FirstClassFlyer

On American Airlines

American announced three new international routes in November: Dallas-Seoul, starting May 9, 2013; Chicago- Dusseldorf (April 11, 2013); and Dallas-Lima (April 2, 2013). The Seoul and Lima routes have lots of mileage award space. The cost: 125,000 miles for First Class and 100,000 for Busi-ness Class to Seoul, and 60,000 miles for Business Class to Lima.

Getting American Miles

Transfer 100,000 points from Starwood, and with the 25% bonus for every 20,000 miles transferred, you’ll have the 125,000 miles needed for First Class to Seoul. (For Business Class transfer 80,000 points.) For Business Class to Lima, transfer 50,000 points.

Mileage Award Space on American to Lima and Seoul

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Rare Opportunity on Delta to Sydney

It’s rare to find Business Class award seats to Sydney, much less inexpensive ones, but Delta has them for 150,000 miles. This is a ticket that would otherwise cost $6,000 or more, giving you a return on miles of 4¢.

Getting Delta Miles

Transfer 120,000 points from Starwood; the 25% bonus bumps the amount to 150,000 miles. Or transfer miles from Amex Rewards. Remember that Delta will hold free mile-age seats for up to 48 hours and that the transfer from Amex Rewards often takes place the same day. (For more see FCF Aug. issue.)

Business Class Award Space on Delta’s Los Angeles – Sydney Route

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Lufthansa from Los Angeles

On Dec. 10, Lufthansa starts flying the B747-800 from LA to Frankfurt. This aircraft offers Lufthansa’s new flat-bed Busi-ness Class seat in an enlarged cabin—there are 92 seats, an increase of 26 over the B747 Business Class cabin.

Lufthansa charges 170,000 miles for a free First Class award ticket and 105,000 for a Business Class one, and partners with the United and US Airways mileage programs.

Getting Lufthansa Miles

Transfer 140,000 points from Starwood to get the 170,000 miles needed for First Class. For Business Class, transfer 85,000 points.

Mileage Award Availability Space on Lufthansa’s B747-800 Los Angeles – Frankfurt

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Why You May Not Need Lufthansa Miles

Award seat availability through Lufthansa’s Miles & More program is often similar to that on United and US Airways. In other words, you can take advantage of the 100% mileage bonus now being offered by US Airways—ends Dec. 7 (see our Nov. 7 and Nov. 13 alerts in our newsroom)—but use them to book Lufthansa to Europe.

Lufthansa’s New B747-800 Business Class on Los Angeles-Frankfurt

United Ups Frequency from San Francisco

Our GDS (global distribution system) computers show that United will increase service from San Francisco to Frankfurt and London from one flight to two flights daily this spring. That means more award space. To Europe, United charges 135,000 miles for a First Class award ticket, and 100,000 for Business Class.

Mileage Award Space on United’s SF-Frankfurt and London Routes

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Getting United Miles

United is a transfer credit card partner with Chase Sapphire Preferred and also a Point-Transfer-Friendly (PTF) airline (for more on that see FCF Aug. issue.), meaning it will hold award space while you transfer points. Hold times range from 24 hours to 7 days (free or for a fee, depending on the route, and hold time). Transfers from Chase sometimes occur within 24 hours.

Alaska Airlines Ups Hawaii Service

The carrier has three new seasonal routes: Portland-Kauai (Nov. 5 to April 7, 2013); Bellingham-Maui (Nov. 8 to April 14, 2013); Anchorage-Kona (Nov. 10 to April 7, 2013). It also begins flying San Diego-Kauai year-round on June 7, 2013. Three routes, Bellingham-Maui, Portland-Kauai and San Diego-Kauai, offer good First Class mileage award space (cost: 75,000 miles).

Getting Alaska Miles

Transfer 60,000 points from Starwood for a First Class ticket, or buy the miles directly from Alaska for $1,715.

Free Award Mileage Space on Alaska Airlines in First Class

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[["Class","Departure Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Decent","Go For It","Handful","Decent","Go For It"],["First","","","Jan. to Oct.","","","Jan. to Oct."],["Business","April, May, Aug. ","Feb., March, June ","July, Sept., Oct.","March, July ","May, June ","Feb., April, Aug. to Oct."],["Handful:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u0092re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Decent:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

[["Route","Class","Departure Availability","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Decent","Go For It","Decent","Go For It"],["San Francisco - Frankfurt","First","","May to Sept.","June","May, July to Sept."],["#rowspan#","Business","July","Aug.","Sept.","Aug."],["San Francisco - London","First","","May to Sept.","","May to Sept."],["#rowspan#","Business","","May to Sept.","","May to Sept."],["Decent:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

[["Route","Departure Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Decent","Go For It","Handful","Decent","Go For It"],["Bellingham - Maui","Dec., Jan., March","","","Feb., March","Dec., Jan.",""],["Portland - Kauai","Dec., Jan. ","","","Jan.","Dec.",""],["San Diego - Kauai","Oct.","June, Sept. ","July, Aug. ","","Oct.","June to Sept."],["Handful:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u0092re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Decent:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Go For It:<\/strong><\/span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"]]

A Rundown of New Routes Rife With Upgrade Opportunities