Knowing the “Upgrade Friendly Airlines” yields First Class at up to 76% off to Asia, Europe, and South America
EasyUp Business Class fares have reignited simple, less expensive upgrade strategies that get you into Buisness Class, as you’ve read about here in detail over the last few months.
But What About First Class?
It can still be a high wall to get over, if you’re not careful. As First Class fares often start at $10,000+ from the West Coast and $7,000+ from the East Coast to Europe; to Asia you’re looking at $8,000 to $15,000, and to South America $8,000 to $12,000.
Many of the airlines that offer a First Class cabin don’t permit mileage upgrades with EasyUp fares and other deeply discounted fares. That said, let’s focus today on the ones that do—the opportunities at hand—that make First Class travel much easier to get.
Four Rules That Make an Airline “First Class Upgrade Friendly”
Rule #1: The airline must offer a First Class cabin. (On the specific route in play, which seems obvious. But fewer carriers are offering a true First Class cabin these days, and the ones that do, only do on certain routes.)
Rule #2: The airline must offer a special Flash Sale, EasyUp fare, or any other reasonable Business Class fare. (Half again are not playing these games very often.)
Rule #3: The airlines that pass the rule #1 and #2 test must also “permit mileage upgrades on its lowest Business Class fares to First Class.” (This cuts this list in half again.)
Rule #4: The airlines that pass rules #1, #2, and #3 must:
A. Also partner with a loyalty program that makes it easy to get the miles needed to upgrade (e.g. Amex Rewards, Chase, or Starwood), or
B. Make it easy to buy the miles, or
C. Be an airline that you already have miles with to pay for the upgrade cost in miles.
Your “Upgrade Rule” Life Simplified
We’re just getting started. The fun is coming—because I intend to do my best to make this all simpler to navigate. Half of the heavy upgrade lifting (the research and intelligence side) is about to be clear and simple.
The Five “Upgrade Friendly Airlines” (UFAs) That Follow “The Four Upgrade Rules”
American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Singapore, and United.
American
Allows mileage upgrades to First Class from all Business Class fares (plus $1,100 co-pay on round-trip international routes). It partners with Starwood, so getting miles should not be a big problem. Plus, it sells miles directly to travelers. It also offers many Business Class fare promotions, including EasyUp fares (but none to London at press time). And it flies three-cabin aircraft to Europe (London only), Asia (Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo), and Buenos Aires and Sáo Paulo in South America, which often offer EasyUp and Flash Sale fares (see FCF Alerts Jan. 14, Dec. 21, 2012, Dec. 14, 2012, and Dec. 13, 2012).
Europe example: Summer promotional fares—including its $1,100 co-pay—start at $4,800 to London from Dallas. Use 50,000 American miles round-trip (directly purchasable for $1,410 plus taxes, if you don’t have a way to get them otherwise) to upgrade a ticket that would otherwise cost $8,000+.
Asia example: On the New York-Shanghai route, the savings is $8,000(64%) for an upgradeable Business Class ticket which starts at $4,500 (including $1,100 co-pay). First Class normally costs $12,500+.
[aside headline="Other Ways to Save on First Class: The Two-for-One" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
At times it’s still a good option. British Airways and Lufthansa offer the fare to Europe; Air China, Asiana, and China Airlines to Asia; and other participating airlines include Emirates and Etihad. (More on this in an upcoming issue.)[/aside]
British Airways
This First Class Upgrade Friendly airline allows mileage upgrades from its lowest Business Class fares (booking code I) and does not charge a co-pay. While the airline is not offering EasyUp or Flash Sales to Europe now, it is known to offer Easter, Summer, and Holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas) promotional Business Class fares, even if it’s usually late to the party (as it is currently). BA points are relatively easy to come by, too (remember Rule #4), as it’s a transfer partner with Amex Rewards, Chase, and Starwood—plus it sells miles directly to travelers (and has a “household account” opportunity, which makes the buying limit potential limitless); it also offers lucrative credit card sign-up bonuses such as the 100,000-point offer on page 10. The carrier has a vast route network—Africa, Asia, Middle East, and South Pacific, via London of course.
