FCF has locked-in an opportunity cheat sheet for you to become a top-tier elite athlete.
Our philosophy is that loyalty-free agents are much better off when it comes to buying cash tickets. But we know that many readers are elite-centric and want the best bang for their locked-in buck.
So, if you’re an elite loyalist with American, Delta, or United, this one’s for you. We’ve crunched the numbers on what will work best for you depending on your level of travel flexibility when buying cash tickets. We’ve broken it down to four elite types:
- No flexibility on origin, destination, or dates. Let’s call him Rigid Rod.
- Flexibility on dates, but not origin or destination, Shifty Shawn.
- Flexibility on the origin or destination, but not dates, Wandering Wanda.
- Flexibility on everything, Flexible Felix.
Rigid Rod – “I can’t budge on dates or my or destination,
but I must earn elite credit.”
Rod (who’s going to a wedding, so has no flexibility—unless things fall apart between Beth and Bob…) can earn elite credit not only by flying and paying for a ticket on his preferred airline but also by flying on partner airlines of that loyalty program. The partner flight needs to be booked as a marked flight (as an AA, Delta, or United flight number) and operated by the partner. Elite credit earnings vary. See the links below for each airline.
American: Click on the partner airline to see earnings based on purchased fares booked in cabin class, EQMs and EQDs per mile flown, and EQSs.
For example, British Airways currently has Business Class fares from Miami to Marseille (connecting in London) starting at $2,339 round-trip. This fare can also be booked via AA as code-share flights so you can earn elite credit.
Delta: Click on the partner airline to see earnings based on purchased fares for MQMs and MQDs.
For example, Air France currently has Business Class fares from Boston to Florence (connecting in Paris) starting at $2,239 round-trip. This fare can also be booked via Delta as code-share flights so you can earn elite credit.
United: Click on the partner airline to see earnings based on purchased fares for PQFs and PQPs. (With United you still earn elite benefits even if your flight was not ticketed by United.)
For example, TAP currently has Business Class fares to Europe starting as low as $633 round-trip. For TAP J class Business Class fares, you earn 125% award miles and a maximum of 1,000 PQPs. That’s a great fare deal plus elite credit to boot.
Consider using miles for an upgrade, not a free ticket
FCF is a huge fan of using miles to upgrade, rather than using them to buy a free coach ticket (like most people do). And the numbers support this too. You can open otherwise-locked doors, spend fewer miles, and even take the family. For more information, see Ten Reasons Why I’m the Biggest Fan of Mileage Upgrade Awards—and Why You Should Be Too. (FYI, it’s not a great option with Delta’s mileage program, but can be with American and United.)
American example: Say you’re traveling New York-Paris in mid-January. You can easily pay $559 for a nonstop on American in Basic Economy (mileage upgrades are valid with Basic Economy fares as of October 1), while Business Class is often $2,899 ($2,340 more). So even with the $700 co-pay to Europe and 50,000 miles to upgrade from the lowest upgradeable economy fares, you can save 57% ($1,640) off the published fare by using miles. For more information, see Defying the Mileage Upgrade Drought to South America on American Airlines, Elite Status Seeker: The Power of American Airlines Business to First Class Domestic Upgrades, and Like Free Award Tickets, American Mileage Upgrades Are Drying Up.
United example: Let’s say you’re traveling from Newark to London. The lowest United upgradeable economy fare is currently $808 for travel in February, while Business Class is $3,247. So, even with the $1,100 co-pay, you can save $1,339 (41%) off the published fare by using miles. For more information regarding travel to Asia, South America, Europe, the South Pacific, and how United is beating American 3 to 1.
Check the Amex IAP discount
If you’re locked and loaded, Rod, why not save a few hundred bucks (or even more)? We’ll show you how to save on many normal fares with Amex. Dates/destinations are almost never an issue. For more information, see Amex Platinum Card Discounts Save $200 to $6,557 Off Many Published Fares.
Air-and-Land Package Deals
Package deals can offer amazing value, particularly to Europe. We found deals on American and British Airways on short notice that offered a 52% saving with accommodations at a five-star hotel. With vacation packages, finding dates with the availability of discount seats can often be a lot easier.
Here are some package insights that will really click: American and British Airways to Europe, American to Brazil, Delta to Australia, to South America, to India, and United to Asia.
Consider mixed-class fares
Sometimes it makes sense to travel to Europe in Business Class and return in Premium Economy, or the other way round. Or even Business Class one-way and First Class the other. Find out when mixed-class fares make sense and how to book them. For more information, see Business Class One Way to Europe, Premium Economy the Other and How to Price and Book Mixed-Cabin Tickets to Get More Bang for Your Buck.
Leverage BA’s AARP and Chase discounts
British Airways’ $200 AARP discount per flight can be yours for an AARP membership fee of only $16 a year—and it’s available to anyone of any age. Plus, you can save even more with British Airways Visa Card discount (current promo code is CHASEBA10).
LOCK-IN what you can now, Improve AS YOU GO
Many airlines allow fare holds that prevent you from missing that amazing fare find. This gives you time to do more research and make the call. If so, buy the ticket; if not, cancel the hold. The best time to buy a ticket is when your hold fare is lower than the current “live” fare. For more information, see How to Lock in Amazing Premium Flash Fares Long Enough to Decide If They’re Right for You.
Shifty Shawn – “I can shift dates, but not places
(and still need to earn elite credit).”
Shifty Shawn can take advantage of everything mentioned above, plus when travel dates are flexible he can take advantage of hidden low-cost travel windows. Shawn isn’t flexible on his destination/departure cities, but he can change travel dates, and in that case, land some good savings. Airlines have shifted away from pricing seats as high as they possibly can. Now they’re pricing them more strategically to sell all their seats. Airlines call them tactical fares. In doing so, airlines have changed traveler behavior by enticing you to book flights when they want you to, hoping to funnel you to lesser-sold flights so all seats get sold.
hidden travel windows SPECIAL REPORTS
The Best Month to Book Business Class Flights to Europe, Business Class Fares to Europe Less than Premium Economy, Seasonal Business and First Class Fares Are Back, and New Tactical Winter Vacation Premium Fares to Europe Discovered for Nov. & Dec. 2020 Travel.
Wandering Wanda – “I’m locked in on dates, but am flexible on destination/departure cities (and yeah, I need to earn elite credit).”
Wandering Wanda can take advantage of everything already mentioned above for Rigid Rod. Plus, she can take advantage of hidden low-cost destinations. Sounds mysterious, huh? The combination of keeping her travel dates but changing her destination and/or departure city allows her to save. In the airlines’ quest to offload Business Class seats, they’ll often sell particular destinations—for year-round travel—much cheaper than other destinations. Wanda should be aware that these cities can be either nonstop or with connections, and they’re often on a flash-sale basis.
hidden LOW-FARE DESTINATION REPORTS
FCF has written many special reports about tactical low-cost destinations over the last year. Here are a few recent examples: Greece’s Sparkling Island Jewels Shine Bright in Business Class, From Russia with Love: Moscow & St. Petersburg, Bologna is No Load of Baloney for Low Business Class Fares. Also in this issue, Southern South American Business Class Prices Head South and You Should Too.
Flexible Felix – “I’m super flex, man. Say when, say where, just gimme elite credit.”
You’re in luck, Felix. You can take advantage of everything mentioned above. Enjoy that yoga class.
Governing Elite Summary
[table_opt id="6122" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="narrow" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]