In a little less than a year, one-way awards have gone from non-existent on domestic U.S. carriers to an increasingly common element of loyalty programs everywhere. I use them often because they can provide a budget-friendly means to a better air-travel experience by expanding my chances of getting a First or Business Class seat at a reasonable rate.
American introduced the first domestic one-way award in May 2009, and United just announced it will start offering them on both its Saver and Standard awards, although there will be no partner one-way awards (for now at least). Here’s a primer on how and when to use them.
When, Why, and How to Utilize the Advantages of One-Way Award Travel
• When you can’t book a round-trip award: Let’s say you have points in Starwood’s program, Amex Membership Rewards, or multiple airline accounts (highly recommended), and after checking award travel from Los Angeles to London in Business Class, you’ve found that American has the only departure you can make, but the only seat available coming back is on Virgin Atlantic. Instead of blowing 100,000 miles on two round-trip awards and only using half of each, you should book a one-way award (50,000 miles apiece) on each carrier.
• When you are unable to book a round-trip award in the same class of service: Fly a different class on each leg, say First Class out and Business Class back. This can net you First Class for less than Business, when First Class is available at discount (restricted inventory controlled awards) rates, and Business Class is only available at standard (unrestricted awards) rates, a frequent occurrence.
• When you only need a one-way ticket: The classic example is for a cruise. You take the Queen Mary 2 from New York to London and fly back in Business Class. Good when it costs only half of a round-trip and not the full price many charge. This can result in a free upgrade at times. When one carrier wants 50,000 miles for an economy round-trip ticket, and another carrier is asking the same price for a one-way in Business Class—and you only need a one way—knowing the carriers that are “one-way friendly” can get you a free upgrade. I’m starting to do this a lot.
• With open-jaw itineraries: That means flying to one city and returning from another (the space between them is the open jaw). For example, flying from New York to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, one-way to catch a cruise that ends up in Buenos Aires, and then flying back one-way from Buenos Aires to New York. Or, just going from Los Angeles to New York, and returning from New York to Honolulu.
The Downside of One-Way Awards
Most airlines that offer one-way awards don’t allow the free en-route stopover that you would get with a round-trip award. Let’s say you’re traveling to Europe from the West Coast and you’d like to make a stop in New York on the way. Such an itinerary would cost you three one-way awards versus one round-trip award on a carrier that permits free stopovers.
Carriers That Offer One-Way Awards
Here’s a round-up of airlines, domestic and international, which offer one-way awards, what they charge in relation to a round-trip award, and which ones allow the awards to be used on partner airlines.
50% for One-Way; No Partners
Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, Asiana, British Airways, Mexicana, South African Airways, Thai Airways, and United
50% for One-Way; Partners Allowed
Air France/KLM: Valid on Air Europa and Kenya Airways
American Airlines: Valid on any AA participants (oneworld and other partners)
bmi: Valid on all Star Alliance partner airlines
Singapore: Valid on Adria Airways, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi, Egyptair, Lufthansa, South African Airways, Spanair, Swiss, Thai, Turkish, United, and US Airways
More than 50% for One-Way; No Partners
Air Canada: Only offered with Classic Plus (full fare) awards
Air China: Cost is about 60% of round-trip
Alitalia: Cost is 60% of round-trip
Emirates: Valid only on Flex (full fare) awards
Iberia: Cost is 75% of round-trip
More than 50% for One-Way; Partners Allowed
Cathay Pacific: Cost is 55% to 67% of round-trip. Valid on American, Alaska, Air China, British Airways, Aer Lingus, China Eastern, Dragonair, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Malev Hungarian, Qantas, Royal Brunei, and Vietnam Airlines
Lufthansa: Cost is 75% of round-trip. Valid on Adria Airways, Austrian Airlines Group, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Luxair, and SWISS