New routes, new seats, and aircraft changes sometimes mean good to wide-open availability for a short time. Take advantage of them while you can.
This Month: Time to Burn Amex Points, Starwood Points, Air France, Asiana, Delta, Finnair and Lufthansa Miles from the U.S. to Europe and Asia (or Vice Versa)
Air France
New Aircraft Opportunity: Through Oct. 25, Air France has A380 service San Francisco-Paris (flights AF83 and AF84).
Easily Connect From: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle, among many other cities.
Fly Beyond Paris: Major European cities, Cairo, Johannesburg, Nairobi, or Tel Aviv can be tacked on to your award for up to 80,000 more miles in Business Class. Find Air France’s destinations.
How to Nail It (Round-Trip):
Air France Flying Blue Miles: 125,000 miles for Business Class. Request award space online.
Amex Reward Points Transfer: 125,000 points required
Amex Reward Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point. Get a Business Class ticket for $3,125 (plus about $681 in taxes), which otherwise goes for as much as $11,182.
Starwood Points Transfer: 100,000 Starpoints
Award Availability on Air France’s A380 for One Traveler in Business Class: San Francisco-Paris
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Asiana
New Aircraft Opportunity: Starts A380 service on Los Angeles-Seoul Aug. 15 (flights OZ201 and OZ202).
Easily Connect From: Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, among many other cities.
Fly Beyond Seoul: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, or Tokyo can be tacked on to your award for 25,000 to 40,000 more miles in Business Class and 10,000 to 30,000 more in First Class. Find Asiana’s destinations here.
How to Nail It (Round-Trip):
With Asiana Club Miles: 105,000 for Business Class and 140,000 for First Class. Request award space online.
Starwood Points Transfer: Takes 85,000 for Business and 115,000 for First Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Asiana’s A380 for One Traveler: Los Angeles-Seoul
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With All Nippon Miles: Even better: 90,000 for Business Class (First Class had no savings). Request award space online.
Amex Reward Points-to-All Nippon Miles: 90,000 for Business Class.
Amex Reward Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point. Get a Business Class ticket for $2,250 (plus about $385 in taxes), which otherwise goes for as much as $4,086.
Starwood Points-to-All Nippon Miles: 75,000 for Business Class.
Delta
New Route Opportunity: Seattle-Seoul starts June 2 and Seattle-Hong Kong June 16.
Easily Connect From: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, among many other cities.
Fly Beyond Hong Kong or Seoul: Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, or Tokyo can be tacked on to a Business Class award for no additional miles. Find Delta’s destinations here.
How to Nail It (Business Class, Round-Trip):
With Delta SkyMiles: 140,000 (rate as of June 1). Request award space online.
Amex Reward Points Transfer: 140,000.
Amex Reward Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point. Get the ticket for $3,500 (plus about $50 in taxes), which otherwise goes for as much as $8,183.
Starwood Points Transfer: 115,000.
Survey of Award Availability on Delta for One Traveler in Business Class from Seattle
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With Alaska Miles (even better): If you book before May 6, 120,000. Request award space online.
Starwood Points-to-Alaska Miles: Takes 100,000 (when booked before May 6).
Finnair
New Seats Opportunity: Now offers flat-bed seats in Business Class on New York-Helsinki (flights AY6 and AY5).
Easily Connect From: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia, among many other cities.
Fly Beyond Helsinki: Major European cities as well as Delhi, Hong Kong, or Singapore can be tacked on to your award for 10,000 to 35,000 more miles. Find Finnair destinations here.
How to Nail It (Round-Trip):
With American Miles: 100,000. Request award space online.
Starwood Points Transfer for American Miles: 80,000.
Survey of Award Availability on Finnair Using American Miles for One Traveler in Business Class: New York-Helsinki
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[aside headline="Attention International Residents" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]This information applies to you, not just to U.S. residents, as you can use miles and points to book the long-haul segment from Frankfurt and Helsinki to New York, Hong Kong to Seattle, Paris to San Francisco, and Seoul to Los Angeles or Seattle.[/aside]
Lufthansa
New Aircraft Opportunity: New York-Frankfurt is now operated with an A380 (flights LH401 and LH400).
Easily Connect From: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and Washington, DC, among many other cities.
Fly Beyond Frankfurt: Major European cities as well as Delhi, Dubai, Singapore, or Tokyo, can be tacked on for 40,000+ more miles for First Class and 30,000+ more miles for Business Class. Find Lufthansa destinations here.
How to Nail the A380 (Round-Trip):
With Lufthansa’s Miles & More Miles: 170,000 for First and 105,000 for Business Class. Request award space online.
With Starwood Points Transfer: 140,000 for First, 85,000 for Business Class.
Survey of Award Availability on Lufthansa for One Traveler: New York-Frankfurt
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With All Nippon Miles: Even better: 100,000 for First Class and 68,000 for Business. Request award space online.
Amex Reward Points & All Nippon: Transfer 100,000 for First Class and 68,000 for Business Class.
Amex Reward Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point. Get a First Class ticket for $2,500 (plus about $990 in taxes), which otherwise goes for as much as $17,274.
Starwood Points-to-All Nippon Miles: Takes 80,000 for First, 60,000 for Business Class.