Some points to keep in mind as you consider checking award availability:

- Most airlines have an online booking interface for awards that is reasonably reliable for simple itineraries booked entirely on that airline (i.e., no partners). But if you want anything beyond a simple roundtrip, you’re probably better off talking to an agent on the phone.

- Before you call the airline, determine acceptable routings (and times) to your destination. (Either check airline timetables, or run a search on Kayak, and then use the settings on the left side of the screen to narrow the airline(s) you want to search. Airline agents may offer you the first eligible itinerary they see, but you should ask for specific flights if you know they exist.

- Don’t forget partner and alliance airlines. Terms and conditions may be slightly different for awards on partner airlines, but be sure to check the rules of your program to see with which airlines you can spend those miles. You can also mix and match for awards: fly one airline over and another airline back. See how the competition compares!

- Consider open-jaw trips or stopovers when using miles. While most “normal” cash itineraries are based on a roundtrip fare, mileage awards commonly include the option of a free stopover en route or an open jaw (a trip where you fly into one city, but out of another, returning to your origin — for example, Chicago to Paris and Frankfurt to Chicago would be an open jaw itinerary.) Since such trips often are quite expensive for cash fares, miles are a good option in such a case.

- If you are inquiring about coach fares, and saver awards are unavailable, be sure to ask about first class awards before you throw in the towel and spend your miles on an anytime award. First class saver awards often cost less than Coach anytime awards.

- Inventory changes. A lot. If seats aren’t available when you call, try again another day.

- Unfortunately, telephone agents vary. There are some great ones who will work with you in great detail, and there are others who just don’t care. If you don’t like the answer you get, or the attitude of the agent you’re working with, politely excuse yourself, bid farewell, and call back later.

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