FirstClassFlyer

Lufthansa

Begins San Diego-Frankfurt service in March 2018 using a three-cabin Airbus 340 with flat-bed seats in Business Class and a Premium Economy cabin. It takes 105,000 Lufthansa miles to fly Business Class; points can be transferred from Starwood (only 85,000 required), or even better, from Asiana (only 80,000 miles, and if you transfer from Starwood only 65,000 points). Lack Starwood points? Then use 88,000 All Nippon miles, a transfer partner of Amex Rewards. FCF research shows good award availability for Business Class in May and June (see chart below).

Sweet Redeem Survey: Business Class on Lufthansa for at Least Four Seats

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More West Coast-Asia Service New

All Nippon is adding a third flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo starting Oct. 29, using a four-cabin Boeing 777-300ER (First, Business, Premium Economy, and economy). Use 150,000 to 165,000 All Nippon miles to redeem for First Class, or 75,000 to 90,000 miles for Business Class—points can be transferred from Starwood (only 60,000 to 135,000) for a ticket that otherwise costs as much as $15,701 in First Class. FCF research shows good award availability (at least two seats) in First and Business Class for the next eight months (see chart below for details).

Sweet Redeem Survey: Los Angeles to Tokyo on All Nippon

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East Coast-Europe Service

British Airways began Ft. Lauderdale-London (Gatwick) service on July 6 using a three-cabin B777 (Business Class, Premium Economy, and economy). It takes 125,000 to 150,000 BA miles for Business Class and only 89,500 to 107,250 Amex Rewards points, given the current 40% bonus. With Japan Airlines the mileage cost is 65,000 miles (Starwood transfer costs only 55,000 points). FCF research shows good award availability for the next eight months in Business Class (see chart below for details).

Sweet Redeem Survey: Business Class on British Airways

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[["Routes","Availability to Frankfurt","Availability from Frankfurt"],["#rowspan#","13+ Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month "],["San Diego to Frankfurt","May, June","May, June"]]

[["Class","Availability to Tokyo","#colspan#","#colspan#","Availability from Tokyo","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month ","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month "],["Business","Feb. to June<\/span>","","Dec. to June","Feb.,\n March, June<\/span>","Jan., May<\/span>","Dec., Feb. to June"],["First","","Dec.,\n Feb.<\/span>","Nov.,<\/span> Dec., Jan.,\n<\/span> Feb., March to June<\/span>","","","Nov. to June<\/span>"]]

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats.

[["Route","Availability to London","#colspan#","Availability from London","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month "],["Ft. Lauderdale to London","Sept., Oct.","Aug., Nov. to March, June","Dec., April","Aug., Sept., Feb., March, May, June","Nov., Jan."]]