May 2013: FCF For Subscribers Who Live Abroad

May 2013
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And for U.S. Residents Who Don’t See Their Departure or Destination City Named in the Examples

Far too often, FCF readers think that our strategies only apply to the routes used to illustrate a given strategy. But that’s not true. The strategies and tactics we outline very often work no matter your itinerary or departure country. See a short video here showing how to fly Business Class for the price of coach from the South Pacific to Europe.

Here are samples of this month’s articles that use concepts that apply to routes originating in Australia, Canada, Europe, and smaller U.S. cities.

From “A Great Plan B for International Mileage Award Travel” (page 12)

The article has global relevance for these reasons:

  • Air France flies Premium Economy on 77 routes to/from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and North America, so this could be a True Plan B for millions of travelers worldwide.
  • Air France is a partner of various Amex’s Membership Rewards programs around the world, including the U.K., which make Air France miles relatively easy to get for many.
  • The companion article to this strategy—the Upgrade Two-Step (‍)—has appeal to millions too; and most anyone who is flexible at all can fly wherever they want using these mileage strategies without having to cry the “no availability blues” like most mileage travelers sing either because they aren’t flexible or just don’t know very many ticketing strategies.
  • Air France offers some of the cheapest deals in Business Class through its frequent 50% promos, which yield Business Class for the price of coach. Travelers from all over Europe and other origins, cities such as Amman and Mumbai, can reap free upgrades through these specially discounted awards you can see at this link.

From “Premium Travel Quick Takes Report on Alaska Airlines” (page 11)

It can’t be overstated enough: The potential value for travelers all around the globe to use—yes, Alaska Airline’s advanced ticketing strategies. Understand how you can buy miles cheap (last month’s page 1 article) as they go on sale often and the carrier’s new (as you can read on page 9 this month) one-way awards.

You can save a small fortune with these strategies. Take a look at the example of this month’s new one-way opportunity partner, British Airways.

Alaska - British Airways Partner Airline Mileage Purchase Strategy

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From “Rife with Upgrade Opportunities” (page 7)

Each opportunity in this piece is available on the reverse itinerary:

  • Dallas-Seoul is available Seoul-Dallas. In Asia and need a great connecting point to North America? Here you have it.
  • In London or Brazil and traveling to North America? American has many great fares and upgrade strategies. Look on page 7 to find the routes on which it offers its best seats.
  • Who would have thought Emirates flew Milan-New York? Departing Lisbon or Dusseldorf and want a First Class option to New York? Here’s a great opportunity to put on your list. Or, if you just want to check out the airline’s trendy premium cabins, think about connecting through Milan, even if you have to buy a separate ticket from your destination.
  • In Paris and need a Business Class ticket for the price of coach? Consider OpenSkies’s deal on page 8.

From “Top 13 Routes with A380 Premium-Seat Mileage Availability” (page 10)

Many want to fly the A380 in Business or First Class. While the sticker price is not cheap, some airlines offer mileage deals at very good values. While the chart focused on international routes originating in the U.S., you can play the deal in reverse or make a connection in these cities. Here are the routes you can fly to the U.S. in an A380 from abroad.

A380 Airlines Routes to U.S.

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Shrewd Alternatives: Flying Lesser-Known Airlines or Using One-Off Fare Promos on Major Airlines Can Yield Big Business Class Savings (Make a Connection and Save)

