Here’s where you can get the best Business Class deals in the universe – to Australia, Europe, and South America – whether you’ve already bought, or not
Once again, bags-packed-and-ready-to-roll flyers can score big. This time in Business Class. We call it Opportunity Travel, and we’ve written about this mindset and the opportunities often, most recently here with our Iterative Upgrade Mindset report.
Happily for us, it also covers those who have already purchased their ticket.
Last month we looked at the pointy end of the plane in our report titled, “Four First Class Routes with Cheap Premium Tickets for Spontaneous Flyers & Those Who’ve Already Bought”.
Now, let’s get down to Business (Class) with American Airlines.
Fight for Your Right to Parlay
As with First Class, airline executives would rather personally paint planes with toothbrushes than see flights take off with empty Business Class seats. Through gritted teeth they’ll lower their prices just to fill up the plane. Well, sometimes anyway…
As flight day approaches “crunch time,” the more likely it is that a mileage price drop will occur on some routes based on “dynamic pricing,” nowadays, and the more diligent flyers need to be to parlay their flight into a big win.
Secret American Business Class Opportunity Routes
Our job is to find unique deals, but they’re often slippery little suckers. Especially in this case when we’re in the dynamic final days before takeoff. Below are the routes we’ve been seeing with close-in availability – ready for Relentless Upgraders and Bags-Packed Travelers. But make sure to check the airline directly for up-to-date intel.
NB: If the city you see isn’t your home city, learn about getting free connecting flights and positioning flights.
Also: While close-in generally means to us a week or two before a flight’s departure, with American, we’re seeing prices slashed 30 to 60 days out in some cases. Take a look below.
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #1
Los Angeles – Sydney
Business Class
The screenshots below are examples of recent close/r-in cheap opportunities on American Airlines’ Los Angeles-Sydney route, starting at 72,000 to 78,000 miles each way–for up to four travelers in both directions.
For perspective: If you’d booked for upcoming travel in January 2024, economy class flyers were seeing a flat 150,000-mile one-way cost all month, while Business Class flyers were seeing a flat 450,000-mile cost all month each way. Compare that to AA’s close/r-in, fill-the-seat pricing where prices are all over the place — and up to 84% LESS!
But, among some big hits, Business Class flyers can score bargains for a couple days in August (a month or so out) for 72,000 miles each way.
American Airlines’ LAX-Sydney
Business Class 78,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking Within 7 Days (on July 5)
American Airlines’ LAX-Sydney
Business Class 72,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking 30 to 60 Days Out (on July 5)
American Airlines’ LAX-Sydney
Coach Class 150,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking Far Out (on July 5)
American Airlines’ LAX-Sydney
Business Class 450,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking Far Out (on July 5)
Recap:
[table_opt id="6824" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Not flying from Los Angeles and/or to Sydney?
Learn about getting free connecting flights and using positioning flights. You can also use Flight Connections.com to see connecting flights as you can see below.
American Airlines Routes to/from Los Angeles Screenshot from FlightConnections.com
Fly from Sydney to many destinations all over the South Pacific with oneworld partner Qantas.
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #2
Los Angeles - Papeete (Flying Air Tahiti / Using American Miles) Business Class
Cost: Close-in, the lowest cost in Biz Class is 80,000 miles each way. This route has recently had award space for up to four people, and sometimes 30 to 60 days from departure date, and within 30 days of the return flight.
Not flying from Los Angeles?
Learn about getting free connecting flights and using positioning flights. You can also use Flight Connections.com to see connecting flights; see American’s route map above from Los Angeles.
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #3
Seattle - Papeete (Flying Air Tahiti / Using American Miles) Business Class
Cost: Close in, the lowest cost in Biz Class is 80,000 each way. This has recently had award space for up to four people both outbound and the return within three weeks of departure.
Not flying To/From Seattle?
Learn about getting free connecting flights and using positioning flights. You can also use Flight Connections.com to see connecting flights.
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #4
Philadelphia - London Business Class
Cost: Close in, the lowest cost in Biz Class ranges from 72,000 to 78,000 each way. American typically charges 121,000 to 301,500 each way booking further out.
Award Availability: This route has recently had award space for up to four people, outbound within three weeks of departure, and inbound three to six weeks of departure.
Recap:
[table_opt id="6825" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Not flying from Philadelphia and/or to London?
Learn about getting free connecting flights and using positioning flights. You can use Flight Connections.com to see connecting flights to Philadelphia as shown in the screenshot below.
American Airlines Routes to/from Philadelphia Screenshot from FlightConnections.com
Not going to London?
Fly from London to many destinations all over Europe with oneworld airlines. Here’s a snapshot of the options with American oneworld partners throughout Europe…
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #5
New York - São Paulo
Business Class
More proof of last-minute opportunity is demonstrated below. When booking beyond September 2023, American Airlines Business Class flyers looking at New York-São Paulo, Brazil will find a range of prices from 112,500 miles right up to 344,000 miles. But look at the screenshot below for this past July.
Award Availability: This route typically has a handful of award space for up to two people outbound within 60 days of departure. You can sometimes find random dates with lower cost award space throughout the year to South America, but these are very few and far between.
American Airlines’ New York-São Paulo
Business Class 55,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking Within 7 Days Out (on July 5)
American Airlines’ New York-São Paulo
Business Class 50,000-Mile One-Way Pricing
When Booking 30-60 Days Out (on July 5)
Recap:
[table_opt id="6826" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Not flying from New York?
American Airlines Routes to/from New York Screenshot from FlightConnections.com
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #6
Dallas - Santiago Business Class
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Not flying from Dallas?
American Airlines Routes to/from Dallas Screenshot from FlightConnections.com
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #7
Miami - Santiago Business Class
[table_opt id="6828" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]
Not flying from Miami?
American Airlines Routes to/from Miami Screenshot from FlightConnections.com
Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #8
Miami - São Paulo Business Class
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Secret American Miles Opportunity Route #9
New York - Buenos Aires Business Class
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The moral of this story is: Keep your bags packed and ready to roll to take advantage of the best last-minute Business Class mileage flights to Europe, South America and the South Pacific–and if you’re already purchased your ticket at a not-low price, keep the Iterative Upgrade Mindset close.