Here is just how easy and how essential it is to search for awards segment-by-segment.

My friend is visiting me in Belgrade, Serbia and wants to fly home to Los Angeles next week, so we were searching for an award for him with United miles, which are definitely the best miles between the United States and Europe.

Unfortunately the only awards available are in Business Class, and he has more time than money or miles.

I'd personally fly this award in flat bed Business Class for 57,500 United miles + $78.

You can use Avianca LifeMiles to book domestic First Class or Business Class on United for about $400 one way, including United's fully flat beds on its routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York. (Currently these flights go to JFK.

This is a repost from 2013 because this benefit is still available and still under-publicized.

Elite members of United's MileagePlus frequent flyer program get access to extra Saver award seats in economy class. (Platinum and higher members also get extra business and first class seat availability.)

While helping my friend who has no United status book an award with United miles, I saw that extra economy class award seats popped up when she signed into her account. That confused me, since she has no United status.

Out & Out notices that some United awards are pricing cheaper than they should on united.com. It seems a glitch is causing domestic awards to allow free or cheap one ways.

For instance, look at this roundtrip from Los Angeles to Newark (by the way, this new flat bed service STILL has amazing award availability) with a one way from Los Angeles to Houston two months later.

This should price at 75,000 miles because all legs are in Saver First Class, which is 25,000 miles one way for a domestic award.

Update: United flights have resumed.

All United flights are currently grounded for "automation issues" apparently related to a computer system malfunction. The same thing happened June 2, 2015.

If you are flying United today, check your flight status and call foreign call centers (via Google Voice) to make changes.

UK contact number: +44 0845-607-6760
Australia contact number: +61 131-777
India contact number: +91-124-4315500

Good luck out there.

Update 6/28/15 at 9:50 PM ET:

United now lists 757s as operating all flights between Newark and Los Angeles/San Francisco from October 25 on.

And yet, space is still amazing.

There's an idea that you have to book your award tickets exactly 11 months in advance or there will be no award space. Having booked tons of awards for myself and clients of the MileValue Award Booking Service at all times from 11 months to 11 hours in advance, I can tell you that that idea is a myth.

While it is an advantage to know where you want to go 11 months out and start looking, the award space on your route might open up at any time before departure as airlines adjust their award space based on how

Generous reader Nancy is donating two United Club passes that expire October 31, 2015–in about four months–to one lucky winner. (This is different than last week's giveaway of the same prize from a different reader. Congrats to @Global_Gregory for winning those passes.)

United has lounges all over the world. The clubs are a pleasant place to relax in a comfortable chair, use free wifi, and enjoy free snack and drinks. Here are the amenities.

Generous reader Nancy is donating two United Club passes that expire October 31, 2015–in about four months–to one lucky winner. (This is different than last week's giveaway of the same prize from a different reader. Congrats to @Global_Gregory for winning those passes.)

United has lounges all over the world. The clubs are a pleasant place to relax in a comfortable chair, use free wifi, and enjoy free snack and drinks. Here are the amenities.

Update June 24: United added this promo to its promo page. Book by July 6.

------------------------

United is offering up to a 25% discount on roundtrip awards to Hawaii for travel this Summer and Fall!

United cardholders get a 25% discount and pay 33,750 United miles roundtrip to Hawaii. Non-cardholders get a 20% discount and pay 36,000 United miles roundtrip. Full price is 22,500 United miles one way in economy between Hawaii and the continental United States, Alaska, or Canada.

The sale is valid:

for roundtrip or open jaw awards.