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February 2010

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: Three Fab Promotions Anyone Can Take Advantage Of (to net Business for cost of coach to Asia, Europe, and South America); High & Inside: Booking Summer Business Class Fare to Europe and Beyond (do it now or later?); How to Get First Class to Europe 73% Off; Card Sharp: New Credit Card Partnership Nets Savings of 76% (a ticketing strategy that works--worldwide--in Business or First Class--on 15 different airlines); Where the Mileage Seats Are; Elite Status Maneuvering: When to Buy Your Status Back; FCF Report Card: Comparing U.S. Carriers’ Mileage Upgrade Programs to Europe; Recession Trend: Why and When Delta Members Should Think Air France and KLM to Europe During the Economic Downturn; and Where to Get the Best Last Minute Fares.

January 2010

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: First Class Flyer’s Crystal Ball for 2010; Business Class to Europe for Less than Coach; My Favorite Upgrade: How to Upgrade Without Paying for an Upgrade; First Class Transcon on American Airlines at 74% Off; Domestic First Class Upgrade; Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Premium Fares; Mileage Pro: The Golden Rule of Using Unrestricted Travel Awards; International Seat Beat: How to Get United’s Best International Seats; Where the Mileage Seats Are: Hot Routes for Mileage Award Travel; How to Get the Best Mileage Upgrade to South America; and Planning Business Class to the Seychelles.

FCF Alerts
1/30: Two Free Domestic First Class Upgrades With Amex Points Transfer
1/29: Fly Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy to Europe for the Price of Coach – Exp. 1/31
1/23: Ten Great Business Class Fares to the Caribbean
1/23: Star Alliance Business Class for Price of Coach to Europe -- Travel through Feb. 28
1/22: SAS Discounts Premium Economy 43%
1/22: Ten Great Business Class Fares to Mexico
1/19: Fare War: Seven Airlines Slash Business Class to Europe
1/18: Singapore Airlines Business Class 51% Off
1/15: Save Up to 64% on First Class Summer Flights to Europe with United
1/11: $75.00 Round-trip Business Tickets to Europe on Three Major Carriers
1/11: British Airways Premium Economy 20% Off
1/9: Ten Days Till United Upgrades Turn Into Pumpkins?

December 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: First Class for the Price of Coach (on 22 different Carriers) to Almost Anywhere in the World; High & Inside: First Class fare Illusion – What in the World is the Mainstream Media Reading? And What Upgrade Tactics Should You Be Employing in this Economy; Consumer Alert: Save More Than 70% by Cross-Shopping Travel Agencies; Mileage Upgrade Pro: US Airways New Award Program: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Where the Mileage Seats Are; Elite Update: Who Gains the Most with the Latest Elite Venture?; Report Card Time: Which U.S. Carrier Offers the Best Mileage Upgrade Program to Asia; Card Sharp: How to Build Elite Status with the Right Credit Cards; Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Fares; and First Class Reader’s Q & A.

FCF Alerts
12/19: Buy Starwood Starpoints for 38% Off
12/18: Business Class Last Minute to Europe for Less than Coach – Travel By 12/28
12/16: Domestic First Class 58% Off
12/9: Special Asia Fares Up to 38% Off, Must Ticket by Dec. 11

November 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: New First Class Mileage Strategies Save Up to 80% (plus an $1,100 tip and a comparison of American vs. United); High & Inside: Why Free Elite Upgrades Cost You in Any Economy (how the recession drove United to drastic deeds, and why the program goes from average to bad); Hot Routes for Easy Mileage Award Redemption; Mileage Upgrade Pro (Deal #1: Business Class for Less than Coach, Deal #2: 40% off Lufthansa’s Business Class Upgrades, and Deal #3: Business Class for the Price of Coach, and Deal #4: 30% off British Airways Awards); Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Fares; The First Class Insider: When Buying Miles on American Makes More Cents; Loophole of the Month: US Airways International “At-the-Gate” Upgrades; and Domestic Seat Beat: Getting United’s Best on Domestic Routes.

