A Deep Dive for the Best Deals: Lufthansa for the Best Fares, Air France for the Fewest Miles Required.
Premium Economy is a caste system: There’s Premium Economy Elite (PE Elite) and Premium Economy Lite (PE Lite). The former refers to airlines that have created a separate cabin and an upgraded seat; the latter to airlines that have just put in a bit more legroom at the front of economy. You’ve heard us sing that toon in March’s detailed Premium Economy seat comparison chart. In April, FCF started a comprehensive survey, by region, of Premium Economy Elite to Europe, in July the South Pacific, and in August to Asia.
[aside headline="How PE Elite Fares Typically Behave" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Almost identically to economy: To get the lowest fare, you must travel Monday through Thursday or in low season (varies by airline, usually for departures from the end of October through the end of March, except during Christmas). Airlines offering PE Elite often have fare promotions throughout the year. Forget Christmas and the rest of high season (summer departures) because economy fares are highest then, as are PE Elite fares.[/aside]
This month we look at U.S.-South Africa (New York-Johannesburg will be used as the sample route), a region which often has high Business Class fares.
Using Miles to Upgrade: From Economy to Premium Economy
In a nutshell: Not worth it. FCF found that upgradeable economy fares on airlines offering PE Elite often cost more, or almost the same, as the lowest PE Elite fare.
Mileage Award Cost Difference
Flying to/from South Africa allows you to take advantage of award-chart anomalies. Having the right credit cards, meaning one from Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi ThankYou, or Starwood, enables you to leverage these anomalies. This means you can sometimes book a PE Elite award at the cost of economy (think free upgrade).
On New York-Johannesburg (via Paris), Air France charges 100,000 miles for PE Elite, one of the lowest PE Elite awards to South Africa from the U.S. (The second best is British Airways’ to Johannesburg via London, starting at 117,000 miles in low-season.) It costs even less if you use Starwood points: only 80,000 Starpoints. United charges 80,000 miles on this route for economy partner awards. In other words, if you have a Starwood card and book Air France, as opposed to using a United credit card, you’re getting a free upgrade.
Deep Dive on PE Elite Airlines to South Africa
Four airlines offer a PE Elite product. Here’s a quick rundown on how they stack up using both miles and cash.
Air France: 100,000 miles in Premium Economy to South Africa via Paris is the lowest redemption rate of any airline. Business Class is 100,000 miles more. Cash is $2,127 (off-season; usually end of October through the end of March) to $2,792 (high-season; usually June through August) on Los Angeles-Johannesburg and $2,027 from New York (low-season) to $2,692 (high-season), compared to $5,020 in Business Class from LAX and $4,821 from NYC. Your choice: save up to $2,794 (58%) over Business Class or up to 100,000 (50% fewer) miles.
British Airways: Cost varies: BA charges 117,000 miles on New York-Johannesburg via London (off-season) and 180,000 (high-season) and 130,000 from Los Angeles (off-season) to 200,000 (high-season). PE fares are $2,198 (off-season) to $2,482 (high-season) on LAX-Johannesburg and $2,131 from NYC (off-season) to $2,494 (high-season), compared to $7,032 in Business Class from LAX and $5,867 from NYC. Your choice: save up to $4,834 (69%) over Business Class or up to 120,000 miles.
Lufthansa: No Premium Economy awards offered to South Africa (only to Europe). PE Elite fares are $2,053 (off-season) to $2,678 (high-season) on Los Angeles-Johannesburg (via Frankfurt) and $1,893 from New York (off-season) to $2,518 (high-season), compared to $6,142 in Business Class from LAX and $6,960 from NYC.
Virgin Atlantic: Cost varies: Virgin charges 130,000 miles on New York-Johannesburg (via London) and 145,000 miles from Los Angeles. PE fares are $2,034 (off-season) to $3,112 (high-season) on LAX-Johannesburg and $1,967 from NYC (off-season) to $3,012 (high-season), compared to $6,848 in Business Class from LAX and $5,684 from NYC. Your choice: save up to $4,814 (70%) over Business Class or up to 55,000 miles.
Premium Economy Deep Dive for Travel to South Africa:
Sample Route New York-Johannesburg
[table_opt id="5398" style="double-black-gray-header" width="wide" alignment="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
[aside headline="When to Consider Premium Economy Elite" alignment="aligncenter" width="big" headline_size="default"]
- When to Consider Premium Economy Elite
- When sleep is secondary to working or not important. (Why pay for 180-degree recline in Business Class on a day flight?)
- When Business Class fares are high.
- When upgrade or free mileage-award inventory is not available in Business Class.
- On a family vacation. (Do the kids really need to fly up front?)
- When you do not have enough miles for a free Business Class mileage award—unless you’re willing to buy the miles needed.
- When company travel policy or client’s budget forbids Business Class.
- When you want to give your employees a perk.
- When company travel policy or client’s budget forbids Business Class.
- When you want to give your employees a perk.
-
[/aside]