introduction to booking award travel

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Introduction to Booking Award TravelFrequent Traveler University Los Angeles

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Background Information:

ben schlappigBoarding Area’s One Mile At A

Time

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bschlappig

onemileatatime@hotmail.com

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The Basics:• Agents don’t know what they’re

talking about…but always be nice• There’s no undoing notes in records• Flexibility is key• The possibilities are endless

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Alliances:• Star Alliance• OneWorld• SkyTeam

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The Tools:• Star Alliance

– ANA award search tool– United website– ExpertFlyer

• OneWorld– American website– British Airways website– Qantas website

• SkyTeam– ExpertFlyer– Air France website*

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Star Alliance:• United Mileage Plus• US Airways Dividend Miles• Air Canada Aeroplan• All Nippon Airways• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

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United MileagePlus:• Most generous routing rules• Open jaws and stopovers allowed• Access to all availability• Reasonable change fees and changes

allowed after departure

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US Airways:• Hot mess• Starnet blocking• Award chart gems• Off peak awards

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US Airways Award Chart:

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US Airways Off-Peak Award Chart:

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Air Canada Award Chart:

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All Nippon Award Chart:

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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer:• Only way to redeem

for Singapore Airlines first/business class

• Reasonable redemption rates (First Class Saver roundtrip cost San Francisco to Hong Kong: 140,250 miles + $371.30)

• Great for domestic Star Alliance awards as well

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Singapore Airlines Award Chart:

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OneWorld:• American AAdvantage

– No traditional stopovers, but free stopovers at transoceanic gateway

– OneWorld distance based awards

• British Airways Executive Club– Reasonable ticketing fees– No fuel surcharges on Aer Lingus, Alaska

Airlines, Air Berlin, LAN, and American (in some markets)

– Take advantage of transfer bonuses

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American Airlines Award Chart:

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AA OneWorld/Explorer Award:

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Avios:

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SkyTeam:• Delta SkyMiles• Air France Flying Blue• Korean Air SkyPass

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Delta SkyMiles:• Broken booking tool• Clueless agents• No one-way awards• No international

first class awards• AWFUL availability• Blackout dates

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Air France/KLM Flying Blue:• Membership Rewards transfer partner• No fuel surcharges on Delta• Great way to book one-way awards on

Delta

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Korean Air SkyPass:• Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner• Only (reasonable) way to book first class

on SkyTeam airlines• LOTS of first class award space!

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Korean Air Award Chart:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Airlines To Redeem On:

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Questions?

ben schlappigBoarding Area’s One Mile At A

Time

onemileatatime

bschlappig

onemileatatime@hotmail.com