Avoiding Frequent Flier Hassles

Here are the biggest frequent-flier program hassles and suggestions on how to keep from being disappointed. These tips are from frequent-flier guru Randy Peterson, publisher of Inside Flyer, a magazine that tracks the major airline programs, and author/publisher of The Official Frequent-Flier Guidebook.

Expired Miles

To be eligible for free domestic ticket on nearly any airline, you generally need 25,000 miles in its program. Yet travelers may not have to worry about expiration dates, since they are constantly earning miles, infrequent frequent fliers have trouble accumulating enough miles within a set period to earn a free ticket. Solution: Try sticking with airlines whose miles every so often may be enough to ensure they don't expire. Today, more and more airlines do not require that you redeem your miles within a set period. If your miles are about to expire, you can often redeem them for a coupon redeem them for a coupon good for one free domestic economy-class ticket. This coupon may give you an additional year to make a specific booking.

No seats available

When you "buy" a free ticket with miles, you are actually buying a discount ticket. All discount tickets, whether paid for or awarded through frequent-flier programs, are capacity controlled, meaning the airline only makes a set number available when you make your reservation, you may be out of luck. There are solutions however, if you really want to leave on a particular date and you have many miles in your account, consider using more than the minimum amount required. On many airlines, if you trade in more miles, standard fare seats become available to you. Also, be sure to ask about business-class seats, especially on weekend flights. To improve your chances of getting a seat for 25,000 miles, make reservations as far in advance as possible, between three months and six months before your departure date. Some international travelers book as much as one year in advance. Also, be flexible about your flight dates and times, if possible- two flights close together in time may have very different seat allocations.

Blackout dates

On heavy travel days, airlines will not allow you to use frequent-flier miles to purchase a discount ticket. Blackout dates vary by airline. Instead of planning your vacation and then trying to make airline reservations, establish a range of dates on which you are willing to depart and return. Then see which dates are available for an award ticket. Again, you can always pay a premium in miles to get around a blackout date. Most carriers will charge you at least 40,000 miles for a domestic coach ticket and 70,000 miles for international flights during a blackout period.

Tickets not so free

Most of the so-called free tickets have additional fees for services such as express mail, electronic ticketing, taxes, security/airport fees and special charges for last minute bookings. Plan ahead and order early. Stick with your travel plans once you've reserved an award ticket. Don't incur extra charges on an otherwise free ticket.