This past summer I flew Business Class on American round-trip from Miami to Honolulu with the family (four of us in all) for the lowest available mileage redemption, 75K per passenger. Here are tips from my research.
When seeking premium seats, start the search early, travel midweek, and don’t book everyone under the same reservation. I made two reservations under my name and two under my wife’s, also an AAdvantage member, after striking out at getting reservations for all of us under my name. While my initial booking yielded only two Business Class seats, calling the day before and then again hours before departure yielded two more at the lower redemption rate, with the mileage difference returned to my account.
Lazaro Sarabia, Miami, FL
Shopping for the Lowest Business Class Fare
I just booked two Business Class tickets to Naples, Italy, from Seattle via London on British Airways. I paid $3,712 round-trip for each ticket, departing Seattle on Sept. 2 and returning from Naples on Sept. 21. What I find amazing is that the round-trip flight to Naples is only slightly more expensive than Seattle-London on the same dates.
Verne Valentine, Seattle, WA
Our research department had a look at fares and availability for these routes and found you were able to take advantage of a discounted summer Business Class fare to Naples offered by BA, which is valid from June 29 through Sept. 3.
However, BA does not offer a discounted summer Business Class for Seattle-London. Airlines that do include American (a BA partner), Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, and United, and in Business Class they currently charge $3,624 round-trip including taxes, just $88 less than your ticket to Naples.
BA and Virgin are among the few airlines serving Europe that often do not join in on all Business Class fare promotions. Nice going.
– MB
Frustrated with Free Low Cost Mileage Availability
I have been a Platinum level elite on Delta Airlines for 15 years. I am very frustrated with the mileage redemption side of Delta’s Frequent Flyer Program. Why is it so horrible in comparison to that of Virgin and British Airways? For the past four years, I only used those two airlines when flying international (four to five times per year) because they charge far less than the 250,000 miles Delta asks for a Business Class ticket. I am curious as to your thoughts.
Dermot Cawley, Alpharetta, GA
Delta has greatly limited Business Class award space, as a matter of policy, so I understand why you’re frustrated. Here are some avenues that may help you use your miles on Delta.
- Each month FCF highlights routes on which the chances of getting award space are best. So if your schedule is flexible, look at using miles on these routes.
- Consider Air France, a Delta SkyTeam partner, as it sometimes has better award space than Delta. Plus, if you have elite status with Air France you also have access to international First Class award inventory, something Delta members do not, since Delta does not offer an international First Class product. Also, let’s not forget that Air France, throughout the year, offers Business Class and Premium Economy awards at 50% off a discounted award.
- We have found that BA offers good award space year round. The downside is that once you’re beyond London, the award price increases.
– MB
Partner Award Redemption 101
In FCF’s April issue, there was a story about buying 140,000 miles from Alaska Air and using them to get a First Class ticket on Qantas from Los Angeles to Sydney. On the Qantas website, the only First Class award I can find requires 600,000 miles. How do I get this award for 140,000 miles?
Mark Mammel, Dellwood, MN
You won’t find this award on the Qantas site. The mileage amounts listed refer to Alaska miles, and you book the award through Alaska Airlines, which is a Qantas partner. You get it by going to the Alaska Airlines site and clicking on “Mileage Plan / Redeem Miles / Australia – NZ – South Pacific.”
Here you will find a list of airlines that can be booked using Alaska miles for travel to the South Pacific. At the bottom of the page is Qantas at 140,000 miles for a First Class award for travel from North America to Australia and/or New Zealand.
– MB