And One Great Premium Economy Promotion
What do you prefer, immediate or deferred gratification? Because right now there are four great promotions out there that will reveal something basic about your personality—impulse traveler or planner?—while also getting you a great deal to Europe or Asia.
Two of the promotions, for travel this May and June, are aimed at the “I can go last minute, as long as the price is right” traveler. The other two are for the traveler who likes to lay groundwork—they’re for travel in early 2012.
For the Now Voyager
Business Class to Europe: Air France and KLM, both Amex Membership Rewards and Starwood point-transfer partners, are offering Business Class to Europe for only 50,000 miles—what most airlines charge for coach—making this deal a “free upgrade”. You can nail a seat by transferring just 40,000 Starpoints to the Flying Blue mileage program, which both airlines use. (The 10,000-point transfer bonus brings the total to 50,000.) Or transfer 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards, which you can buy for only $1,250, a lot cheaper than the published fares of $4,000 to $10,000. Valid through June 30, from Chicago, Houston, Montreal, Toronto, and Washington, DC. More Info: Air France Special
Premium Economy to Europe: Air France is also offering Premium Economy (Premium Voyageur) seats for only 31,500 miles. A Starwood transfer requires only 27,000 points; an Amex Rewards transfer 32,000. Valid through June 30, from Houston, Montreal, and Toronto. More Info: Air France Special
For the Long-term Investor
US Airways Business Class to Europe: This Starwood points-transfer partner offers Business Class for only 60,000 miles for travel Jan. 15 through Feb. 28, 2012. The offer is valid from every US Airways gateway to every one of its European destinations. It only takes 50,000 Starpoints transferred to the Dividend Miles mileage program to get this one, as the 10,000-point transfer bonus brings the total to 60,000. Our research turned up seven European routes that offer favorable mileage availability during the travel window (see table below). Confirm the trans-Atlantic flight first and then work back to your connecting flight. More Info: US Airways Special
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Business Class to Asia: Amex Rewards and Starpoints partner All Nippon Airways (ANA) offers Business Class tickets to Tokyo for 70,000 to 75,000 miles, up to 44% less than other airlines charge that fly this route, for travel Jan. 10 through Feb. 29, 2012. (Honolulu departures cost 60,000 miles.) You can get this one with 60,000 Starwood Starpoints, the amount that many carriers charge for coach, or by buying the miles from Amex Membership Rewards ($1,750 to $1,875). That is up to 60% off published Business Class fares, equivalent to a free upgrade. Valid from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. Due to space, please see an upcoming alert in our Newsroom for best award routes on All Nippon. More Info: All Nippon Special