Don’t Pay the $75 Close In Fee on United (Trick!)

Update: I used this trick successfully. Here was my experience.

As I led a session at the Chicago Seminars this weekend on "Special Awards," someone chimed in with an intriguing tip:

There is a simple method to avoid the $75 "close in ticketing fee" on United awards that is triggered when you try to book a ticket within 21 days of departure.

I tested out the proposed method yesterday, and I have some input on how it works.

How to Get a List of Your Previous American Express Cards

You can only get the bonus on American Express credit and charge cards once per lifetime.

Star Alliance Business Class Award Space to Europe is Wide Open for Four People

Award space is wide open in Turkish Airlines Business Class between the United States and Europe for four people per flight over the heart of the Summer.

This is amazing news because normally award space over the summer is the toughest to find, finding four seats on the same flight in Business Class is almost unheard of, Turkish flies to more countries than any other airline, and you can book the space for as cheap as 40,000 miles one way with no fuel surcharges.
Turkish Routes
These are Turkish's routes to the United States.

From Istanbul, there are great

TRICK: Put Your British Airways Account in France for Big Savings

British Airways is happy to handle a number of transactions in dollars, pounds, or euros.

Trick: How to Load the Old United.com (Better for Award Searching)

Update 2/12/16: United brought back the nonstop calendar. The single column for Saver and Standard economy space remains.

I covered two months ago why the new united.com stinks for award searching. My biggest complaint is that even if you specify a "nonstop only" search, the search calendar does not show you nonstop only results.

I used to be able to see space on a route for two months at a time on united.com, now I can see it one day a time.

TRICK: How to Still Get Free Chauffeur Service on Your Emirates First or Business Class Award

Emirates offers First and Business Class passengers free chauffeur service to and from the airport. I took advantage with rides to Auckland's airport and from Sydney's airport in 2013.

Starting in January 2015, Emirates restricted chauffeur service to First and Business Class passengers whose tickets were issued by Emirates or Qantas.

The best way for travel hackers to book Emirates First and Business Class ticket is with Alaska Airlines miles, meaning Alaska issues the ticket. That means, by the rules, no chauffeur service.

TRICK: How to Still Get Free Chauffeur Service on Your Emirates First or Business Class Award

Emirates offers First and Business Class passengers free chauffeur service to and from the airport. I took advantage with rides to Auckland's airport and from Sydney's airport in 2013.

Starting in January 2015, Emirates restricted chauffeur service to First and Business Class passengers whose tickets were issued by Emirates or Qantas.

The best way for travel hackers to book Emirates First and Business Class ticket is with Alaska Airlines miles, meaning Alaska issues the ticket. That means, by the rules, no chauffeur service.

Trip Report: 23 Hour Layovers in Athens, Dubrovnik, Zagreb

I just flew an award that saw me fly four flights in four days between four countries.

Trip Report: 23 Hour Layovers in Athens, Dubrovnik, Zagreb

I just flew an award that saw me fly four flights in four days between four countries.

United to Fly All Australia Routes with 787-9 Dreamliner, Trick to Get Business Class Award

United is putting a 787-9 Dreamliner on its all of its routes to Australia by March 26, 2016. United currently flies the 787-9 on its Los Angeles to Melbourne route and 777s on its San Francisco and Los Angeles to Sydney routes.

There is great economy award space on the Sydney routes after the operating aircraft switches to a Dreamliner, but very little Business Class space.