Frequent flyer question

[ksmith]

So I've started looking into flights to Denver in August. There are many non-stop flights, but none of those are available for miles. The only flights I can get for miles involve a stop and, in most cases, a change in planes. I would prefer not to go through that.

Is there any chance that as time goes on, more flights may become available for booking with miles, or is it as good as it's gonna get?

Update: went ahead and booked. $300 round trip, but I have legroom and some pretty decent seats.

Update II: I misentered the dates at one point--ORD/DEN roundtrips 14 days out were going for about $175 or so, which surprised me. I could have been daring, I guess, and waited until mid July to book. But given the other conventions that will be going on in Denver at that time, plus my usual luck when I gamble...I decided to book now.

Comments

FF/Airguy sez... (and take it with the usual pinch of Kosher salt)

[elmunadi.livejournal.com]

Industry side - they're going to, regardless of fuel going up, have to cut prices during the summer sales in order to keep demand up. The challenge is that it's hard to say exactly when that will happen. Note that some did have fuel hedges (UA wasn't one, mind you).

I'd suggest to following, tho. If you have FF miles, book using them, and then get waitlisted for the non-stops. United in particular releases FF seats in waves such that something better will open up as you get closer. Did you only check "saver" flights, or "standard" FF miles flights as well?

Also, if you do book with $ vs miles, don't book a maximum-cheap, non-refundable, non-changeable fare. That'll allow you to have options if something better comes up. Also consider hops out of nearby (relatively) cities - Indy or the like, as sometimes the direct flight is out, but as a connection (thru ORD) it'll open up. (I sometimes fly Orange county to LAX to wherever when LAX to the same place is booked solid.)

YMMV - IKMD!

Re: FF/Airguy sez... (and take it with the usual pinch of Kosher salt)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I wimped out and booked a non-stop, thenused miles to upgrade the seat to FC. I did not want to risk my luggage not showing up until halfway through the convention.

Re: FF/Airguy sez... (and take it with the usual pinch of Kosher salt)

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Did you only check "saver" flights, or "standard" FF miles flights as well?

I took the default setting, which iirc is "saver." What's the difference? The website doesn't say.