FirstClassFlyer

The rare (if you don’t read FCF) “Cheaper + Better Upgrade” perspective

Okay class, please take your seats. Conchita, please close your Google Earth app; there’ll be plenty of time for you to study the world in person after today’s lesson – especially in Brazil, Munich, and Madrid, as you’ll see very soon.

We’ll be looking at those destinations in the context of the famed Cheaper + Better Upgrade perspective which is the travel version of winning the state lottery.

A Cheaper + Better Upgrade is where you travel in a better cabin (in the examples below, First Class) AND pay less than you would have in a lesser cabin (in these examples, Business Class).

July’s Upgrade Economics 101 Example #1
Fly American Airlines First Class to South America
for Less than
United in Business Class

In our first example, the regular published September fare for United Airlines’ Miami-São Paulo route in Business Class is $3,274, and the First Class fare is $8,821 on American. However, you can easily buy the First Class miles required for this trip: 110,000 miles round-trip when they’re on sale,for just $2,725 including taxes. That’s amazing for two reasons:

It’s a better cabin: First Class.
It’s $549 less than Business Class.

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BTW: American Airlines First Class Availability Treasure Map

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July’s Upgrade Economics 101 Example #2
Fly Lufthansa First Class to Munich
for Less Than
British Airways Business Class

Now let’s head to Munich with this double treat. The regular published Business Class fare is $5,197 on British Airways, while the First Class fare is usually $9,720 on Lufthansa. But since you’re an FCF reader, you’d opt to buy the 230,000 First Class miles required on Lufthansa for just $3,629. So again, you’re a genius because:

You paid $1,568 less to fly in First than Business (not to mention spending $6,091 less than the First Class published fare)
You’re in First Class, eating caviar.

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BTW: Lufthansa First Class Availability Treasure Map

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July’s Upgrade Economics 101 Example #3
Fly Iberia Business Class to Madrid
for Less Than
Delta Premium Economy

And finally, class, it’s time to head to Madrid for some tapas and low costs. On Delta, the regular Premium Economy fare for Miami-Madrid is $2,394, and the Business Class fare on Iberia is $3,797. But brilliantly, you read this report and paid just $1,807 for that same Business Class ticket because you bought and transferred 85,000 miles from Iberia for 1.8 cents each when on sale. That’s awesome for two reasons:

You’re now in an Iberia Airlines Business Class cabin.
You paid $587 LESS to be in Business Class than Premium Economy on Delta.

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BTW: Iberia Airlines Business Class Availability Treasure Map

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Upgrading your travel life can be simple.

See you up front.

[["Operating Airline","Sample Route","Class","Cost R/T","#colspan#"],["United","\n\n\nMiami - S\u00e3o Paulo","Business","Regular Published Fare in September","$3,274"],["\nAmerican","#rowspan#","\nFirst","Cost to Buy 110,000 AAdvantage Miles (Including Taxes, When on Sale)","$2,725"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Regular Published Fare in September","$8,821"],["How much better? ","#colspan#","#colspan#","One Class Upgrade","#colspan#"],["How much cheaper?","#colspan#","#colspan#","$549","#colspan#"]]

[["\nFrom / To","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days per Month","9 to 12 Days per Month","13+ Days per Month","4 to 8 Days per Month","9 to 12 Days per Month","13+ Days per Month"],["Miami-S\u00e3o Paulo","June to Aug., Dec., March, April","Sept.","","June, July to Sept.","Feb.","March, April"]]

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats; in green at least four seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile...

[["Operating Airline","Sample Route","Class","Cost R/T","#colspan#"],["British Airways","\n\n\nNew York - Munich","Business","Regular Published Fare in January","$5,197"],["\nLufthansa","#rowspan#","\nFirst","Cost to Buy 230,000 Lufthansa Miles (Including Taxes, When on Sale)","$3,629"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Regular Published Fare in January","$9,720"],["How much better?","#colspan#","#colspan#","One Class Upgrade","#colspan#"],["How much cheaper?","#colspan#","#colspan#","$1,568","#colspan#"]]

[["\n\nFrom / To","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days per Month","9 to 12 Days per Month","13+ Days per Month","4 to 8 Days per Month","9 to 12 Days per Month","13+ Days per Month"],["New York-Munich","July to Nov.","July, Aug., Oct.. to Dec., Jan. to Feb.","Dec., Jan to March","June, Nov., Dec.","Nov., Dec., March","Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb., March"]]

[["Operating Airline","Sample Route","Class","Cost R/T","#colspan#"],["Delta","\n\n\nMiami - Madrid","Premium Economy","Regular Published Fare in April","$2,394"],["\nIberia","#rowspan#","\nBusiness","Cost to Buy 85,000 Iberia Miles (Including Taxes) when on sale.","$1,807"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Regular Published Fare in April","$3,797"],["How much better?","#colspan#","#colspan#","One Class Upgrade","#colspan#"],["How much cheaper?","#colspan#","#colspan#","$587","#colspan#"]]

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile...

Upgrade Economics 101, Part 7