Save Up to 57% to Europe and Hawaii with Fares You’ll Never See

September 2009
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American Airlines Vacations, the carrier’s tour division, offers packages that can save you as much as 57%; deals you won’t see posted on the AA website or most booking engines.

One great advantage of this program is that its reduced fares are still eligible for elite credit bonuses for Business Class tickets, Business Class fare bonuses, and special promotions such as the current AA offer of up to 15,000 bonus miles for travel to Zurich.

For more info: AA Mileage Bonus

As with most package programs you must book a hotel: Travel to Europe requires a five-night minimum stay or $500 spent per person. Hawaii travel requires a two-night minimum stay. One of this program’s attractive features is that American does not require an advance purchase. Only a Saturday-night stay is required. Maximum stay is 30 days.

Our research shows that American Airlines Vacations is most effective to Europe when you’ve missed the 50-day advance booking window, and at anytime to Hawaii. However, the program offers no savings on Business or First Class travel to Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico or U.S. domestic (except Hawaii).

Sample savings: A Business Class round-trip with a 30-day advance from Dallas to Frankfurt costs $5,428 (plus taxes) through American, but only $2,343 with American Airlines Vacations, a savings of $3,085 (57%). First Class from Chicago to Maui costs $3,280 round-trip versus $2,037 through American Airlines Vacations, a savings of $1,243 (38%).

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[["<strong>Route<\/strong>","<strong>Unpublished Airfare<\/strong>","<strong>Published Airfare<\/strong>","<strong>Savings<\/strong>"],["Los Angeles - Honolulu","$1,606 ","$2,109 ","$503 \/ 24%"],["Los Angeles - London","$2,349 ","$4,495 ","$2,146 \/ 48%"],["Miami - Paris","$2,371 ","$5,063 ","$2,692 \/ 53%"]]
<small><em>Fares per person, R/T, based on two passengers. Taxes and cost of hotel not included.</em></small>