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[["Travel Origin","Route","Class","Miles to Purchase","Cost","Published Fare","Savings"],["Canada (in CA$)","Montreal - Cairo","Business","140,000","CA$5,388","CA$7,355","CA$1,967 \/ 27%"],["#rowspan#","Montreal - Paris","First","160,000","CA$5,924","CA$8,512","CA$2,588 \/ 30%"],["#rowspan#","Toronto -Johannesburg","Business","140,000","CA$5,972","CA$9,998","CA$4,026 \/ 40%"],["#rowspan#","Vancouver - London","First","160,000","CA$6,168","CA$18,282","CA$12,114 \/ 66%"],["Europe (in \u20ac)","London - Bermuda","First","140,000","\u20ac3,762","\u20ac5,966","\u20ac2,204 \/ 37%"],["#rowspan#","London - Los Angeles","First","140,000","\u20ac4,130","\u20ac14,625","\u20ac10,495 \/ 72%"],["#rowspan#","London - Toronto","Business","120,000","\u20ac3,349","\u20ac5,592","\u20ac2,243 \/ 40%"],["#rowspan#","Paris - Miami","First","140,000","\u20ac3,658","\u20ac7,298","\u20ac3,640 \/ 50%"]]
<small><em>*Alaska Airlines sells in USD; savings based on round-trip; exchange rates used are from date of research. Total cost in miles equals cost to buy the miles including taxes and the estimated taxes on the free award ticket; does not include by-phone ticketing fees for Alaska or partner flights ($15 to $40 per person).</em></small>
[["Airline","Routes"],["Air France","Paris to Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C."],["British Airways","London to Los Angeles"],["China Southern","Guangzhou to Los Angeles"],["Emirates","Dubai to New York"],["Korean Air","Seoul to Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York"],["Lufthansa","Frankfurt to Houston, Miami, San Francisco"],["Qantas","Melbourne, Sydney to Los Angeles"],["Singapore","Frankfurt to New York; Tokyo to Los Angeles"]]
[["Fare \/ Class","Route","Airline","Alliance or Airlines Partner","Mileage Program Partners","Miles Earned","Major Carrier with Next Best Fare","Savings","Details"],["AU$1,608 \/ Business","Melbourne - Manila","Royal Brunei","n\/a","n\/a","0%","AU$4,424 \/ Singapore Ailines","\u20ac2,816 \/n64%","Connection in Brunei; booking code D; outbound service on Mon., Tue., Thur., Fri.; return Wed., Sat., Sun.; maximum stayn12 months; purchase by May 31."],["AU$2,564 \/ Business","Sydney - Seoul","Phillipine Airlines","n\/a","n\/a","0%","AU$5,863 \/ Qantas","\u20ac3,299 \/n56%","Connection in Manila; booking code Z; outbound service Wed., Fri., Sat., Mon.; return Tue., Thur., Fri., Sun.; maximum stay 12 months."],["AU$3,198 \/ Business","Perth - Mumbai","Malaysia Airlines","oneworld","Qantas \/ Frequent Flyer","125%","AU$7,445 \/ Qantas","\u20ac4,247 \/n57%","Connection in Kuala Lumpur; booking code Z;nmaximum stay 3 months."],["CA$1,140 \/ Business","Toronto - San Juan","American","oneworld","American AAdvantage","125%","CA$2,420 \/ Air Canada","\u20ac1,280 \/n53%","Connection in Miami; booking code I; 7-day advance purchase."],["CA$1,409 \/ Business","Toronto - Quito","American","oneworld","American AAdvantage","125%","CA$2,730 \/ Copa Airlines","\u20ac1,321 \/n48%","Connection in Miami; booking code I; 50-day advance purchase; outbound travel Sun to Wed.; minimum stay 10 days; outbound travel valid through Jun. 4, Aug. 6 to Nov. 23, Dec. 25 to Dec. 31; return travel valid through Jun. 27, Sept.n17 to Dec. 31."],["CA$2,001 \/ Business","Halifax - Copenhagen","Iceland Air","n\/a","Finnair \/ Finnair Plus","125%","CA$2,773 \/ Air Canada","\u20ac772 \/n28%","Connection in Reykjavik; booking code J; outbound and return service Tue., Thur., Sat.; maximum stay 12 months."],["\u20ac2,399 \/ Business","London - Rio de Janeiro","Tap Portugal","Star Alliance","Lufthansa \/ Miles & More","0%","\u20ac4,045 \/ British Airways","\u20ac1,646 \/n41%","Connection in Lisbon; booking code J."],["\u20ac2,455 \/ Business","London - Sydney","China Eastern","SkyTeam","Air France \/ Flying Blue","125%","\u20ac5,414 \/ British Airways","\u20ac2,959 \/n55%","Connection in Shanghai; booking code I; outbound service on Tue., Thur., Sat., Sun.; return Sat. Valid for travel after July 1."]]