The Transcon, the premium non-stop service offered from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York/JFK (and by United to Newark), is America’s glamour route. It’s a domestic route on which the airlines strive to equal the international Business Class in-flight experience.
For some time now, FCF research has not found any free award availability on American, Delta, and United's Transcon flights to speak of.
For whatever reason, American’s Transcon now has space, up to four seats in Business Class on SFO-JFK and up to two seats in First Class LAX/SFO-JFK (see chart below).
Cost With American
65,000 miles round-trip in Business Class and 100,000 miles in First Class, plus about $11 in taxes, for a ticket that otherwise starts at $1,117 (Saturday flights only) and runs up to $3,987 in Business Class. In First fares start at $1,717 (also only on Saturday flights) and go up to $4,677.
American: Hold Friendly
American usually holds free award space for five days if a ticket is booked 15 or more days in advance. Departures booked within 14 days only net a 24-hour hold option. (Refer back to FCF’s report on What the Humble Pea Can Point Out About Using Miles & Points for Premium Air Travel.)
Getting American Miles
You can buy up to 150,000 miles from American (for 1.8¢ when on sale), or you could transfer points from Starwood. (Transfer time from Starwood is about two days.)
GOOD CONNECTIONS
Don’t live in Los Angeles, New York, or San Francisco? You can still take advantage of AA's availability by taking a connecting flight to a Transcon gateway. For example, fly San Diego-NY via LAX or Syracuse-LAX via NY.
OTHER WAYS TO PAY
Using Japan Airlines Miles: 60,000 (5,000 fewer than AA charges) in Business Class and 90,000 (10,000 fewer than AA charges) in First Class from SFO and LAX, plus $11 in taxes. Japan Airlines' award space is often the same as American's.
Starwood Points-to-Japan Airline Miles: 50,000 to 75,000 points.
Using British Airways Miles: 75,000 round-trip in Business Class and 100,000 in First Class from SFO and LAX, plus about $11 in taxes.
Getting British Airways Miles: Transfer 75,000 to 100,000 points from Amex Rewards or Chase, or 60,000 to 80,000 Starwood.
BEST DEAL: Watch out for the 40% transfer bonus to BA that Amex Rewards offers every few months. That brings down the cost to only 54,000 (11,000 fewer miles than AA charges) to 72,000 (28,000 fewer).
BUY LOYALTY, SAVE HANDSOMLY
Buying miles at 2.5¢ each from Amex Membership Rewards and transferring them to British Airways during a 40% transfer deal makes the net cost of a First Class seat $1,800, plus about $11 in taxes—a savings of up to $1,286 (42%). See FCF’s Beginner’s Guide: How to Play the “Buy Miles to Fly In Style” Strategy to Net Up to 90% Off Premium Travel special report for more details.
Using Cathay Pacific Miles: 50,000 (15,000 fewer than AA charges) in Business Class and 70,000 in First Class from LAX (30,000 fewer than AA charges) and only 60,000 Starpoints. From SFO Business Class costs 80,000 miles and in First Class 120,000 round-trip, plus about $11 in taxes.
Getting Cathay Pacific Miles: Transfer points from Amex Rewards, CITI, or Starwood.
Using Alaska Airlines Miles: 50,000 (15,000 fewer than AA charges) round-trip in Business Class from SFO and LAX, plus about $11 in taxes. (No First Class redemption.)
Getting Alaska Airlines Miles: Transfer 40,000 points from Starwood. Or buy an unlimited amount of miles (but a limit of four transactions permitted on the same credit card in 30 days) from Alaska as low as 2.1¢ each (for more details go here).
Sweet Redeem Survey: Free Award Availability on American Transcon
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