Booking with Air Miles -tips

[PuckOff]

I have 110,000 air miles with Air Canada and 70,000 with United. I was checking out flights through Air Canada (Aeroplan) for October and noticed that there are very limited options. It got me thinking. Is it better to phone them and book through the phone as they may have more flight options than online. The options they have now are basically 2 flights and takes 16 hours to get there which is basically a red eye flight out of NS and a long lay over in Toronto. Pretty shitty options. I'd be better off just paying cash and get there in 8 hours and no red eye. Is this always the case with most airlines or are there any tricks I can use to book the flights I want?

 

[RayRay]

ive had my sd trip booked for months... i paid 430 to balt in 2 weeks and a little more than half of that for another trip to balt in a month... since sw is really cheap anyways, i wonder what good it will do to mess with any other airline or card

 

[IAG]

WTH Pucky? Where are you trying to go? I have never had that experience with United, but don't know about Air Canada obv.

 

[IAG]

ive had my sd trip booked for months... i paid 430 to balt in 2 weeks and a little more than half of that for another trip to balt in a month... since sw is really cheap anyways, i wonder what good it will do to mess with any other airline or card

Because free is less than $430

 

[Saulty]

I switched to a cash back credit card from an airline miles card. I use the cash to fly or drive with whoever I want at any time of the year.