FCF’s Spring 2022 perspective on beating high mileage award costs
You may have noticed that mileage award ticket prices have been increasing in altitude lately thanks to the current supply/demand environment and “dynamic” pricing. Well, that’s what the airlines call it. I’m sure these prices are all dynamic and exciting for them. For us it’s become harder than ever to plan because prices are jumping around like kids at a trampoline center, and for the most part, they’re more expensive.
And on top of that, there’s a scarcity of low-cost award seats because of the high demand curve caused by people jumping back onto planes. That’s a lose-lose situation at first glance.
But here at FCF we pride ourselves on second, third, fourth, and fifth glances (even 12, see below). Meaning we’ll look real hard to find a way to beat high prices, whether it’s for cash fares or miles.
Using Miles to Europe: a Blow-by-Blow Description
If you want a specific route on a specific airline on a specific date in Business or First Class to Europe using miles, you’re just not being realistic — and you’re just cooking up the perfect recipe for depression. Depression typically comes from unmet expectations. Mileage travelers who are accustomed to getting upset with airlines that charge really high rates are going to be especially cranky for the foreseeable future as very few seats are being released at low rates. Let’s review the good, the bad, and the ugly over the last year:
For flights to Europe:
June 2021: American, Delta (using Virgin miles), Iberia and United showed availability aplenty.
July 2021: more good news with some great deals using miles on American, Delta and United in Business Class.
August 2021: We were happy to highlight Unprecedented United upgrade availability
November 2021: We found opportunities on 27 American Airlines Business Class routes and five First Class routes.
November 2021: We reported that United upgrade availability using miles went from 45 available routes in August to just six. Now there are virtually no United upgrade seats when booking in advance using miles. What a beat-down.
December 2021: We looked at 50 nonstop United routes using awards to Europe and found that yessiree, United had their “dynamic” pricing model cranking at full speed making just two routes available at the lowest cost and increases of 39%.
January 2022: We reported on how to add on stops, depart from your hometown—and still save miles or dollars.
February 2022: We reported that American followed suit with dynamic pricing increases of their own, leading to almost no award seats at the lowest cost and pricing increases of 30% to 85%+.
March 2022: We escalated our recommendation on burning your miles before they burn you.
April 2022: We showed you that availability had opened up in First Class for close-in bags-packed and already-booked travelers.
What does booking award flights in spring 2022
to Europe look like for the next YEAR?
Our global team spent hundreds of hours surveying many routes; let’s start with the bad news.
Routes To Europe Recently Surveyed For Lowest Award Cost
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THE Good News:
THERE ARE HIDDEN Routes to Europe
to score now
AMEX TRANSFER PARTNERS
Oneworld:
British Airways, Iberia
Spain Deals: Boston to Madrid, Los Angeles to Madrid, New York to Madrid
SkyTeam:
Virgin Atlantic
Belgium Deals: New York to Brussels
Iceland Deals: New York to Reykjavik
Star Alliance:
Air Canada, LifeMiles, Singapore
United Kingdom Deals: Houston to Manchester
Non-Alliance:
Emirates
Greece Deals: Newark to Athens
Italy Deals: New York to Milan
Capital One Transfer Partners:
Oneworld:
British Airways
Spain Deals: Boston to Madrid, Los Angeles to Madrid, New York to Madrid
Star Alliance:
Air Canada, LifeMiles, Singapore
United Kingdom Deals: Houston to Manchester
Non-Alliance:
Emirates
Greece Deals: Newark to Athens
Italy Deals: New York to Milan
Chase Transfer Partners:
Oneworld:
British Airways, Iberia
Spain Deals: Boston to Madrid, Los Angeles to Madrid, New York to Madrid
SkyTeam:
Virgin Atlantic
Belgium Deals: New York to Brussels
Iceland Deals: New York to Reykjavik
Star Alliance:
Air Canada, Singapore, United
United Kingdom Deals: Houston to Manchester
Non-Alliance:
Emirates
Greece Deals: Newark to Athens
Italy Deals: New York to Milan
Citi Transfer Partners
Oneworld:
American
Spain Deals: Boston to Madrid, Los Angeles to Madrid, New York to Madrid
Star Alliance:
LifeMiles, Singapore
United Kingdom Deals: Houston to Manchester
Non-Alliance:
Emirates
Greece Deals: Newark to Athens
Italy Deals: New York to Milan
Alaska, American, British Airways or Iberia Miles
Spain Deals: Boston to Madrid, Los Angeles to Madrid, New York to Madrid
Virgin Atlantic Miles
Belgium Deals: New York to Brussels
Iceland Deals: New York to Reykjavik
Air Canada, LifeMiles, Singapore or United Miles
United Kingdom Deals: Houston to Manchester
~ ~ ~
Tips & Tricks to Keep In Mind
We’re equally optimistic and tenacious here at FCF. When the news looks bad, we look harder to fix it. Here are our 12 tricks for what you can do in times like these.
Know when to pay with cash or miles. These are the golden days to shop for sweet deals. But now you must decide between two seemingly equal bargains? Need to choose between a discounted low fare or a low-mileage award ticket? Check out this report.
If you do have flexibility, don’t play into the airlines’ hands. Be an opportunity traveler instead, and let them play into yours. There’s a more successful path available when you can Be an Opportunity Traveler.
There are built-in bargains to be had simply by knowing the perks airlines offer, such as free flights to hubs both here in the U.S. and in Europe. Learn about the Art of Skipping Stones.
Stop “Booking Backwards”: Use FCF’s Forward-Thinking Deals to Book Dream Trips Every Time. Are you dreaming, then planning, then booking? Well stop it. That’s backwards thinking and you can flip it on its head for a real opportunity.
Did you know you can upgrade your ticket even after you’ve booked? Check out our special report, Overtime Winner: Why the Upgrade Game Doesn’t End When You Book a Flight. Oh, and this works in First Class too as we told you here, here, and here.
The art of upgrading goes way beyond merely moving “up” a cabin. We like to think of ourselves as experienced in the art so let us show you how with, We’re Upgrade Open-Minded. Are You?
The two segments of a “round-trip” flight are rarely equal. For starters, the times are different. So how can you improve your travel experience by booking the two flights separately? We’ll demonstrate with Is the Value of a Mile the Same on Overnight Flights as on Daytime Flights?
Our Sweet Redeems show you where you can find discount Business and First Class award seats including the airlines, routes, and months with availability for miles at low rates. It’s all outlined for you here and here.
When fares skyrocket and award seats are scarce as we’re seeing now, package deals make for big wins for travelers in the know. Check for vacation packages as they can be a surprisingly great value when fares are high.
Many airlines offer free cancellations, including for award flights. That means it won’t cost you anything to cancel or change your ticket. Read more about it here.
When you don’t find availability for EXACTLY what you want, don’t give up. Break free from old-school travel thinking with 10 Common Mistakes Most Travelers Make.
Last but not least:
Instead of overpaying, check out one of the cheapest ways to get to Europe in Business Class with miles, points, or dollars here and here.