FirstClassFlyer

Even if you’re not flying the specific routes mentioned below, you can use the information to find the best connecting flights that might net you an upgrade, a better seat, or a free seat (perhaps all three).

American

New Non-Stops from Dallas On May 9 American starts flying to Seoul using a three-cabin B777-200, but without the new flat-bed Business Class seat: 100,000 miles for a Business Class award ticket, 125,000 for First Class.

Getting the Miles: Transfer 80,000 points from Starwood for Business Class, 105,000 for First (the amount many domestic airlines, Delta among them, charge for Business Class). You can also buy up to 60,000 miles annually from AA. Through May 17, there’s a 30% bonus on purchased miles.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on American, Dallas - Seoul

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American’s Refitted B777 Aircraft New Flat-bed Business Class Seat: Some of the B777s that have the new flat-bed Business Class seat now are on Dallas-London, New York-London, and New York-Sao Paulo. In June, they arrive on Los Angeles-London, and in August, on Dallas-Sao Paulo.

Please see the chart below for routes with good mileage availability for the refitted B777s on American for both the new flat-bed Business Class seat and First Class.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on American’s Refitted B777 to London

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American’s New Flat-Bed Business Class Seat

Emirates from New York

On Oct. 1 the airline starts new non-stop service to Milan using a B777-300 with flat-beds in Business Class and First Class Private Suites. It charges 180,000 miles for a round-trip Business Class award ticket, 270,000 for a First Class one.

Getting the Miles: Transfer 145,000 Starpoints for Business Class. First Class takes 220,000 Starpoints. You can also buy up to 25,000 miles annually from Emirates.

Survey of Business Class Award Mileage Space on Emirates, New York - Milan

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OpenSkies from New York

OpenSkies, a subsidiary of British Airways (and an Executive Club / Avios partner), now has daily non-stops from JFK to Paris/Orly, with both Premium Economy and flat-bed Business Class. It charges 60,000 miles round-trip for a Premium Economy award ticket, 80,000 for Business Class.

Getting the Miles: With the current Amex Rewards 35% transfer bonus to Avios, you need only 45,000 points for Premium Economy—15,000 miles less than many domestic airlines charge for economy. It takes 60,000 Amex points for Business Class—the amount many domestic airlines charge for economy. Other transfer partners include Chase Rewards and Starwood. You can also buy up to 24,000 miles annually.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on OpenSkies, JFK - Paris

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[["Class of Service","Departure Availability","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Decent","Go For It","Decent","Go For It"],["Business","July to Sept., Nov., Feb.","Oct., Dec, Jan.","July, Aug.","Sept. to Feb."],["First","May","June to Feb.","","May to Feb."],["Decent:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that upgrade award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

[["U.S. Departure City","Class of Service","Departure Availability","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Handful","Go For It","Handful","Go For It"],["Dallas","Business","","Dec. to March","Dec.","Jan. to March"],["Los Angeles","Business","Dec.","Feb., March","","Jan. to March"],["#rowspan#","First","","Jan. to March","","Jan. to March"],["New York","Business","","Oct. to March","Oct.","Nov. to March"],["#rowspan#","First","","Dec. to March","","Dec. to March"],["Handful:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u2019re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

[["Departure Availability","Return Availability"],["Go For It","Go For It"],["Oct. to March","Oct. to March"],["Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#"]]

[["Class of Service","Departure Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Decent","Go For It","Handful","Decent","Go For It"],["Premium Economy","Sept., March","Oct., Dec.","Nov., Jan.","Sept., Oct., Feb.","Jan.","Nov., Dec."],["Business","June","Sept.","July, Aug., Oct. to Feb.","June, Aug. Sept., March","","Oct. to Feb."],["Handful:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u2019re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Decent:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that upgrade award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]