frequent flyers types? need help scheming

Who travels a lot ?

Like an idiot, I saved up 150,000 miles on my own, thinking that I could transfer some of them to my kids and wife, and most of us could fly free to Europe this year.

Unfortunately, I did not read the fine print. United Airlines only allow a person to transfer 15,000 per recepient in a given year, charging 1 cent per mile. And my recepients (wife+2kids) do not have enough in their accounts to get anything...One needs 50,000 miles for a free ticket to Europe, so 15K will accomplish nothing.

What can I do? I could spend 100K miles and get a first class seat for just me and we could rotate through the 12 hour flight annoying the piss out of everyone (our trip is San Francisco to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Wroclaw, Poland, and the same on the way back, but with Munich as the connecting city)....
I can buy two seats in economy and take my youngest as the lap baby (although I think the cutoff is 2 years of age, which was 2 months ago)...Can I just buy a seat for my imaginary friend / laptop, without getting bumped on an international flight?
I am so annoyed, I think I will kayak across the big pond !

Anybody a travel agent with the intimate knowledge of tricks of the trade? I am thinking anytime in May, and want to minimize the number of planes due to young kids (got it down to 2 between Lufthansa and United).

 

Have you checked w/ United?

You should be able to purchase tickets for your family with your miles. You might not be able to transfer more then 15k miles not sure.

 

You can use your miles to issue a ticket for another person. You do not have to use the transfer process. I have done this several times previously to use my miles for my friends to visit me and for my son to use my miles to travel. The only glitch I had was they once made me go to a United Airlines ticketing office to sign an affidavit to confirm that I was indeed who I was and that I was authorizing a ticket to be issued in another persons name. No biggie.

 

From the Mileage Plus Award Travel FAQ

"Can I use my miles to buy tickets for friends or family members?
Yes, members are able to purchase award tickets for other people using their mileage. You may secure tickets on united.com for friends and family members with or without your surname. If you are not traveling with the party on award tickets, you may be required to provide additional validation authorizing the purchase for other parties. Check your purchase confirmation for requirements."

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,50979,00.html?navSource=MileagePlusFAQ&linkTitle=award+travel+FAQ+sidebar

 

This is so cool......Why is it that Ferrarichatters are more knowledgeable than my United agent?
Thank you very much !

 

I hate to say it but your United agent had nothing to gain from steering you in the right direction!

 

That is what my wife said. I do occasionally lapse into thinking that the world is full of people with altruistic intentions.
Glad that the FChat crowd gave me the straight dope.

 

Glad someone pointed you in the correct direction. I use my miles all the time for my family, it's part of what keeps me travelling!

 

We just came back from a trip to Rome, Italy. I used my frequent flyers miles to get Business Class seats for both of us. Had a wonderful trip on Continental. Last trip, we went Business Class on Delta to London and Paris without any problems. I really suspect that you can use your miles for your family on United.

 

Depending on when and from where you're going you should buy coach tickets and use the miles to upgrade to Business. Assuming you're going this Winter when demand is low, you should get a business seat assignment when you make the reservation. If you can't, you're gambling but the chances, in my experience are generally good that you'll be upgraded at the gate (check the aircraft type and seats sold when deciding- you can even tell how many business seats have been sold by pretending to buy one on the web and going all the way to the "select seats" screen). That way, you'll earn additional miles as you fly.

I would not recommend trying to use the miles to get all the way to Poland but check the fares and connecting times of low cost airlines operating out of Frankfurt (or even Lufthansa). I'd bet you could get a fairly cheap ticket. Europe is awash in low cost carriers now- Berlin Air, BA Baby, Ryanair etc. and competition is stiff.

I fly UA/SA almost exclusively and really like their product- lots of people complain but my experience (10 years P1) has been pretty positive. IMO they have the best FF club out there.

Airliners.net is also a good source of information.

 

Good advice....I am thinking May, which is not winter (ends March 16th), but before the peak season (after May 30).
The flight works out OK, even when booked all the way to Poland. Business class upgrade might be worth it with the kids...And I will check the local discount carriers. The only problem is the layover. Across the pond flights get in in the morning and all the flights to Wroclaw take off in the evening, so this means a 7-8 hr. layover in Frankfurt (from US) or Munich (to US). It is either this, or I take the plunge and do 3 planes, something like SFO- London - Warsaw - Wroclaw. Right now, I have SFO to Frankfurt, and then the second puddle jumper plane to Wroclaw.
I got a travel agent on it, now that I know I can use my miles for the fam.

thx
luke