Uses Continental Miles for free (almost) flight

[Sue M]

I had almost enough miles on One pass (Continental) for free flight to MCO, from YVR. They charge a $50 fee, and I had to spend $25 to top up my miles so all in all $75 for a RT multi City flight. Fly into Ft. Lauderdale (staying a week to visit family) then fly back home from MCO. Late August.

Pretty good since RT from Vancouver is mostly over $600 RT, so we fly from Seattle. It will be nice to fly from home instead of the 3 hr drive down to SeaTac.

However, it took me all day to book travel. I almost gave up. Several phone calls. Some agents were giving me flights with 7hr layovers, and crazy routes with 2 or 3 changes.
I thought I'd give it one more try later in the evening, and finally got an agent who was willing to do some work to find me reasonable flights. I had to be a bit flexible on times and days, but that was ok.

I ended up taking a red-eye going down, with a 3 hr layover in Chicago- doable. Then coming home I got a flight 2 days past what I orrig. planned, leaving MCO at 6pm, only an hour layover in Houston, and get home just before midnight. So when booking reward travel, persistance pays off Some agents are willing to work with you more then others to find something.
My advice to others booking reward travel, don't give up

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Thanks Sue, I plan to use one pass miles for my family to fly from Halifax to MCO and return in March 2013. Appreciate the info!

Ted

 

[Tinkershelly]

I booked with Continental One Pass rewards in December for our trip in September. I wanted to book early enough to get all the flights for 12,500 points per one-way because we only had about 60,000 points between DH and me. I booked everything online, and coordinated with our friends who were booking with Aeroplan points.

I needed to transfer one batch of points from DH to me which cost $30. My points booked both ways for me and one way for him, his points booked one way for him. I'm able to manage seat assignments just like if I booked with cash.

MCO to YHZ cost $5.00 per person, YHZ to MCO cost $54.50 per person. And I was able to insure the flights for cancellation and trip interruption, etc as well.

By booking online I got the flights times I wanted with the shortest layovers. And a much better experience than my friends with Aeroplan. They wound up booking their return with an overnight in Newark when they thought they would be home on the same day, the Aeroplan website was not nearly as user friendly.

 

[Sue M]

I did manage to get the flights for the lower amount of miles, and it was hard getting them only 6 mos ahead. Next time I'll have to start a year ahead too!
But I was happy with the end result

 

[Tinkershelly]

I did manage to get the flights for the lower amount of miles, and it was hard getting them only 6 mos ahead. Next time I'll have to start a year ahead too!
But I was happy with the end result

Oh yeah, the closer you get the less your choice and the higher the price in points, that's for sure. We booked the rewards flights as soon as we chose dates with our friends. And we needed to book with WDW by Dec.17th for the free dining promotion, so we were motivated to book early. This is not typical for us at all!