A Bad Economy Equals Great Deals on 22 Domestic and International Airlines

December 2009
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US Airways and 21 Star Alliance Partners Play Ball

In an effort to attract year-end revenue, US Airways is offering a 100% bonus on up to 50,000 miles purchased through Dec. 31. That 100,000-mile yield will get you a great seat to many domestic and international destinations.

The carrier is also offering the double-miles promo for mileage gifts and transfers, turning this deal from a bargain to a bonanza. The strategy can get you up to 250,000 miles for only $3,000, or 1.2¢ per mile.

Step 1: Buy miles - to get started

Buy 50,000 miles for $1,250, which nets 100,000 miles.

Step 2: Gift miles - to get even more

If you want more miles, have a friend buy 50,000 gift miles for $1,250, which with the bonus nets 100,000 miles. Your new total: 200,000 miles.

Step 3: Transfer miles - to get a great deal more

Two people working together can add another 50,000 miles, with each person transferring 50,000 miles (the recipient gets 100,000) for $500. Total: 250,000 miles.

First Class for the Price of Coach to Hawaii on Three Airlines

First Class award seats to Hawaii start at 70,000 miles, but through the double miles promo you’re actually only paying 35,000 miles (the coach rate). With this strategy, the trip costs $875, compared to the discounted advance First Class fares of $2,154 from Los Angeles or $2,668 from New York.

Stunning Savings on First Class Travel to the South Pacific

A First Class award seat from Los Angeles to Sydney, purchased with miles under this promo, would cost a bit less than $1,750, while the lowest cash ticket price is $19,798 (on United), a savings of $18,048 (91%). See the chart on page 3 for more sample savings to other destinations.

US Airways’ Star Alliance partners that can be used with this strategy include: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, bmi, Continental, EgyptAir, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.

Note: Participants must be Dividend Miles program members for 10 days to be eligible for the bonus. Fees apply. For details: US Airways Double Miles Promo

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[["<strong>Region Sample\n(Destination from U.S.)<\/strong>","<strong>Business Class<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","<strong>First Class<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Number of Miles to Buy","Cost","Published Advance Fare from NYC","Savings","Number of Miles to Buy","Cost","Published Advance Fare from NYC","Savings"],["Africa (Capetown)","55,000","$1,375","$4,127","$2,752 \/ 67%","75,000","$1,875","$11,400","$9,525 \/ 84%"],["Caribbean (Aruba)","n\/a","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","30,000","$750","$1,118","$368 \/ 33%"],["Europe (Frankfurt)","40,000","$1,000","$2,658","$1,658 \/ 62%","63,000","$1,575","$12,181","$10,606 \/ 87%"],["Hawaii (Honolulu)","35,000","$875","$2,280","$1,405 \/ 62%","35,000","$875","$2,668","$1,793 \/ 67%"],["Latin America (Mexico City)","n\/a","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","30,000","$750","$946","$196 \/ 21%"],["Middle East (Amman)","60,000","$1,500","$3,500","$2,000 \/ 57%","90,000","$2,250","$13,854","$11,604 \/ 84%"],["North America (Los Angeles)","25,000","$625","$2,244","$1,619 \/ 72%","25,000","$625","$5,052","$4,427 \/ 88%"],["North Asia (Moscow)","45,000","$1,125","$3,487","$2,362 \/ 68%","60,000","$1,500","$7,265","$5,765 \/ 79%"],["North Asia (Tokyo)","45,000","$1,125","$3,240","$2,115 \/ 65%","60,000","$1,500","$14,315","$12,815 \/ 89%"],["South America (Buenos Aires)","40,000","$1,000","$3,317","$2,317 \/ 70%","50,000","$1,250","$6,719","$5,469 \/ 81%"],["South \/ Central Asia (Bangkok)","60,000","$1,500","$4,950","$3,450 \/ 70%","80,000","$2,000","$21,190","$19,190 \/ 90%"],["South \/ Central Asia (Delhi)","60,000","$1,500","$6,300","$4,800 \/ 76%","80,000","$2,000","$14,874","$12,874 \/ 86%"],["South Pacific (Sydney)","55,000","$1,375","$4,733","$3,358 \/ 71%","70,000","$1,750","$20,798","$19,048 \/ 92%"]]