introduction to booking award travel
DESCRIPTION
Ben Schlapping presentation at 2012 LA FTU.TRANSCRIPT
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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
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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
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bschlappig