Where to Find Upgrade Opportunities Now - For Up to Four Passengers

January 2015
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New routes, new seats, and aircraft changes can mean good to wide-open availability for a short time. Take advantage of the opportunities while they last.

This Month: Time to Burn Amex Reward, Citi Thank You, and Star wood Points or All Nippon and KLM Miles Between the U.S. or Canada and Asia or Europe

KLM—Business Class

New Route Opportunity: Edmonton-Amsterdam starts May 5 using an A330-200.

Easy Connections To/From: Calgary, Seattle, Vancouver, and other cities.

Fly To/From Beyond Amsterdam: To/from many European destinations at no extra cost and beyond for more miles. Explore other destinations.

KLM’s Flying Blue Miles: 125,000. Explore award space here.

Amex Rewards and Citi Thank You Points: Transfer 125,000.

Amex Membership Rewards Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point; get a Business Class ticket for $3,125 through the Buy Miles to Fly in Style strategy, for a ticket that can otherwise start at $4,555 (CAD $5,278) with a 50-day advance-purchase.

Survey of Award Availability: KLM Edmonton - Amsterdam

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Starwood Points: Transfer 100,000.

Partner Opportunity with Alaska Miles: If you took advantage of Alaska Airlines’ recent buy miles bonus of up to 35%, then Edmonton-Amsterdam costs $2,807—versus $4,555+.

All Nippon—Business & First Class

New Route Opportunity: Houston-Tokyo starts June 12 using a B777.

Easy Connections To/From: All over the U.S.

Fly To/From Beyond Tokyo: To/from many Asian destinations; cost varies by flight distance and travel season. Explore other destinations.

All Nippon’s First Class Suite

All Nippon Miles: 75,000 (low season) to 95,000 (high season) for Business and 120,000 for First Class (year-long). Explore award space.

Amex Rewards Points: Transfer 75,000 to 95,000 points to ANA miles for Business and 120,000 for First Class.

Amex Membership Rewards Points Purchase: Cost is 2.5¢ per point; get a First Class ticket for $3,000 (plus about $629 in taxes) through the Buy Miles to Fly in Style strategy, for a ticket that can otherwise cost up to $19,742.

Starwood Points: Transfer 60,000 to 80,000 for Business and 100,000 for First Class.

Survey of Award Availability: All Nippon Houston - Tokyo

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[["Class","Availability <strong>To <\/strong>Amsterdam","#colspan#","#colspan#","Availability <strong>From <\/strong>Amsterdam","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Hopeful<\/strong>","<strong>Hooray<\/strong>","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Hopeful<\/strong>","<strong>Hooray<\/strong>"],["Business","May, June","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"><strong>July to Sept.<\/strong><\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"><strong>Aug.<\/strong><\/span>","May to <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"><strong>July, Sept.<\/strong><\/span>",""]]
<small><span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Handful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you’re flexible. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hopeful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hooray:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated. <em>Months in <u>black</u>, at least one seat available;</em> <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong>in <u>blue</u>, at least two seats.</strong></span></small>
[["Class","Availability <strong>To <\/strong>Amsterdam","#colspan#","#colspan#","Availability <strong>From <\/strong>Amsterdam","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Hopeful<\/strong>","<strong>Hooray<\/strong>","<strong>Handful<\/strong>","<strong>Hopeful<\/strong>","<strong>Hooray<\/strong>"],["Business","<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Dec.<\/strong><\/span>","<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>June<\/strong><\/span>","<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June <\/span><span style=\"color: #008000;\">to Nov.<\/span><\/strong>","<span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>June, Oct., Nov., Dec.<\/strong><\/span>","","<strong><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June to Nov., <\/span><span style=\"color: #008000;\">July to Sept<\/span><\/strong>"],["First","","June","July to Oct.","","June","July to Oct."]]
<small><span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Handful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you’re flexible. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hopeful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hooray:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated. <em>Months in <u>black</u>, at least one seat available;</em> <strong><span style="color: #6699cc;">in <u>blue</u>, at least two seats;</span> <span style="color: #008000;">in <u>green</u>, at least four seats.</span></strong></small>