Business Class for about the price of coach, or less than Premium Economy, anyone? Everyone?
Do you avoid coach because it’s coach, while shunning Business Class because of the price? Of course, not everyone wants to blow between $4,000 and $5,000 on a Business Class ticket. I’m with you on that and I always look hard for a $2,000 ticket.
So imagine my smile when someone turned on the TAP to full power, spraying out a $1,224 Business Class ticket across the pond and back. A deal like this raises some trade-off decisions you’ll need to make, which are good problems to have if you ask me. For example, would I fly coach to the city I originally planned to visit or fly Business Class to a city I wasn’t thinking of, but is actually really cool, for nearly the same price?
Through unconventional strategies and taking advantage of real options, you could save up to $3,056, or 66%, over a regular Business Class flight.
Unconventional Strategies Reap Gushing Bargains
Flying Business Class for little more than coach is one of the holy grails of travel. It’s like:
Buying a Picasso at a yard sale.
Getting a Wagyu tenderloin for the price of a top round roast.
Getting a free stop on the way to your destination with FCF’s LSS or SLS strategies.
I could go on and on! If you haven’t picked up the hints, this high-pressure hose of a deal comes courtesy of LifeMiles by offering TAP’s New York-to-Lisbon route for 35,000 miles on the outbound flight. Even though the return flight is 63,000 miles, that’s a total of 98,000 miles round-trip. So, you’re netting round-trip travel for just $1,349 ($105 taxes included). If you take that one step further by subscribing to LifeMiles+, you can get this deal for just $1,224. More on that below.
TAP routes from Miami and Washington, DC, to Lisbon and Newark to Porto have available award seats for 126,000 miles round-trip. Other Star Alliance carriers have available award seats for 126,000 miles round-trip, which is still pretty good.
The Flow of Miles
LifeMiles offers bonus buy miles promotions almost monthly. The most recent one ended on May 31 and offered a bonus up to 160% at 1.27 cents a mile if you bought the maximum number of miles.
TAP Sample Savings Based on Buy Miles Costs
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USE LIFEMILEs WITH LOT - Sample Savings
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USE LIFEMILEs WITH SWISS - Sample Savings
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How do I open the spigot to get the $1,224 deal, Bennett?
I’m glad you asked, although the deals above are still pretty great, right? Club LifeMiles is now offering a new subscription plan called LifeMiles+, which brings the price of an award ticket down further.
If you are a subscriber of LifeMiles+, you get 10% Star Alliance mileage credited back to your account. That brings the cost down to 88,200, or $1,224 ($105 taxes included), for TAP’s New York-Lisbon discounted flights. TAP routes from Miami and Washington, DC-Lisbon and Newark-Porto, and other Star Alliance carriers on flights to Europe cost 113,400, or $1,544 ($105 taxes included). Here are the details:
- Get 10% back on Star Alliance, Iberia, and GOL redemptions. Miles will be credited to your account within 15 days.
- Get up to 25% discount on Avianca mileage redemption flights.
- Get up to 10,000 miles per month, depending on the plan.
- Fee waiver for mileage redemption ticket changes (typically $150) and refunds (typically $200) on Basic, Pro, and Max plans.
- 24-month extended mileage expiration policy.
- Cancel your subscription after a minimum of six months.
LifeMiles+ subscription plan cost
Lisbon and Porto
Why choose Lisbon or Porto? These are great cities to visit, and they’re not on a lot of people’s radars. Lisbon, the capital, has gorgeous architecture from the ancient Belem Tower to the intricate painted tiles of the Alfama district. Hills surrounding the city offer beautiful views across the Tagus River while the city buzzes with vibrant nightlife, music, and art.
Porto is quieter, and has its own timeless charm, along with that famous port wine. The city’s Ribeira district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring winding streets, colorful buildings, and scenic riverfront vistas. Both cities boast great food, offering everything from traditional Portuguese cuisine to innovative dining experiences. Speaking of which, you simply MUST eat Portugal’s signature custard tarts at every possible opportunity.
FCF’s Visual Treasure Maps
TAP Portugal Business Class Award Seat Availability Using LifeMiles
From New York to Lisbon, award seats are available for departures ⅓ of the days in January for up to two travelers. There are also a handful of days available for up to four travelers in February, for 35,000 miles. There are plenty of seats on the 63,000 miles return flight in January and May for up to four travelers.
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LOT Polish Business Class Award Seat Availability Using LifeMiles
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SWISS Business Class Award Seat Availability Using LifeMiles
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When the TAP Runs a Little Colder
Not everyone can be that flexible. Consider positioning flights when award seats are not offered on your route. And of course, don’t book backwards.
Is travel perfectionism holding you back? FCF always recommends grabbing your ticket when you come across a good deal or something you can live with — and if it’s not perfect, upgrade later.