Business Class fares are usually high as competition is limited. For instance, a 50-day advance purchase Business Class fare to Johannesburg from Los Angeles averages $4,600, and a last-minute one, $7,400. Africa is one place where you can get a whopping return on your miles.
We examined two major U.S. airlines, on which miles can easily be obtained via credit-card point transfers or by buying them directly from the carrier, and four international airlines, serving four different regions in Africa. Here are the grades.
Air France and KLM / Flying Blue: D
High fares and high mileage redemption make for a below-average upgrade program. Requires 104,000 miles round-trip for an upgrade from economy to Business Class, and only allows it on higher priced economy fares: Y, B, and K on Air France, and S, B, and M on KLM. On many routes they average $2,500, but can go much higher, as is the case from Los Angeles to Accra ($4,200), a route on which KLM charges $3,938 for a Business Class ticket. Flying Blue partners with Amex Rewards and Starwood.
British Airways / Executive Club: B+
Requires 32,500 miles round-trip for an upgrade from Premium Economy (T, E, and W class) to Business Class to North Africa, 40,000 to West Africa, and 45,000 to Central and Southern Africa. Upgradeable fares start as low as $2,100 in low season (Oct. 21-Dec.19, Dec.23-April 3) from New York to South Africa. That’s $2,300 (52%) less than BA’s lowest advance purchase Business Class fare ($4,400), and yields a return on miles of about 5¢. When compared to other airlines promotional Business Class fares, the savings are a bit lower, about $1,600. Miles can be transferred from Amex Rewards, Diners Club, and Starwood, and BA allows Executive Club members to purchase up to 19,000 miles annually.
Delta / SkyMiles: C
Requires 50,000 miles round-trip for an upgrade from M and B fares, which on many routes start at about $3,000, compared to Delta’s own discounted Business Class, which starts at about $4,000. Miles are best used when you’ve missed the advance-purchase window, or you’re on a high-price route. Miles can be transferred from Amex Rewards, Diners Club, and Starwood. You can even buy all the miles needed for an upgrade (60,000, the annual limit) from Delta.
South African Airways / Voyager: B-
Requires 80,000 miles round-trip to South Africa—and more to other African destinations—for an upgrade from K, M, B, and Y fares. Except Dakar, a route on which SAA offers the rock-bottom redemption rate of 25,000 miles r/t from Washington, DC. Upgradeable fares start at about $2,000, a good deal compared to SAA’s Business Class ones, which start at about $5,000. The major drawback is getting Voyager miles since SAA only offers one credit-card transfer option, Diners Club.
United / Mileage Plus: B
Requires 60,000 miles round-trip and allows upgrades on any fare, but imposes a surcharge of up to $1,000. United only offers service on one of the four routes we surveyed, but it had the second best redemption value, an upgradeable fare of $1,822 from Los Angeles to Accra, Nigeria, (including the surcharge), plus 60,000 miles. The lowest United Business Class fare on the route is about $4,000, yielding a mileage return of about 3.5¢. United does not offer any credit-card transfer partners worth using. You’re best option is to buy miles from the carrier directly (up to 60,000 annually).
Lowest Upgradeable Economy Fares for Africa Travel
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