Business Class for Less Than Coach to Europe, the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico

September 2012
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Plus, Going to Europe in First for Less than Business Class

American Express and British Airways have teamed up to offer an astonishingly good mileage-transfer promotion, which gets even better when used with BA’s new flight-distance award chart. You can reap the benefits even if you’re not a member of BA’s loyalty program, and get

Through Sept. 27, British Airways is offering the 40% mileage-transfer bonus on points transferred from American Express Membership Rewards.

How Best to Use the Promotion

First Class on British Airways for less than Business Class

You can book award travel on oneworld partner airline American using BA Avios points. To some destinations that can be advantageous because AA uses a zone chart (which means every destination within a given zone costs the same number of miles) whereas BA is now using a flight-distance chart (cost in miles equals the actual flight distance between the departure and destination cities).

Let’s take American’s Miami-Providenciales route as an example. AA charges 60,000 miles for a Business Class award ticket and 35,000 miles for a coach class award ticket. Using BA Avios points, that trip costs 18,000 miles for a Business Class ticket; but factor in the 40% transfer bonus and the real cost comes down to 13,000 miles, a savings of 78%. You’re getting Business Class for less than coach in fact, you can get four tickets in Business Class with BA points for the cost of one ticket using American miles. Don’t have any points with Amex Rewards? You can buy 13,000 points directly from Amex Rewards ($325), giving you a savings of about $300 (42%) when com-pared to AA’s published fare of $721. See the chart below for more routes on which you can get similar deals.

Business Class for Less than Coach to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico

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Using the Promotion to Get Business Class for Less than Coach to Europe: Let’s take Chicago-London. Most airlines charge 100,000 miles round-trip in Business Class for an award ticket on this route, and 60,000 round-trip in coach. BA, however, only charges 80,000 miles for this route, and with the 40% bonus, you need only transfer 58,000 points to get a Business Class ticket. (The math: 58,000 plus 40% bonus points (23,200) equals 81,200 points.) That’s less than the mileage cost of a coach class award ticket. The chart be-low lists routes on which you can get Business Class for less than coach.

Business Class for Less than Coach to Europe

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First Class for Less than Business to London: This deal is also valid for upgrading to First Class. On Chicago-London, most airlines charge 125,000 miles round-trip in First Class and 100,000 round-trip in Business Class. Using the promotion brings the total down to 86,000 points, in effect, giving you First for less than Business Class.

See the chart below for more routes on which you can get First Class for less than Business Class, and the chart beneath for First Class routes that offer favorable mileage availability at the Business Class rate.

To London in First Class for Less than Business

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First Class Routes Offering Mileage Availability at the Business Class Rate on British Airways to London

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Business Class for Almost the Price of Coach to Asia, Europe, and South America. For travel on many other routes, the Amex Reward’s promotion can get you Business Class for only 12,000 more miles than coach. On the Los Angeles-Tokyo route, most airlines charge 100,000 miles (or more) round-trip in Business Class and 60,000 (or more) round-trip in coach. Using the promotion, this trip costs BA Avios 72,000 points, only 12,000 miles more than coach. See the chart below for more routes on which you can get similar deals.

Business Class for only 12,000 Miles More than Coach to Japan, Europe, and South America

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One major drawback of using Avios points is that connecting flights are priced separately—for travel within Europe consider flying coach since European Business Class on BA is usually the same seat as coach with the middle seat open. The flight-distance chart can, at times, also make long-haul routes costlier than they would be on a carrier using a zone chart. BA also imposes high fees for award travel on BA flights ($1,145 for First and Business Class).

See chart below for favorable Business Class award availability on British Airways.

Routes Offering Mileage Availability in Business Class on British Airways to London

