Using frequent flyer miles

Rick Steves tours do not include airfare, you book your own flights.

RS tours do NOT include airfare.

Book your RS tour and then use your miles to fly to Europe and back. With that many you can fly Business Class or First Class if you want. Best to book as soon as the award seats are released, generally about 11 months in advance ( but it varies depending on the airline).

If, as you say, your FF miles expire in September 2019, you have plenty of time and multiple options...

Note that every airline has different policies on miles/points expiration and use. For United, to extend the life of your miles, all you need to do is have some (any) "activity" in your account, and that resets the expiration clock. Things that qualify for this required "activity" include anything that adds miles or spends miles. If you simply want to extend the life of your miles, all you need to do is that: get just 1 mile (or more) into your account (if you have a United credit card, just use it), take a paid United flight, etc. Or, "spend" 1 mile (or more) - you can redeem for a flight, or use miles for other things (you can "spend" miles in many ways).

If you're ready to book a flight with your miles, go ahead. The process is not difficult, but be careful because (like most things in the world) there are plenty of ways to "spend" miles and get a terrible value for them (eg you can easily pay 2X or 3X or more than you need to).

Getting the maximum value out of your miles can be a complicated thing. For more info than you can stand, go look at the Flyertalk forums but be prepared to invest a little time to figure things out.

As stated above, Rick Steves does not book flights.

Thanks so much for your replies. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond.

David, I've had the United credit card for many years and was using it as my primary card. That's why I was so surprised when I went on the Mileage Plus site and saw I had miles that were expiring. I recently used miles to fly my son from Seattle in June. I'll check back to see if that reset the clock.

I don't believe using miles to book a flight will reset the clock. I think you have to actually spend money on a flight, or use your United Plus credit card. To extend the life of your miles you could take an inexpensive flight somewhere close to reset your 18 month clock.

You can also donate a small amount of miles to charity (e.g., Make a Wish Foundation, Fisher House, etc) to reset the clock. United has the options on their website. This is what I usually do when I have miles approaching expiration.

I don't believe using miles to book a flight will reset the clock. I think you have to actually spend money on a flight, or use your United Plus credit card.

You don’t have to spend money or use credit card. Either using miles or earning miles resets the clock for United.

Yeah. The United miles expiration date resets to 18 months out with any earning or burning of them, even if you spent $1 going through the United shopping portal or shopping app and got 1 mile for that.

If you plan carefully and book right when inventory opens up, those 500K miles could get you some very nice business class flights that will have you arriving in Europe relatively fresh and rested.

We use miles to fly business to Europe and it makes the trip from CAlifornia downright enjoyable. Full lay down seats and Ambien and you are there before you know it.

If you book flights using miles, that resets the clock out 18 months from the date you book the tickets. We booked my husband a flight for March in January 2018. His account now shows expiration date of July 2019. We no longer have a Mileage plus card associated with his United account.

I have learned that trying to use mileage for specific dates can be difficult. The key on most American airlines is that they open up the seats/booking 330 days before your first flight. So, if you can plan ahead.....you will be sure to get the flights that you want/need. Andrea you are correct, you have to use the credit card or some activity that will reset you expiration.
Happy Travels.....

Thanks to everyone who replied. This is a great, very helpful forum. I called United's Mileage Plus customer service and the rep confirmed that by keeping my United credit card active (paying annual fee, using it occasionally), that it resets the 18-month exp. date. They could do a better job of communicating that!