It's tough enough to earn miles, let alone the much tougher challenge of redeeming them. But are you actually getting a "free" award ticket? Not even close.

On some award tickets, airlines add draconian fuel surcharges, carrier imposed fees, and then in some countries a dreaded "user tax" based on what you would have paid — full fare — for that award ticket. And yes, you run the risk of having a free award ticket costing more than just buying the ticket yourself! For one business class award ticket between Los Angeles and London, the total of taxes, fees and surcharges was north of $800.