United New Seat Update: Its B777-300ER with the new Polaris Business Class seat, already in service on SFO-Hong Kong route, starts flying between Newark and Tel Aviv on May 5 (UA90/UA91), and on June 14 between San Francisco and Tokyo (UA837/UA838). No award space right now. Newark-Tel Aviv starts at $3,349 r/t.
Virgin Atlantic Amazing Biz Fares: Now through October, VA will fly to Manchester from Boston and San Francisco, and starting May 25 New York-Manchester year-round. No award space currently on the Boston and SF routes, and just a handful of seats on NY-Manchester in June, September, and October. Until May 4 San Francisco-Manchester can be had for only $2,256 round-trip in Business Class. For more information go here.
Easy Awards With Japan Airlines: In April, it started flying JFK-Tokyo Haneda using B777-300ERs with four cabins. No First Class award space right now, but there’s good availability in Business Class in January and February. Best mileage buys: AAdvantage (120,000 miles r/t) or Starwood Preferred Guest (90,000 points r/t) to JAL. Go here for more.
New West Coast-Europe Service: Began Warsaw-LA service on April 3 using a three-cabin B787-8 Dreamliner that has flat-bed seats in Business Class and a Premium Economy cabin. Use 140,000 United miles to redeem for Business Class—points can be transferred from Chase—FCF research shows good award availability for three months, see chart below for details.
Sweet Redeem Survey: LOT Polish from Los Angeles to Warsaw Using United Miles
JetBlue Expands Mint: Later this year it launches four new routes with Mint, the carrier’s name for Business Class, but tickets are for sale now. New York-San Diego ($1,097 r/t) starts in August, New York-Las Vegas ($1,098 r/t) in November, and Boston-San Diego ($1,097 r/t) in December. In November Jet Blue starts a new seasonal flight (through April 2018) between New York and St. Maarten ($1,437 r/t), and resumes other Caribbean seasonal routes from New York: to Aruba starting in September ($928 r/t); to Grenada ($1,415 r/t) and St. Lucia ($914 r/t), both starting in December; Boston to Aruba starting in September ($629 r/t); and Boston to Barbados in November ($833). For more go here.
Delta Deval: Another surprise mileage increase! Partner award rates increase 30,000 to 40,000 miles round-trip. In the airline’s words: “This change is part of Delta’s regular evaluation of award pricing that can result in increases or decreases.” FCF has been warning you to NOT be married to one airline and this is just another example why it is so important not to keep all your miles and loyalty with one airline program, because when devaluation happens you are stuck with the new rates.
More Great Seats to Hawaii: Two new seasonal flights to Hawaii will offer international Business Class seats: Los Angeles-Honolulu B777-200 (Dec. 15 through March 24) and Phoenix-Honolulu A333 (Dec. 15 through March 24). No award space currently, but keep both cities in mind for making a connection in order to get the better seat. More here on “How to Get Free In-Class Upgrades to Hawaii on American, Delta, and United.”
American’s Premium Economy Routes: Currently only AA’s B787-9 offer its new Premium Economy service: 2x3x2 seat layout, 38-inch seat pitch, and with extendable foot, leg, and head rests. Routes with the seats: Starting May 4 from Dallas to Madrid, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Seoul; starting July 5 (limited time seasonal service) Chicago to Paris; starting Aug. 4 Los Angeles to Tokyo; starting Oct. 5 Los Angeles to Auckland; and starting Nov. 6 Los Angeles to Sydney.
No AAdvantage mileage awards or upgrades to Premium Economy available now. Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Platinum receive complimentary access to Premium Economy on flights before May 4 from Dallas. Gold members pay 50% of the Main Cabin Extra seat fee or receive complimentary access within 24 hours of departure, if seats are available. Fares vary based on route, but start at $1,441 on Dallas-Madrid off-season.