For a limited time, use FCF’s research to experience First Class on any of seven airlines. Availability is wide-open on a number of routes and our unconventional, yet simple, process can be used by almost anyone (loyalty program member or not) from most anywhere.
The most frequent loyalty program member complaint is not being able to use miles to upgrade, whether for Business or First Class air travel.
But the fact is that there are a lot of upgrade opportunities out there, which is why FCF constantly reports on the routes where premium seats are most available.
Last month we highlighted six airlines that have international First Class award space, and in this issue we’re detailing six more, as well as revisiting American to see what has changed now that it offers mileage redemptions from the US Airways program as well as its own.
Routes with Easy-to-Get First Class Mileage Awards U.S.-Dubai-U.S. Emirates
The published First Class fare from New York is $22,088 round-trip. A round-trip award ticket costs 217,500 miles and $1,452 in taxes. That’s a 9.5¢ return on miles. A quick link to experience Emirates’ First Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Emirates for One Traveler in First Class (Two Seats are Often Available, as well)
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Don’t have Emirates miles? No problem if you have Starwood Starpoints, as you can transfer 110,000 to 200,000 points (cost varies by departure city) to Emirates, given the SPG bonuses.
Paying More to Book in Advance is OK
Since First Class mileage awards are a loyalty program’s first prize, some airlines often don’t release as many of them to their partners as they do to their own members. So your odds are often better at getting a First Class award through the carrier operating the route. In this case, they can be worth pursuing even if the mileage cost or taxes are higher than rates on a partner airline. That said, if you’re very daring, take a look at FCF’s Two-Step Strategy (Feb. 2013 issue), which can net a last-minute First Class award cheap.
[aside headline="Reaping Top First Class Upgrade Opportunities Around the World: For FCF Subscribers Who Live Abroad (or in U.S. Cities Not in Examples)" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
This booking strategy has global relevance because wherever you live, you want to know the 50 routes where you can save up to $16,638 for First Class travel. That includes knowing months that have favorable mileage award availability in First Class.
Remember: Dallas-London award deals are also valid London-Dallas. Or, start in Denver and connect in Dallas for the same mileage price on American. Or, connect in London to Paris, Venice, or Vienna for the same price. Or, start from Paris.[/aside]
Don’t have Emirates miles or Starpoints? No problem if you have Amex Rewards points, as you can transfer 135,000 to 247,500 to get the First Class opportunity.
Don’t have Emirates miles, Starpoints, or Amex Reward points? Might not be a problem if you have Alaska Airlines miles, as Emirates is a partner airline; although you might need to be more flexible because Alaska’s award inventory for travel on Emirates is not always the same as Emirates own mileage program
U.S.-London-U.S. & U.S.-Asia-U.S.American (oneworld)
Asia: The published First Class fare for Chicago-Shanghai is $6,332 round-trip, while a round-trip award ticket costs 135,000 miles and just $35 in taxes. That’s a 4.7¢ return on miles.
London: The published First Class fare for Dallas-London is $5,459 round-trip, while a round-trip award ticket costs 125,000 miles and just $312 in taxes. That’s a 4.1¢ return on miles.
See chart below for routes with award availability for Asia and London.
A quick link to experience American’s First Class.
Survey of Award Availability on American for One Traveler in First Class (Two Seats are Often Available, as well)
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Don’t have American miles? No problem if you have Starwood Starpoints, as you can transfer 100,000 to 110,000 of them to American to get the award, given the SPG bonuses.
Don’t have Starpoints? No problem if you have US Airways miles, as you can book the above flights for 120,000 to 125,000 miles and only about $35 in taxes.
U.S.-Tel Aviv-U.S.EL AL Israel Airlines (oneworld)
The published First Class fare from New York is $7,157 round-trip, while a round-trip award ticket costs 5,000 points and $352 in taxes. That’s a 2.9¢ return on Amex Reward points, a transfer partner.
Survey of Award Availability on EL AL Airlines for One Traveler in First Class to Tel Aviv (Two Seats are Often Available, as well)
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Don’t have EL AL Israel Matmid Points: No problem if you have Amex Reward points, as you can transfer 250,000 (20 Matmid points equal 1,000 Amex Reward points) to EL AL’s loyalty program.
U.S.-Tokyo-U.S.Japan Airlines (oneworld)
The published fare from Los Angeles in First Class is $17,396 round-trip. A round-trip award ticket costs 110,000 miles and $666 in taxes. That’s a 15¢ return on miles.
A quick link to experience Japan Airline’s First Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Japan Airlines for One Traveler in First Class to Tokyo (Two Seats are Often Available, as well)
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Don’t have Japan Airlines miles? No problem if you have Starwood Starpoints, as you can transfer 90,000 to Japan Airlines, given the SPG bonuses.
Don’t have Starwood Starpoints? No problem if you have American Miles, as you can book Japan Airlines flights using AA miles to Tokyo for 125,000 miles.
U.S.-Frankfurt & Munich-U.S.Lufthansa (Star Alliance)
The published First Class fare for Boston-Frankfurt is $9,649 round-trip, while a round-trip award ticket costs 170,000 miles (awards for children ages 2 to11 are 75% off!) and $986 in taxes. That’s a 5.1¢ return on miles.
A quick link to experience First Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Lufthansa for One Traveler in First Class
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Don’t have Lufthansa miles? No problem if you have Starwood Starpoints as you can transfer 140,000 to Lufthansa, given the SPG bonuses.
Upgrade Route-Opportunity Mindset
As you read through the opportunities here, don’t be overly concerned if you don’t find your exact route mentioned. Why? If you see a U.S.-Asia route, keep in mind that the same opportunity is available originating in Asia. Also, if you see a route that is something like Chicago-London, you can tack on a Kansas City-Chicago flight to connect to the long haul flight that has the greatest availability and/or extremely low cost. That’s the major point: Focus on the long-haul segment first. There are countless flights beyond London, too, so you can tack those on as well. At the same time, if you live in Paris and are looking at Chicago, or Kansas City for that matter, look to tack on flights at the front and back end of the itineraries that we have discovered. Think of the opportunities here as “starters” to getting your itinerary-planning going in the right and First Class direction.
U.S.-Seoul-U.S.Korean Airlines (SkyTeam)
The published fare from Washington, D.C. in First Class is $18,198 round-trip, while a round-trip award ticket costs 160,000 miles off-season and 240,000 peak-season, plus $410 in taxes. (Peak-season in 2014 is May 16 to July 1 and Dec. 10 to Dec. 25.) That’s an 11¢ return on miles.
A quick link to more on Korean’s First Class. All routes except Honolulu have either Korean’s Kosmo Suite or Kosmo Sleeper seats. Check the website’s “flight schedule with new aircraft” for the most current information.
Survey of Award Availability on Korean Airlines for Two Travelers in First Class to Seoul
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Don’t have Korean Airlines miles: No problem if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points, as you can transfer 160,000 (off-season) or 240,000 (peak-season) to Korean Airlines.
Lucrative Opportunities for First Class Travel—If You Don’t Have Any Miles
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