Iberia Adds Three Destinations to Free Companion Offer

The airline has added Moscow, Beirut, and Lagos to its Business Class free companion ticket program, which brings the destinations offered to 25. The companion must travel with the paying passenger on the entire itinerary. 30-day advance purchase required; $300 cancellation fee. Sample round-trip fares (for two) include: New York-Moscow, $4,974; Miami-Lagos, $6,956; and Chicago-Beirut $6,070. Companion fares are also available with code-share flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco on American.

The airline also offers free companion tickets to many other destinations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, including Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Cairo, Casablanca, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Madrid, Marrakech, Milan, Paris, Rome, Tel Aviv, Zurich, and Vienna. More information: (800) 772-4642.

ANA Brings Web Access to NY-Tokyo Route

All Nippon Airways has introduced Internet and e-mail service on its daily New York-Tokyo flight. The Connexion system, by Boeing, is on ANA’s new 777-300ER service (replacing its 747-400 service), which will carry 247 passengers in a four-class configuration: 8 in First Class; 77 in New Style Club ANA; 24 in Premium Economy; and 138 in economy. Passengers can access the Internet from their own laptops via wired or wireless connections in First Class, New Style Club ANA, and Premium Economy, or via wireless in economy class. Similar service will be introduced on the Los Angeles-Tokyo route in October and San Francisco-Tokyo in March 2006.

Canada’s New Credit Card Earns Asia Miles

The new RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum credit card offers Canadians access to the lucrative Asia Miles program. Cardholders earn one Cathay Pacific Asia Mile for each Canadian dollar spent on the card; cardholders receive 5,000 bonus miles upon enrollment. Asia Miles are redeemable on 18 airlines. See last month’s First Class Flyer for Asia Miles strategies with American, British Airways, and other OneWorld carriers. Sign up and you’ll also receive a free companion ticket with the purchase of a qualifying round-trip Cathay Pacific Business Class ticket from Canada to Hong Kong, or beyond to Bangkok, Cebu, Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Penang, Singapore, Surabaya, and Taipei. Offer valid for flights ticketed by Nov. 18 for travel through May 18, 2006. Details: (800) 769-2512, or visit www.rbcroyalbank.com/cards.

SAS Miles Half-Price

Through June 17, you can buy points in the airline’s EuroBonus frequent flyer program at half price — with no limit on the number of points that can be purchased. Points are sold in blocks of 1,000 and priced only in euros, starting at C30. Points are posted to your account within one business day. Buying points can help you reach your frequent flyer rewards goals earlier, or you can give them to another EuroBonus member. Purchased points do not count towards higher membership levels. SAS accepts MasterCard, Visa, and AMEX.

bmi Axes Biz Class from Most Intra-European Routes

British carrier bmi has switched to a single-class cabin configuration on its aircraft after discovering that more than half of its business travelers buy coach seats. However, bmi said it will retain a separate Business Class from Heathrow to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast City, and Brussels because research shows that demand still exists for Business Class on these routes.

UAL Trims Award Travel Cost to Nagoya & Taipei

United Airlines has reduced Saver Awards by up to 20,000 miles for qualifying round-trip travel from San Francisco to Nagoya or to Taipei via Nagoya. A Business Class Saver Award, normally 90,000 miles, is 70,000 miles with this offer. A First Class Saver Award, usually 120,000 miles, is 100,000 miles. Award travel must be ticketed on united.com (refer to MP1075) by June 30, 2005 for travel through Sept. 15.