Europe example: An upgrade on New York-London only requires 40,000 miles round-trip. The upgradeable Business Class ticket starts at $3,500, versus an $11,000 First Class ticket, a savings of $7,500 (68%).
Japan Airlines
JAL doesn’t charge a “co-pay surcharge” on mileage upgrades from most discounted Business Class fares (booking code X). Miles can be transferred from Starwood, too. On Los Angeles-Tokyo, for example, where 80,000 miles are needed to upgrade round-trip, the Business Class ticket starts at $3,700, versus $15,500 in First, a savings of about $11,800 (76%).
Singapore Airlines
Singapore also doesn’t charge a co-pay on mileage upgrades (booking code D). Miles can be transferred from Amex Rewards and Starwood, or purchase directly from Amex.
Europe example: Fly New York-Frankfurt on the A380 (which flies from March 26 to December) for $2,950, and use 75,000 miles to upgrade to First, a ticket that otherwise costs $8,200+. (This is a really nice booking strategy to get your hands on.)
Asia example: On Los Angles-Tokyo, also an A380 route, the savings can come to $8,300 (69%), with a $3,700 Business Class ticket, versus a $12,000 First Class ticket. (How many people do you think are going to go after this deal?)
[aside headline="Why Use Miles to Upgrade Rather Than Go for a Free Ticket?" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]
- Availability for upgrades can oftentimes offer more inventory than free award space.
- You may want to earn elite status credit (upgradeable tickets earn miles and elite qualifying miles/segments) and free tickets won’t get you there.
- Upgrades require fewer miles than free tickets.
[/aside]
[aside headline="Upgrade-Unfriendly Airlines (UUAs)" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]There are airlines with a First Class cabin that are not mentioned in this report. This is because they either:
A) Do not allow an upgrade from their lowest Business Class fares. (e.g. EasyUp and Flash Sales) They include Air France, All Nippon, Asiana, Emirates, Lufthansa, and SWISS. In other words, you must buy a non-discounted Business Class fare, usually booked in full-fare-type buckets, like J, C, or D. These fares are often not much lower than discounted First Class, or don’t save much for the effort. Or, B) Their Business Class fares are seldom discounted and start at $6,000 or more. This category includes Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Thai. With them, it is better to use miles to get a free First Class award ticket than buying Business and upgrading.
[/aside]
United
It allows mileage upgrades from its lowest Business Class fares (booking codes P and Z), with a co-pay of $1,000 to $1,200. Its annual mileage-purchase limit is 100,000 miles (at about 3.5¢ each), and it partners with Chase Sapphire Preferred, so getting miles is not a big problem.
Over the last few months, United has offered Flash Sales to Asia (see FCF Jan. 11 alert) and South America (see FCF Jan. 19 alert), and usually takes part in Business Class fare promotions, including EasyUp fares now and then.
Europe example: Upgrade a $3,300 EasyUp fare (includes the $1,100 co-pay) on Los Angeles-London for 40,000 miles, which would otherwise cost $7,500+.
Asia example: On Seattle-Seoul, an upgradeable Business Class ticket (including co-pay) starts at $3,700—compared to a $10,000 First Class ticket (a savings of $6,300 or 63%).
South America example: On Los Angeles-Sáo Paulo the savings can be about $5,500 (56%) if you buy the $4,300 (including co-pay) upgradeable Business Class ticket and use your miles to upgrade.
Conclusion: Stay focused on the First Class Upgrade-Friendly Airlines if you want to fly in the front cabin and save a fortune in the process. Keep an eye out for special Business Class fares with these carriers (regularly posted in FCF’s Newsroom).
Sample Savings with Upgrade Friendly Airlines From Business to First Class
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