Easy Come, Easy Go: Why Pressing Go on a Deal Is the Best Play Right Now

May 2021
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Example No. 4719 of why not to wait. If you’re thinking of a future trip and see an award deal, book it now. You can always change your plans later, risk-FREE.

We see it time and time again. Good award deals are here today, gone tomorrow. So if you see a great FCF-found opportunity, grab it, because from what we’re seeing, the airlines will squeeze the juice out and leave you wilting.

Case in point: You might remember a transcon deal I recently told you about here and here.  It showed there were more than seven seats on 120 days over the next 11 months available for just 20,000 to 22,500 American AAdvantage miles.

Goneski.

Now American Airlines is offering (on some days, no less) the transcon route at 52,500 miles each way, almost the same as Delta’s high 57,000 miles each way. The sad screen shots tell the tale…

Before Availability

After Availability

Moral of the story: Book now or forever pay “the price.” You have been warned.

WHERE the Going’s Good:
Business Class Award Availability at Time of Writing

That all said, there are some small pockets of availability at low rates. FCF has captured them for you, and for fun put them side-by-side how lucrative it used to be, for perspective.

Comparing October 2020 to Today

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Bonus: 10 Hot FCF Sweet Redeems Available
(For the Moment)

Iberia Business Class Opportunities from New York (via Madrid) to Dubrovnik

Air France/KLM Business Class Opportunities from Chicago (via Amsterdam or Paris) to Athens – An Amex Partner Opportunity

Air France/KLM Business Class Opportunities from San Francisco (via Amsterdam or Paris) to Athens – An Amex Partner Opportunity

Cathay Pacific *First Class* Single-Seat Discount Opportunities to Asia from Boston and Many other Cities

Cathay Pacific Discount Business Class Availability to Hong Kong and Beyond from New York and Many Other Cities

Qsuite Opportunities from Washington, DC and Many Other U.S. Cities to Middle East & Beyond

All Nippon Discount First Class Availability to Tokyo from Washington, DC / Save Up to $18,925 / 89%

All Nippon Discount First Class Availability to Tokyo from Los Angeles / Save Up to $14,150 / 87%

[["Business Class","To \/ From","Month","Depart","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["American","New York - Los Angeles","October","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June, Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan. to May, Aug., Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April to June, Sept., <\/span><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April, June,<\/span> Sept.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March,<\/span> April, June, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June., Oct., Jan., Feb.<\/span>","Jan.","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., Feb.<\/span>","",""],["#rowspan#","New York - San Francisco","October","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">July, Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, June, <\/span><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, May, <\/span>June, July, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.<\/span>","June, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March to May, Sept.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April, May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">July, Aug., <\/span>Sept."],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June, <\/span>March","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., Feb.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["United","Newark- Los Angeles","October","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb. to May<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb. to May<\/span>",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","","","","","",""],["#rowspan#","Newark - San Francisco","October","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April, May<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April, May<\/span>",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","","","","","",""],["#rowspan#","New York - Los Angeles","October","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb. to May<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, May<\/span>",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","","","","","",""],["#rowspan#","New York - San Francisco","October","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb. to May<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb., May<\/span>",""],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","April","","","","","",""]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>