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

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

My bet, given the current state of airlines, is that this is as good as it gets, at least for quite awile. They've begun using smaller planes and fewer planes because of fuel prices, and so . . .

I know, sucks, don't it?

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm leaning toward booking now just so I can get the flights I want at the times I want. I can try to upgrade the seat, I guess, although the flight isn't all that long.

[(Anonymous)]

Sad to say but this most likly not going to change.

[affinity8.livejournal.com]

Seats will grow more scarce, not less, alas.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I wanted to arrive on the 6th, but that's the day programming starts--whether it starts in the morning or later is the one thing I don't know.

Grr

[(Anonymous)]

Well, not to be the bearer of bad news, but this might be as good as it gets ever. Planes use gas (well, a form of fuel that is at least partially related), and with prices going up, air travel getting scarier with Southwest breaking a few rules, etc. I just don't see this changing any time soon. A long time ago flying around the world was cheap, economical, and fun. Not so much anymore. Airports are kind of a living hell and the airlines aren't really all that nice to the customers anymore, if they ever were (I seem to remember them being nicer when I was younger, but maybe that was because I was a kid).

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.