How to Get the Brass Ring of Flying
It’s looking like the lowest Business Class fares this summer will be to London. However, only three major airlines, American, British Airways, and United offer a true First Class cabin on London non-stops—and only two loyalty programs, British Airways Executive Club and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, that allow upgrading from ‘heavily discounted’ Business Class fares. Here’s a report card on each loyalty program when it come to First Class upgrades.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: A+
If you want the lowest Business Class fare that allows you to upgrade, this program is for you. This Oneworld member airline does not fly between the US and London, however its Asia Miles frequent flyer program can be used to get round-trip upgrades with partner American, which offers incredibly low sale fares on the route. Last year, a New York-London ‘I’ fare cost around $1,800 during the summer. (Wait till Thanksgiving and you can upgrade fares as low as $900 to First Class!) What’s remarkable here is that American does not allow its own mileage club members to upgrade on these deeply discounted Business Class fares, requiring instead a $5,400 fare ($4,000 more than Cathay Pacific’s fare) for the same flight! American’s normal First Class fare on this route is $13,462. Another nice option is that you can also upgrade British Airways flights—the only mileage program to give options with the two carriers.
British Airways: A-
Upgrades cost 50,000 miles round-trip from BA’s discount Business Class ‘I’ fares, which start at $2,056 round-trip on ticketing through March 13, whereas normal First Class is as much as $15,000. BA’s First Class seats get top honors in the comfort department, too. One-way upgrades are permitted on one-way tickets.
American Airlines: D+
An upgrade from Business to First Class is 25,000 miles one-way, but it’s only allowed on more expensive D and J fares, which usually start at more than $5,000—although there are occasionally upgradeable fares from New York for $3,200.
United Airlines: D
A one-way upgrade to London goes for 30,000 miles, but it’s only allowed on non-discounted D and C fares, which start at $5,520.
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How to Get the Brass Ring of Flying
It’s looking like the lowest Business Class fares this summer will be to London. However, only three major airlines, American, British Airways, and United offer a true First Class cabin on London non-stops—and only two loyalty programs, British Airways Executive Club and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, that allow upgrading from ‘heavily discounted’ Business Class fares. Here’s a report card on each loyalty program when it come to First Class upgrades.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: A+
If you want the lowest Business Class fare that allows you to upgrade, this program is for you. This Oneworld member airline does not fly between the US and London, however its Asia Miles frequent flyer program can be used to get round-trip upgrades with partner American, which offers incredibly low sale fares on the route. Last year, a New York-London ‘I’ fare cost around $1,800 during the summer. (Wait till Thanksgiving and you can upgrade fares as low as $900 to First Class!) What’s remarkable here is that American does not allow its own mileage club members to upgrade on these deeply discounted Business Class fares, requiring instead a $5,400 fare ($4,000 more than Cathay Pacific’s fare) for the...