1st experience using frequent flyer miles (UA)

I've been saving up frequent flyer miles for United Airlines for over two years
now with the intention of using them for a free trip to Europe someday. As it
turns out I needed them on short notice because I just decided to visit Poland
in less than two months. I figured there was no chance of getting a free
flight, but lo and behold I got one on my first try. I even get to fly into
Warsaw and out of Krakow so I don't have to return to Warsaw for my departure.
The return trip has one long layover that won't be much fun, but other than
that the flight plan is just fine. Did I just get lucky or is this fairly
common?

"Tim Kroesen" <tkroesen@> wrote in news:Rt1Dc.13612$bs4.4918
@newsread3.news.atl.:

> A contract is 'luck'? I used cc/miles to get a free Europe round trip
> without hassle too. One phone call.
>When the "contract" is dependant upon availability of a certain limited
number of seats, yes, getting your FF miles turned into last minute travel
is indeed "luck"

"Tim Kroesen" <tkroesen@> wrote in message news:<Rt1Dc.13612$bs4.4918@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net>...
> A contract is 'luck'? I used cc/miles to get a free Europe round trip
> without hassle too. One phone call.
>
> Tim K
>

I had quite a bit of hassle working my way through United's telephone
maze until I found someone who knew how the Frequent Flyer program
worked in international travel. After I FINALLY reached the right
person, it was easy....

My cc/miles program was administered by a second party travel agency; no
hassle to me whatsoever... It would seem counterproductive to the
concept of rewarding heavy use customers with travel to hassle them over
booking the reward...

Tim K

"Watcher" <terryo69m> wrote in message
news:12fd525d.0406261236.4aeed653@c om...
> "Tim Kroesen" <tkroesen@> wrote in message
news:<Rt1Dc.13612$bs4.4918@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net>...
> > A contract is 'luck'? I used cc/miles to get a free Europe round
trip
> > without hassle too. One phone call.
> >
> > Tim K
> >
>
> I had quite a bit of hassle working my way through United's telephone
> maze until I found someone who knew how the Frequent Flyer program
> worked in international travel. After I FINALLY reached the right
> person, it was easy....