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I just check October flights form NY to STT where I can use frequent flyer miles accumulated using my American Airlines credit card. In the past I could get either a direct or one stop flight, that gets me to STT by mid afternoon, for 25,000 miles. Now there is no direct flight and the same one stop flights cost 60,000 miles. The only 25,000 - 30,000 miles flights available leave early morning and get to STT at around 9:30 PM or the next day after 2-4 stops (no thanks!). If it is going to cost me 60,000 miles per flight, I might as well get a CapitalOne card where I can choose whatever airline I want.
sell your miles to a ticket broker and bypass all of your issues
"The number of miles required for travel redemption (i.e. Airfare, Hotel, Cruises, travel packages) will depend on the cost of the itinerary chosen at the time of redemption. The mileage requirement is as follows:
Cost of travel Number of No Hassle Miles needed
Up to $150 15,000 miles
$150.01 to $350 35,000 miles
$350.01 to $600 60,000 miles
$600.01 and greater the cost of travel x 100 "
Since you peaked my interest on this one, I went to the Capitol One CC page and it doesn't look much better in how they are assessing the cost of flight vs what that flight will cost in miles.
I had the same issue with AA from NY. Flights 412 and 655 aren't scheduled daily all the time. during certain times of the year, I think they are only on Saturdays.
If I can't get those flights, my personal preference is to fly into SJU at night (so I can go to work during the day and not waste a day off). Stay over at the airport, and get on the first flight from SJU to STT so you can be on the beach in STJ well before noon.
You can either stay at the airport or somewhere close (or perhaps go to a casino, gamble for a few hours, and then head on back to the airport).
Most airline ticket brokers will pay 1.5 to 1.7 cents per mile, so easy way to figure is every 100,000 you sell is worth at least $1,500.00 cash to you. Use that $$$$ to purchase your tickets, with no FF flight restrictions.
Is this legal or otherwise against the rules?
If not, how do I find a ticket broker?
I like your numbers as I have about 150,000 miles.
Look in your sunday paper classified under "tickets". You will usually see several there that advertise buy and sell miles. I have been doing this for the last 15 years with no problems. If you try to use them the way the airlines tell you to, good luck. Everytime I try to use mine (AA) the FF seats are either not available or require a red-eye flight with 3+ stops. And that is attempting to use them 330 days out, with platinum status on AA.
Better yet, donate those miles to someone in the military.
I would have gladly donated my AA air miles to someone in the military if AA had notified me prior to them expiring. So much for the 23,500 miles I had built up. I'm sticking with USAir as we haven't had any problems so far with them.
Selling frequent flyer miles to ticket brokers may be risky.
Check out this web site.
I got back last week from a trip to ST John with my daughter.
AA miles total 30,000 each BUT had to look everyday or twice a day for a flight to open up.
Total cost $30.00 round trip for us both.
Cost more for the trip from airport to Cruze Bay!
Was going to use Delta miles but that was worse. Have to pay $150.00 to use mile less than 21? days out and NOTHING opens up earlier than that.
Ric
