When it’s easy to burn your miles and points for free $25,000 First Class tickets and why those who only fly First Class are not snobs.
Airlines used to release lots of seats for travel 330-ish days in advance. As such, travelers came to rely on this, essentially becoming “trained” by the airlines over the years to expect lots of advance notice availability.
In most cases, this is a concept of the past—as we rarely see the same volume of availability a year out that we used to. But, rest assured—we do have one top airline with a hot First Class cabin that bucks the trend, on four hidden routes.
First Class: Key FOR MANY
If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that most people conclude that it’s a heck of a lot easier to stay home than it is to muscle through arduous airport and airline experiences—lines, wait times, ever-changing regulations—it’s enough to drive lots of flyers crazy.
And I agree—if you’re flying coach. That’s why if I can’t fly First, I won’t fly, as far as discretionary travel goes anyway.
While it may be fun to say that it’s “all about the journey,” many folks I know—especially non-millennials who’ve been around the world countless times—will say it’s all about getting the air travel portion over with.
I’m no different. And since I have the flexibility to work from anywhere in the world as long as I have an Internet connection, I’m able to book First Class all the time.
You can, too, if you have insider knowledge.
Simple.
JAL RARELY HAS TWO AWARD SEATS AVAILABLE IN FIRST CLASS:
MOST OF THE TIME
While U.S.-Japan seldom sees First Class award availability in JAL’s First Class suite, what many travelers don’t know—what is, in fact, a well-kept secret—is that if you can plan way in advance, you can often find a JAL First Class suite on four little-realized routes.
FCF’s research has found that if you book JAL First Class for travel far in the future (say 10 to 11 months from now) in March and April 2020, four U.S. routes to Tokyo—from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco (and often flights beyond Tokyo)—will likely have very good availability for two passengers.
How to book?
Simple: With American or British Airways miles, or Amex, Chase, or Marriott points.
BA-Chase 30% transfer deal
From now till June 16, you get 30% bonus points when you transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points into BA Avios points. For example, Los Angeles-Tokyo is 140,000 JAL miles or 200,000 BA miles, but during the transfer deal the cost is only 154,000 Chase points. That said, if you’re considering booking with BA, do it by May 30 as the BA devaluation we’ve been telling you about has just been announced.