We’re entering one of the periods on the airline calendar when unusual bargains can arise—shoulder season. It’s those three months just after New Year’s and before spring awakening brings travelers out of hibernation (when carriers start raising fares).
This is a particularly good time to travel to Europe: Everyone else is at home, cities are more themselves, the cultural season is in high gear. About the only thing that isn’t perfect over much of Europe is the weather. Southern Italy and Spain, Greece—there, you can count on sun. The rest of the Continent—well, as I say, as long as it’s not raining, the weather’s fine. And I happen to like Paris on a cloudy day or Vienna under snow.
If you’re of like mind, here is a spectacular—and barely publicized—deal on offer from Air France’s Flying Blue mileage program: A Business Class seat for 45,000 miles (economy class usually costs 50,000!). The offer is valid from Air France’s U.S. and Canadian gateways: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Montreal, New York/JFK, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington, DC. And you don’t have to go to Paris: Valid destinations in Europe include Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Flying Blue’s promotional rate is available for travel through March 31st, 2009, and must be booked by March 29th.
Here’s how to cash in on this deal, even if you have no Flying Blue miles:
• If you’ve taken FCF’s advice to get a Starwood Starpoints Amex Card, you only need to transfer 40,000 points to Flying Blue because you get 5,000 bonus points for every 20,000 transferred. Keep in mind that transfers can take up to four weeks, although I’ve heard that Starwood is moving faster these days.• If you don’t have miles to transfer, you can buy 45,000 with an American Express Membership Rewards card for $1,125—far less than the price of a Business Class ticket—and transfer them to Air France.
• Don’t hesitate out of fear that by the time you buy or transfer the miles, the deal will have expired. If it does, you’ll be ready to pounce next time (and there will be a next time, trust me), or you can use the miles for a free domestic First Class ticket on Continental, Delta, or Northwest.
This offer shows why FCF keeps advising you to get the Starwood Starpoints card—it gives you lots of ways to spend your miles—and to spend your miles on premium, not coach, travel. It’s just a better deal.
For more information: www.flyingbluenews.com/promotions/spendingmiles/promoawards.html#5