I travel to RSA several times a year and go through the same dance each time with Delta when trying to use my frequent flyer miles.

Initially, they give me the "well, you can fly from Atlanta and connect through Boston and catch a flight to Amsterdam and then on to Joburg - total flight time 38+ hours and use your miles. That ticket will only cost you $4,100 plus miles for business class. Or you can use 25,000 miles each way for coach on a direct flight and save about $10 on your ticket cost ($1,321) and upgrade to preferred comfort seating (which I already get for free). Which would you prefer?

I've got nearly 800,000 miles so what can you do for me? Oh, well for 250,000 miles you can fly round trip direct in business class for tax and fees for a total of $147.00. Ahhhh, I'll take door number 3 thank you very much.

The airlines will do almost anything to keep you from using your miles. They try and make it as painful as possible. Perseverance always pays.

I just got done finding flights on United for the June hunt. You just have to be patient and keep checking. I believe my r/t ticket for First and Business cost me $147.70
Definitely worth the time.

On delta..just use
The 250k miles for business class direct..that's the best deal they will ever offer, and you trip will be so much better because of it.

I have used my skymiles the last four trips to Joburg with no problems. April we have economy comfort bulk head. I think they only allow five non revenue seats per flight? When you logon Delta's site there is a calendar that shows the the milage it takes for the days requested. just have to plan well in advance.

When I deal with a live agent, occasionally I wind up with a better deal on frequent flyer miles than when booking though the website. For the days I was traveling on this trip I burned 250K and not the 350K that was posted. I always check the site first and then talk with an agent. It's just going live is a PIA and you get the runaround before you get the trip you want.

just used 80m to book to alaska and back for wife & me to go fishing -no problems

Just booked a flight to Joberg using skymiles,150,000. That saved me $2200. I take that any day.

I was just advised that starting Jan 1, 2015 Skymiles will limit AMX points transfers to no more than 250K per year. If you plan on making a transfer you might consider doing one prior to the first of the year.

I don't every use the miles myself, since I don't earn miles on free tickets. I combine business with hunting, so I almost always expense my ticket. I use my miles for Ms AZW to fly first class when we go on vacation together.