Aliera Iheanacho had banked more than 100,000 United Airlines miles, hoping she could one day experience a first class, lie-flat seat experience. But that dream will have to wait.
This summer’s high airline ticket prices, driven by the soaring cost of jet fuel, made her airfare to China in May much more than she had budgeted.
She almost decided to cancel her plans to visit Disneyland parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Instead, Iheanacho wiped out her miles balance by using more than 60,000 miles on airfare in just one direction, then used another roughly 60,000 miles on hotels. She and her partner still paid cash for the return flight, as well as the second full roundtrip…