booked my (almost) FREE flights!

[Michelle1959]

I'm so excited, I just booked my flight to FLL on 6/13/09 (the day before my cruise) and my flight home from MIA on 6/21/09 (debark day). Using award miles I only paid $5 taxes for the non-stop round-trip flights.

I'll be staying the night before the cruise with my mom, who lives in Boynton Beach, then she'll drive me to the Miami port the next morning.

I already paid the deposit a few months ago, and will be using my tax refund to pay the balance due.

Now, if only the next 11 months would pass quickly!

Valor, here I come!

[CruiseNOID]

Cant beat that!!!!

[ferrangi]

wow, that's terrific!!

[David West]

Now thats a deal

Happy sailing to all;
David

[cherylroy]

I did the same thing! With american express points I booked my round trip tickets to anchorage and back (from vancouver) - all with points! Almost 2000 worth of plane tickets. What a relief! I agree - I have 10 months to wait. But, I have a cruise in between that time too to keep me going.

[cruisecouple]

what airline were you able to book a year in advance?

[Michelle1959]

I booked on American Airlines, using my AAdvantage points I've built up. I had a balance of just over 75,000 points and just used 25,000 on for my round-trip flight. That will leave 50,000 and I may do yet another cruise in a few years. Whatever I use my my Citibank AAdvantage Mastercard for, I earn points. I used to "charge" my rent to it but at my new townhouse rental they only take checks.

I used 50,000 last year so my son and I could fly free for our Sensation cruise in July 07. We paid for 2 hotel nights one day's rental car and the 4-night cruise. Actually my dad gave me $1500 which coverered most of that.

After my June solo cruise, I will try and aim for a cruisemates cruise if there ever is one when i'm able to go - the times during my son's school breaks when he's with his dad.

[cherylroy]

With American Express your able to book 300 days out - one flight was all continental airlines. The other was alaska airlines and americian airlines. Collecting points with cards is a great reward --------- when you finally accumulate them! :-)

[Michelle1959]

wow, 300 days out is a nice deal ! AmEx does have some nice perks for its customers! If you can afford to pay off your bills each month. Not on my budget

For those of us (most!) who have to fly to the cruise ports, frequent flyer miles are a godsend! So until I retire in 18 years, and can move down to mid-Florida (driving distance to most ports), I will keep using my card for groceries, gasoline, anything that I can that I'd normally write a check or pay cash for.

If your bank doesn't offer a frequent flyer program tied to a debit or credit card, find one that does! then, pay your mortgage/rent if you possibly can, gas, groceries, etc... using the card.

we all know we can't count on the cruise lines to offer a decent rewards cards for cruisers that makes sense and doesn't take you 10 years to earn a 3-day free cruise.