FirstClassFlyer

This is for oneworld members (American, British Airways, and Iberia) looking to maintain elite status, but who can’t book 150 days out to get the cheapest Business Class fare: Consider using British Airways (BA) Avios points to upgrade to First. Forget free mileage awards because you don’t earn miles on them.

[aside headline="American Elites" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Booking British Airways Business Class (with the AARP discount) and using BA Avios points to upgrade is a much better deal than using American miles. It costs up to 7,000 fewer miles from NYC to London and there's no $1,100 co-pay. For AA elites, flying on BA in Business Class earns 125% base miles, 1.50 EQMs (Elite Qualifying Miles), and 25% EQDs (Elite Qualifying Dollars). The catch: Fewer EQDs than you accrue on AA flights—but how much are you going to sacrifice for more elite status, or do you even need on your next trip?[/aside]

Say you're traveling to places like Johannesburg, Dubai, or Delhi via London: These are often high-fare First Class destinations. The lowest advance-purchase Business Class fare (50 days) to Johannesburg is currently $5,867 from New York, $4,855 from Los Angeles. First Class is $3,500 more from New York and $5,700 more from Los Angeles, even more if you book inside of 50 days. But it only costs 40,500 (off-peak) to 45,000 (peak) Avios points one-way to upgrade Johannesburg from/to New York.

Non-Elite Focused and Looking for the Best Upgrade Deal

To upgrade on BA to London from Business Class to First, the airline charges 22,500 (off-peak) to 25,000 (peak) Avios points one-way from Los Angeles, and 18,000 (off-peak) to 20,000 (peak) from New York. It costs even fewer Avios points if you figure in the points earned on the trip. Plus, BA does not charge a co-pay for upgrades—American’s and United’s are $1,100.

Upgrade Survey: Using Miles on British Airways to London

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BEYOND LONDON Upgrade Savings Using Miles

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I know your next question: What about First Class Availability

Often good on British Airways. Plus, BA offers a First Class cabin on flights to London from 19 U.S. departure cities, making it easy to connect from other U.S. cities on its oneworld partner American.

Sweet Redeem Survey: British Airways First Class Upgrade Availability to London

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No British Airways Miles? No Problem.

BA not only gives you the option to buy miles (up to 35,000), but it is also a credit card transfer point partner with three cards: Amex Rewards, Chase, and Starwood.

[["U.S. Departure City","Advance Purchase","First Class Fare","Business Class Fare","Miles Needed for Upgrade Round-Trip","Miles Earned (Based on Entry Level BA Status: Blue)","Net Mileage Cost for Upgrade Round-Trip","Savings Using Avios Points"],["New York","150 days","$4,328","$3,378","36,000","10,374","25,626","$950 (22%)"],["#rowspan#","90 days","$5,885","$4,485","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$1,400 (24%)"],["#rowspan#","50 days","$6,885","$4,885","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$2,000 (29%)"],["#rowspan#","28 days","$9,839","$5,885","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,954 (40%)"],["Los Angeles","150 days","$6,178","$4,360","45,000","16,326","28,674","$1,818 (29%)"],["#rowspan#","90 days","$7,022","$4,791","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$2,231 (32%)"],["#rowspan#","50 days","$8,022","$5,791","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$2,231 (32%)"],["#rowspan#","28 days","$10,067","$7,222","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$2,845 (28%)"]]

[["Route","Advance Purchase","First Class Fare","Business Class Fare","Miles Needed for Upgrade Round-trip","Miles Earned (Based on Entry Level BA Status: Blue)","Net Mileage Cost for Upgrade Round-trip","Savings Using Avios Points"],["New York - Johannesburg","50 days","$9,367","$5,867","81,000","27,294","53,706","$3,500 (37%)"],["Chicago - Dubai","14 days","$9,449","$4,713","72,000","22,070","49,930","$4,736 (50%)"],["Dallas - Nairobi","#rowspan#","$10,805","$4,543","90,000","26,980","63,020","$6,262 (58%)"],["Los Angeles - Delhi","50 days","$7,870","$4,370","90,000","28,834","61,166","$3,500 (45%)"],["Miami - Mumbai","#rowspan#","$7,483","$3,983","90,000","26,698","63,302","$3,500 (47%)"]]

[["U.S. Departure City","To London","#colspan#","#colspan#","From London","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray"],["Chicago","Oct., Dec., July<\/span>","May, Aug.","Jan., April<\/span>, July","Dec., May, Aug.","March, April<\/span>","Jan., Feb.<\/span>, March, April<\/span>"],["Dallas","","Feb.<\/span>, March","Jan., Feb.<\/span>","","Jan.<\/span>, April","Jan., Feb.<\/span>, March, May"],["Houston","Nov., April<\/span>, May<\/span>","Dec. to March, May<\/span>, June, July, Aug.<\/span>","Dec. to May, July, Aug.","July<\/span>","July, Aug.<\/span>","Nov., Dec. to May<\/span>, June, Aug."],["New York","","Dec., June<\/span>","Jan. to May<\/span>, June, July, Aug.<\/span>","June<\/span>","","Dec., Jan. to May<\/span>, June, July, Aug.<\/span>"],["Washington, DC","","Dec.","Jan. to May, July, Aug.<\/span>","","May<\/span>","Dec., Jan. to April<\/span>, May<\/span>, July, Aug.<\/span>"]]