mistake of waiting to book their outbound flight until they can book their return flight. Don’t do that. It’s best to make it a two-step process: Confirm your outbound flight ASAP and ask the reservationist to “hold” the outbound seat(s) until you can confirm the return segment.
If push comes to shove and the airline will no longer hold your outbound frequent flyer award seat without your ticketing it, book a dummy return flight (as long as you can change it later for the flight you actually want).
This article is adapted from the FlightBliss Special Report Seven Common Air Travel Mistakes to Avoid.
For more techniques on getting Business and First Class upgrades and award seats, along with the latest news on fares and comfort upgrades, subscribe to First Class Flyer.
Took your advice and tried to book upgrades from the US to Peru early. BUT, the airlines would only take my name for a wait list for upgrading to Business from coach. I paid for coach, but have lots of miles built up. Even though I have the miles, AA would not upgrade me. I assume they are waiting and hoping to sell the Business Class seats at full fare...then, and only then, when they find they have some seats NOT sold...will they get around to calling those of us on the upgrade wait list. Is this how they all work? PLUS, I also have about a million AMEX points. I tried to use them to upgrade and found they only cooperate with Delta and Continental...not AA. But, they told me all Business/First class seats in both directions were sold out when I tried to upgrade with those airlines. This flight was booked three months in advance, by the way. Any tips for these situations?
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