FCF Alerts
11/20: How to Easily Get Two Free Business Class Tickets for Travel Within the U.S.
11/19: Ten Great Business Class Fares to South America
11/18: Ten Great Business Class Fares to Asia Starting at $2,316 R/T
11/17: New Lower Holiday Fares to Europe
11/16: Free Business Class Ticket to Europe with Credit Card Sign-up Bonus
11/12: Delta Matches Continental Elite Status, Members Get Best of Both Worlds
11/11: The Impact US Airways Program Changes Have on Business & First Class Travelers

October 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: First Class Weekend Getaway Starting at $460 R/T; High & Inside: How and Where to Profit with the New Alliance Shift (which alliance gets the best fares, now, and where to get lower-cost mileage award tickets … A MUST READ for Continental, Delta/NW, United & US Airways mileage game players); Fares You'll Never See: To Asia & Europe, Savings Up to 43% on Select Fares with United; Hot Mileage Redemption Routes; The Mileage Upgrade Pro: Which Top-Tier Elite Program Is Best? (Domestic top tier elite comparison); The First Class Insider: Getting Around High Upgrade Fares to Asia (best First Class savings via airlines with lowest upgradable Business Class fares -- a way to snare First Class upgrades for up to 84% off); Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Fares; and How to Find Delta/Northwest's Best Business Class Seats (which of its eight different international aircraft has the best seats).

FCF Alerts
10/28: How to Profit from Continental’s Jump to the Star Alliance
10/27: More First Class Weekend Getaways $500 to $800 R/T
10/26: 76% Off Delta Domestic First Class
10/23: Discount Business Class to Europe on Lufthansa 33% Off
10/19: Elite Upgrade Program Changes Coming to United

September 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: Comfort Upgrades for the Holidays; High & Inside: 10 Ways to Improve Your Loyalty Program’s Upgrade Odds in a Time of Scarcity; Unpublished Fares: Save Up to 57% to Europe and Hawaii with Fares You’ll Never See Online; Worldwide Redemption Guide: Top Routes for Mileage Award Travel; The First Class Insider: New Mileage Program Exploit Nets Savings Up to 86% with Seven Airlines; Short Notice Fares: Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Fare; Domestic Seat Beat; Getting Delta’s and Northwest’s Best on Domestic Routes; The Mileage Upgrade Pro: Free Upgrade or 65% Off to Europe and Beyond; and the Upgrade Advisor’s Q&A .

FCF Alerts
9/22: Last Chance: Get a Free Upgrade to Europe on Air France and KLM – Exp. 9/28
9/19: Last Chance: Business Class R/T Upgrades for Only 20,000 Miles on Two Asian Carriers – Exp. 9/30
9/17: Business Class Fares to Israel Slashed to $2,329 r/t
9/15: Free Business Class Companion Ticket to Caribbean – Exp. 9/30
9/14: Save 20% or More in Premium Economy to South Pacific
9/13: Save More Than $1,500 on Business Class Travel to New Zealand

August 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: How to Take Advantage of Domestic Fare Increase Trend; High & Inside: Are Mileage-Upgrade Programs Really Worth Your Loyalty? US Carrier Upgrade Report Card; Unpublished Fares: Great Fares You’ll Never See; First Class Chronicle: United Makes a Radical Move; Domestic Seat Beat: Getting Continental’s Best on Domestic Routes; Short Notice Fares: Finding the Best Eleventh-Hour Fares; First Class Insider: A Little-Used Mileage Program Gets You to the Front Cabin with Four Airlines; When All Else Fails: The Best Premium Economy Deals and Seats to Europe; Where the Mileage Seats Are: Worldwide Redemption Guide: Top Routes for Mileage Award Travel; and FCF Special Report: Domestic First Class Fare Myths.

FCF Alerts
8/31: Save up to 28% on Premium Economy, U.S. to London
8/29: 40% More SkyMiles for HHonors Points Transferred
8/26: Any Fare 10% Off or 35% Free Miles With AA Purchase – Exp. 8/31
8/20: Holiday Business Class Fares to Europe Starting at $1,130 R/T (+ tax)
8/14: Free US Airways Silver Elite Status Card (Normally $200+) – Exp. Aug. 31
8/14: South America Business Class to $1,679 R/T from Two U.S. Cities
8/12: Economy Plus Up to 44% Off – Exp. 8/14
8/11: Domestic First Class $655 r/t on Three Carriers - Exp. Aug. 15
8/10: $780 R/T Europe Business Class to 10+ Cities - Exp. Aug. 15

July 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: Three Fab Mileage Redemption Offers (One Biz Class for Coach Strategy to Europe; Two Deeply Discounted Upgrades to Asia); Fare Anomalies of the Month: How to Get 85% off to Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, 62% off to Hong Kong and 38% off to Tahiti; High & Inside: How to Tighten Your Belt More Creatively: The Who, Where, and When to Save By Flying Premium Economy (Just) One-Way; Where the Mileage Seats Are: Top Six Airlines to Hawaii, Europe, Asia, and Middle East; Booking Secrets: Low Unpublished Business Class Fares You’ll Never See Online; Domestic Seat Beat: How and Where to Get American Airlines’ Best (International) First Class Seats; Short Notice Fares: Finding the Best Eleventh-hour Fares Worldwide; The Mileage Upgrade Pro: How to Navigate Mileage Upgrades to Europe: FCF’s Report Card; The Brass Ring: The Secret Side of British Airways; When All Else Fails: Best Premium Economy Deals; Asia’s Wild Card: When to Book 2-for-1’s and When Not To; and Why You Should Consider All-Business Class Flights.

