Here They Come: Summer’s First Class Deals to Europe

March 2011
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In the February issue we alerted you to the deep discounts—up to 77%—that United and Lufthansa were offering on First Class tickets to Europe from April 18 to 29.

Now United has come out with a slate of summer First Class fares. (Other airlines as of yet have not joined, but stay tuned.) Here’s the fine print:

Departure Window: June 28 through Sept. 2; Return Deadline: Sept. 8; Advance-Purchase Requirement: 60 days; Purchase Deadline: May 31; Booking code: A.

Sample savings

On Los Angeles to Frankfurt, the lowest First Class fare on many major airlines starts at about $14,500. United’s promotional fare is $4,676, a savings of $9,836 (68%).

Mileage Earning Bonus Reduces the Cost on Future Travel

Booking published First Class fares on United earns you 150% bonus miles and EQMs, which comes to about 18,000 miles on LA to Frankfurt (using a flight that connects in Chicago). That’s enough for a one-way upgrade to any destination in North America (15,000 miles for the Continental U.S. and Canada), Hawaii (17,500 miles), the Caribbean (15,000 miles), and Central America (15,000 miles).

Sample Summer Fares on United Compared

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[["<strong>United Promo Fare<\/strong>","<strong>Route<\/strong>","<strong>Regular Fare<\/strong>","<strong>Airlines<\/strong>","<strong>Savings<\/strong>"],["$2,876 ","New York - Brussels","$7,750","British Airways","$4,874 \/ 63%"],["$3,076 ","New York - Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Munich, Zurich","$10,132 ","SWISS (Zurich)","$7,056 \/ 70%"],["$3,156 ","Washington, DC - London","$8,447 ","American","$5,291 \/ 63%"],["$3,476 ","Chicago - Frankfurt, London, Munich","$17,014 ","Luftansa (Frankfurt)","$13,538 \/ 80%"]]