FirstClassFlyer

How anyone—even non-mileage program members—can cash in on these upgrade promotions

Let’s say you could double the buying power of your loyalty miles overnight. Or, buy the miles if you are not already plugged in (almost better).

That’s the gist of many mileage promotions available from major carriers to Europe and Asia at this very moment.

Some of the deals require booking and flying in the next few months, while others have a much longer window—into 2013 in some cases.

In any case, getting the equivalent of a free or even cheaper-than-free upgrade (see opportunities one, three, and six) makes it hard not to plan a trip.

The best news, though, is that even if you’re not a loyalty program member you can still partake of these lucrative opportunities by buying the miles instantly (which also offers terrific savings) if you’re willing to do just a few ounces of work.

If You’re Booking and Flying Soon

Opportunity #1: Star Alliance’s Free Business Class Upgrade to Europe

Free Upgrade to Business Class on Lufthansa from the U.S. to Germany

Lufthansa, a Star Alliance carrier and a Starwood points-transfer partner, is offering Business Class for only 55,000 miles for travel July 8 through Aug. 16, with a booking window between now and July 31. It only takes 45,000 Star-points, transferred to Lufthansa’s Miles & More program, to get this one; the 10,000-point transfer bonus brings the total to 55,000, half the normal rate. That’s how much most airlines charge for coach, making this deal a free upgrade.

Fine Print: Valid for travel from Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, and Philadelphia to many cities in Germany. (See chart on page 12 for routes that offer favorable mileage availability.)

Details: Miles & More.

If your home airport—or destination—isn’t on the list, strongly consider booking a separate ticket to the available gateway, or from the destination gateways.

You can connect to more than 50 European cities, too, with a little more planning.

Opportunity #2: SkyTeam’s Cheaper-than-Free Business Class Upgrade to Europe

Air France a SkyTeam alliance airline and a member of the Flying-Blue mileage program, is offering Business Class to Europe for only 50,000 miles round-trip—half the normal rate. That’s how much most airlines charge for coach class, making this deal a free upgrade.

If you don’t have the miles: The best way to nail this is by transfer-ring 40,000 Starpoints to Flying Blue—fewer miles than most carriers charge for coach, making this opportunity cheaper-than-free. (The 10,000-point transfer bonus brings the total to 50,000.) Or, transfer 50,000 Amex Rewards points. Anyone can buy the Amex Reward points directly from Amex just by calling (it takes about 10 minutes) for $1,250, which is a lot cheaper than the published fares ($4,000 plus).

Fine Print: This Cheaper-than-free-upgrade is valid for travel now through Aug. 31, from Chicago, Montreal, and New York to Europe.

Details: FlyingBlue

Opportunity #3: SkyTeam’s Cheaper-Than-Free Upgrade to Premium Economy, to Europe

Air France is also offering Premium Economy seats for only 37,500 miles (most airlines charge 50,000 for economy). A Starwood transfer requires only 33,000 points, making this equivalent to a much cheaper-than-free upgrade.

Fine Print: Valid for travel now through Aug. 31, from Chicago.

Details: FlyingBlue

Free Upgrade to Business Class on Air France.

If you’re booking now and traveling later

Opportunity #4: Star Alliance’s Almost Free Business Class Upgrade to Tokyo

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is offering Business Class tickets to Tokyo for 70,000 to 75,000 miles, up to 44% less than most other air-lines charge which fly this route. (Honolulu departures cost 60,000 miles.) You can get this deal with 60,000 to 65,000 Starwood Starpoints, the amount that many carriers charge for coach—making this equivalent to a free upgrade.

Or, any Amex Rewards member may purchase points instantly ($1,750 to $1,875). Given that ANA’s lowest published Washington, DC-Tokyo Business Class fare (30-day advance-purchase required) is $5,820 plus taxes, that amounts to a savings of $3,945 (68%).

Fine Print: Valid April 1 through April 26, 2013 from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC. (See chart on page 6 for routes that offer favorable mileage availability.)

Details: ANA Mileage Club.

Free Business Class Mileage Space on All Nippon Airlines to Tokyo: April 1 through April 26, 2013

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Opportunity #5: oneworld’s Free Business Class Upgrade to Tokyo Japan Airlines (JAL) is offering Business Class to Tokyo for 70,000 miles, up to 44% less than other airlines charge which fly this route. (Honolulu departures cost 50,000 miles.) It takes 60,000 Starwood Starpoints to get the seat, the amount many carriers charge for coach, making this equivalent to
a free upgrade.

Fine Print: Valid for travel April 1 through April 26, 2013 from Vancouver and other U.S. cities, but our most recent research shows that only Vancouver has mileage availability

(see chart below). Details: JAL Mileage Bank.

Free Business Class Mileage Space on Japan Airlines to Tokyo: April 1 through April 26, 2013

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Opportunity #6: oneworld’s Cheaper-Than-Free Upgrade to Premium Economy to Tokyo

Japan Airlines is also offering Premium Economy seats to Tokyo for only 55,000 miles. (Most airlines charge 65,000 or more for economy on this route.) A Starwood transfer requires only 45,000 points, making this equivalent to a cheaper-than-free upgrade.

Free Upgrade to Japan Airline’s Premium Economy Seat.

Fine Print: Valid for travel April 1 through April 26, 2013 to Tokyo, Narita, from Chicago on flights JL 009/010, Los Angeles on flights JL 061/062, New York on flights JL 005/006; and to Tokyo, Haneda, from San Francisco on flights JL001/002.

(See chart below for routes that offer favorable mileage availability.)

Details: JAL Mileage Bank.

Free Premium Economy Mileage Space on Japan Airlines to Tokyo: April 1 through April 26, 2013

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Too-Good-To-Be-True Business Class Award Availability on Lufthansa: July 18 through Aug. 16

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[["U.S. Departure City","Departure Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#","Return Availability<\/strong>","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Decent","Go For It","Decent","Go For It"],["Chicago - Tokyo","","April","","April"],["Los Angeles - Tokyo","","April","","April"],["San Francisco - Tokyo","","April","","April"],["Decent:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 9 to 12 days April 1 through April 26.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for two people traveling on the same itinerary about 13 days or more from April 1 through April 26.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

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