FCF Alerts
7/14: Take $500 off Already Discounted Biz Class Fares to Africa
7/11: Delta Offers Upgrades for One Mile

June 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Hot Ticket: Fact or Fiction: Unprecedented Business Class Deals to Europe This Summer?; High & Inside: Fee Outrage: First Class Flyer’s Perspective; Worldwide Redemption Guide: Top Routes for Mileage Award Travel; Vacation Travel: Top Fare Deals to Hot Destinations; Business Travel: Finding the Best Eleventh-hour Fares; The Brass Ring: First Class Travel for Much Less … Up to 50% Off for Travel to Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia; When All Else Fails: Premium Economy … The Best Deals and Seats to Asia; Stockpile Your Summer Mileage Purchases and Get Free Upgrade at the Same Time; How Good is Continental’s Own Companion Program?; Upgrade Options Galore with American’s New Flex Awards; and Mileage Upgrade Pro: How to Get Domestic, Asia, Europe & Most Other Destinations Almost Free.

FCF Alerts
6/12: Biz Class for Coach with Air France/KLM to Europe – Through Amex & Starwood – Exp. 6/21
6/11: First Class to Hawaii Discounted 40% – Exp. 6/12
6/4: 50% Off First Class Fares to Europe – Star Alliance Carrier

May 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Business Class for Up to 50% Less to Europe & Asia: On the World’s Best Airline; Unbelievable Fare Anomalies; High & Inside: Overlooked Loophole in Delta/Northwest Merger Nets Savings of Up to 71%; Worldwide Redemption Guide: Top Routes for Mileage Award Travel; Top Fare Deals to Hot Destinations; Upgrade Pro: How to Save up to 50% on Domestic Flights; Short Notice Fares: Finding the Best Eleventh-hour Fares; Domestic Seat Beat Upgrade to a New First Class Suite; South American Fares Headed South; Brass Ring: Save up to 87% on First Class to London; Premium Economy Seats to Europe; Worst Mistake to Make When Changing Your Credit Card; SkyTeam Loss, Star Alliance’s Gain; Another deal to Europe: Save 50%; and Last Chance Deals to Keep Your Elite Status.

FCF Alerts
5/19: American Airlines "Revolutionary Mileage Program Changes" a big deal?
5/18: Secret Fare War Just Discovered: $1,398 (If Not $897) Business Class R/T – Exp. 5/29

April 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Business Class for the Price of Coach to Europe: Just Spot Award Chart Loopholes; Extreme Business & First Class Fare Anomalies; High & Inside: Finding Cheap, Leftover First Class Seats ... at the Airport; Where the Mileage Seats Are: 10 Hot Routes; Top Ten Vacation Deals; Which Airline Charges Half as Much to Fly Around the World; Finding the Best Eleventh-hour Fares; Seat Beat: Upgrade Your Domestic First Class Seat; Which Airline Charges 64% Less When You Book through its Partner; Premium Economy Deals Keep Coming; Elite Status for $1,200 ... Plus a Free Vacation; Free Double Upgrade to Asia; Great Seat from the East Coast to Hawaii; and For Premium Business Travel to London, Just Say Y-Up (old program comes to transatlantic routes).

March 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: Extreme Business & First Class Fare Anomalies; Business Class for LESS THAN the Price of Coach: Tough Times for Airlines Net Bargain Premium Fares on 20 Carriers; Leisure Travel: Top Ten Premium Fare Deals for Spring Vacation; Domestic Deals: Savings up to 69%—and How Anyone Can Get Them (Plus, Three Ways to Get Instant Elite Status); Upgrade Strategies: Up to 82% Off Business and First Class Travel to Asia and Europe; High & Inside: Lucrative Holes for Premium Travelers in Delta-Northwest Merger (Award Chard Discrepancies Uncovered—Up to 46%); Anomalies and Loopholes: Round-the-World Fares for a Lot Less; Where the (Mileage Award) Seats Are; BIPs to Europe: Most Rewarding Small Business Programs; How to Earn Elite Status After Just Two Flights; Changes to British Airways’ Executive Club, Dramatic; 2-for-1 Deal to India; More Mileage Purchase Deals; and Two New Business Class Seats.

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Kansas City Royals
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