Rife with Upgrade Opportunities: New Routes, Upgraded Seats, Aircraft Changes

April 2013
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Not flying the specific routes mentioned in the article, or need to make a connection anyway? Just knowing these developments can net you advantages, as you can try to connect through the gateways mentioned for the special opportunities available.

Air France From Minneapolis

Loyalty Program: Flying Blue (SkyTeam Alliance)

Air France’s Business Class Seat

On May 21 Air France starts non-stop summer service (ends Sept. 1) to Paris using an A340 with both Business Class and Premium Economy Elite sections (see FCF March, page 7, for more on PE Elite). 100,000 miles for a Business Class award ticket, 75,000 for Premium Economy.

Getting the Miles: Transfer 80,000 points from Starwood for Business Class. Premium Economy takes 60,000 Starpoints, the amount many domestic airlines, such as Delta and United, charge for economy. Or transfer the full number of miles from Amex Rewards.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on Air France, Minneapolis-Paris

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Alitalia From Boston

Loyalty Program: MilleMiglia (SkyTeam Alliance)

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In March Alitalia resumed Boston-Rome service, using a new A330 with 28 flat-bed Business Class seats and a Premium Economy Elite section (see FCF March, page 7, for more on PE Elite). Alitalia charges 80,000 miles for a round-trip Business Class award ticket and 65,000 for Premium Economy. Act now because on July 1 both go up by 20,000 miles.

Getting the Miles: Transfer 65,000 points from Starwood for Business Class—only 5,000 miles more than the amount many domestic airlines, such as Delta and United, charge for economy. PE takes 55,000 points. Alitalia is also a transfer partner with Amex Rewards.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on Alitalia, Boston - Rome

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Japan Airlines

Loyalty Program: JAL Mileage Bank (oneworld alliance)

Japan Airlines’ New Business Class

In early May JAL starts offering its refitted B777-300ERs with new Business Class seats, Sky Suite, and its new Premium Economy Elite seats, Sky Premium, on New York-Tokyo. (See FCF March, page 7, for more on PE Elite.) The new seats are already on London-Tokyo. Miles required for Business Class is only 80,000 round-trip and 65,000 round-trip for Premium Economy.

Getting the Miles: Transfer 65,000 points from Starwood for Business Class—only 5,000 miles more than many airlines, such as Delta and United, charge for economy—and with the 25% bonus for every 20,000 miles transferred, you’ll have the 80,000 miles needed. For Premium Economy, 55,000 points gets you there. Less than other airlines charge for economy.

Survey of Free Mileage Space on Japan Airlines, New York-Tokyo

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United First Class

Loyalty Program: MileagePlus (Star Alliance)

United’s First Class

On June 6, United starts flying three-cabin B767-300s from Newark to Amsterdam, which means new First Class award space. 135,000 miles are required. But act fast as service is seasonal, ending August 12.

Getting the Miles: United is a credit card transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards and a Point-Transfer-Friendly (PTF) airline (for more on PTF’s, see FCF Aug. issue, page 2), meaning it will hold award space for a fee while you transfer points. Hold times range from 24 hours to 7 days, depending on the route. Transfers from Chase can take as little as 24 hours.

Survey of First Class Award Mileage Space on United, Newark - Amsterdam (June 6-Aug. 12)

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[["Class of Service","Departure Availability","Return Availability"],["#rowspan#","Go For It","Go For It"],["Business","July, Aug.","Aug."],["Premium Economy","June to Aug.","June to Aug."],[" <strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>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#"]]
[["Class of Service","Departure Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Decent","Go For It","Handful","Decent","Go For It"],["Business","Aug.","Sept.","April, July, Oct. to Dec.","June to Aug.","","April, May, Sept. to Dec."],["Premium Economy","","","April to Dec.","","","April to Dec."],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Handful:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u2019re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Decent:<\/span><\/strong><em> Our most recent research shows that upgrade award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>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#"]]
[["Class of Service","Departure Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Decent","Go For It","Handful","Decent","Go For It"],["Business","Nov.","Dec.","Jan. 2014","Dec.","Nov.","Jan. 2014"],["Premium Economy","","Sept.","Oct. to Jan. 2014","","","Sept. to Jan. 2014"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Handful:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you\u2019re flexible.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Decent:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Our most recent research shows that upgrade award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>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#"]]
[["Departure Availability","#colspan#","Return Availability","#colspan#"],["Decent","Go For It","Decent","Go For It"],["June and Aug.","July","Aug.","June and July"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Decent:<\/span><\/strong> <em>Our most recent research shows that upgrade award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.<\/em>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Go For It:<\/span><\/strong> <em>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#"]]