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[["Route","Coach Class Miles With AA","Business Class Points With BA","AmEx Rewards Transfer Amount","40% Bonus","Total Avios Points","Savings"],["Dallas - Cancun","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Dallas - Guatemala","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["Dallas - Puerto Vallarta","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Dallas - San Jose del Cabo","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Dallas - San Jose (CR)","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Antigua","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Aruba","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Belize City","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Cancun","35,000","18,000","<strong>13,000<\/strong>","5,200","18,200","<strong>22,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Guatemala","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - Montego Bay","35,000","18,000","<strong>13,000<\/strong>","5,200","18,200","<strong>22,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - San Jose (CR)","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - San Juan","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - St. Maarten","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["Miami - St. Thomas","35,000","30,000","<strong>22,000<\/strong>","8,800","30,800","<strong>13,000<\/strong>"],["New York - Antigua","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["New York - Belize City","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["New York - Cancun","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["New York - San Juan","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"],["New York - Santo Domingo","35,000","40,000","<strong>29,000<\/strong>","11,600","40,600","<strong>6,000<\/strong>"]]
[["Route","Coach Class Miles With Other Airlines","Business Class Points With BA","AmEx Rewards Transfer Amount","40% Bonus","Total Avios Points"],["Boston - London","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["Boston - Paris","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["Chicago - Dublin","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["Chicago - London","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - Brussels","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - London","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - Madrid","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - Manchester","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - Paris","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["New York - Zurich","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["Raleigh Durham - London","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"],["Washington, DC - London","60,000","80,000","<strong>58,000<\/strong>","23,200","81,200"]]
[["U.S. Departure City","Business Class With Many Airlines","First Class Points With BA","AmEx Rewards Transfer Amount","40% Bonus","Total Avios Points","Savings"],["Boston","100,000","120,000","<strong>86,000<\/strong>","34,400","120,400","<strong>14,000<\/strong>"],["Chicago","100,000","120,000","<strong>86,000<\/strong>","34,400","120,400","<strong>14,000<\/strong>"],["New York","100,000","120,000","<strong>86,000<\/strong>","34,400","120,400","<strong>14,000<\/strong>"],["Washington, DC","100,000","120,000","<strong>86,000<\/strong>","34,400","120,400","<strong>14,000<\/strong>"]]
[["U.S. Departure City","<strong>Departure Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","<strong>Return Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Decent<\/strong>","<strong>Go For It<\/strong>","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Decent<\/strong>","<strong>Go For It<\/strong>"],["Boston","Sept.","Oct.","Nov. to July","","Sept., Oct.","Nov. to July"],["Chicago","","June, July","Nov. to May","","Nov. to June",""],["New York","Oct.","Sept., Nov.","Dec. to July","","Oct., Dec., July","Sept., Nov., Jan. to June"],["Washington, DC","Aug.","Sept. Oct.","Nov. to July","Oct., Aug.","Sept.","Nov. to July"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Handful:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 4 to 8 days during the month indicated in the chart (at time of research). Worth pursuing if youu0092re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Decent:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 9 to 12 days during the month indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 13 days or more during the month indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]
[["Route","Coach Class With Many Airlines","Business Class Points With BA","Amex Rewards Transfer Amount","40% Bonus","Total Avios Points"],["New York - Sao Paulo","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["New York - Santiago","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["New York - Rome","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["New York - Milan","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["New York - Buenos Aires","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Miami -nBuenos Aires","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Miami - Sao Paulo","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Miami - Santiago","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Miami - Rio de Janeiro","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Miami - Paris","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Los Angeles - Tokyo","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Los Angeles - Lima","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Dallas - Santiago","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Dallas - London*","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Dallas - Frankfurt","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Dallas - Buenos Aires","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Chicago - Rome","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Chicago - Paris","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"],["Calgary - London","60,000","100,000","<strong>72,000<\/strong>","28,800","100,800"]]
<small><em>*Other U.S. departure cities to London at the same rate as Dallas: Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver.</em></small>
[["<strong>U.S. Departure City<\/strong>","<strong>Departure Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","<strong>Return Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Decent<\/strong>","<strong>Go For It<\/strong>","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Decent<\/strong>","<strong>Go For It<\/strong>"],["Atlanta","Sept., Oct.","Dec.","Nov., Jan. to July","Oct., July to Aug.","June","Nov. to May"],["Boston","Oct., Aug.","Nov.","Dec. to July","Sept., Aug.","","Nov. to July"],["Calgary","Feb., June","Nov., Jan.","March to May","Jan., April, May","",""],["Chicago","Dec.","April","Jan. to March","May., June","March","Dec. to Feb., April"],["Dallas","Dec., Jan., April to June","Feb., July","March","","Jan. to June",""],["Denver","Nov., June","Dec., April","Jan. to March, May","Dec., May","Nov., April","Jan. to March"],["Houston","Sept. to Nov.","April to June","Dec. to March, July","Sept., May, July, Aug.","Nov., April, June","Dec. to March"],["Las Vegas","July","Dec., May","Jan. to April, June","July","April, May","Jan. to March, June"],["Los Angeles","Nov., Dec., April","Jan.","Feb., March","Nov., Dec., May","March","Jan., Feb., April"],["Miami","Dec. to March, Aug.","April","Sept., Oct., May to July","Oct., Dec., Jan., March, Aug.","Nov., Feb., July","Sept., April to June"],["New York","","Sept., Nov., July","Dec. to June","Sept., Nov.","Feb., July","Dec., Jan., March to June"],["Phoenix","","Dec., April to July","Jan. to March","Dec., July","","Jan. to June"],["San Diego","April","Dec.","Jan. to March","April","Jan.","Feb., March"],["San Francisco","Nov., Dec., April","Feb., March","Jan.","Dec.","April","Jan. to March"],["Seattle","Nov., Dec.","April","Jan. to March","Nov., Dec., April","Jan.","Feb., March"],["Vancouver","","July","Nov. to June","Sept.","Dec., July","Nov., Jan. to June"],["Washington, DC","Aug.","Nov.","Dec. to July","Sept., Aug.","Nov.","Dec. to July"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Handful:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 4 to 8 days during the month indicated in the chart (at time of research). Worth pursuing if youu0092re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Decent:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 9 to 12 days during the month indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 13 days or more during the month indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]