I’m a big fan of the point.me search engine for maximizing your points and miles and I am a big fan of Bilt, a loyalty currency that I find extremely valuable for its unique cadre of transfer partners. Not...
SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus
UPDATE: Since late December 2022, SWISS first class awards have been bookable once again, though only as married segments and only with United MileagePlus or Lufthansa Miles & More, not any other Star Alliance currencies. For example, I have not...
A Tale Of Two 1K Agents At United Airlines
Who you deal with on the phone when you call an airline matters greatly, even when you have elite status. A recent pair of interactions with United Airlines demonstrates this vividly. Two United Airlines 1K Phone Agents: Two Very...
Massive Emirates “Fuel” Surcharges Shows There Is Never A Better Time Than Now To Redeem Miles
I always used to say that miles are like are a depreciating asset like used cars. With the price of used cars still surging, that’s not the case any longer. But points are still a depreciating asset and a...
My Singapore Airlines Suites Dilemma
I am facing a Singapore Airlines Suites class redemption dilemma that pits time and money against fairness, real or perceived. Singapore Airlines Suites Dilemma – To Push, Or Not To Push Before the pandemic in February 2020 I gleefully...
Saver Award Space Via Married Segment Availability
Saver award space has all but dried up lately, with even last-minute seats no longer available. Even so, you may still be able to use married segment fare logic to find saver award space that would not be available...
Oneworld Award Space Bonanza – Four Business Class Seats Per Flight
Two of my favorite oneworld carriers have released a glut of award space for travel in early 2022 – many flights have four award seats. If you have the points, now is a great time to book travel for...
Masterpiece: My Final Aeroplan Redemption
With a new Aeroplan program coming that explicitly prohibits backtracking, I made one final odd but strategic redemption. This redemption demonstrates why I love Aeroplan (despite our troubles) and why I am officially crazy. My Beautifully Convoluted Final Aeroplan...
United Airlines Increases Cost Of Nonstop Partner Award Flights
United Airlines no longer publishes award charts so technically there is no longer such thing as a devaluation. Nevertheless, partner award space tends to follow a uniform price and I’ve noticed a disturbing new trend concerning nonstop flights on...
No Voluntary Downgrades On Emirates Award Tickets
Mixed cabin awards are a tricky proposition when it comes to Emirates Skywards bookings. As counterintuitive as it sounds, you may end up paying more for business class than first class. Mixed Cabin Emirates Skywards Bookings Can Be Pricey...
Japan Air Lines Appears To Be Limiting First Class Awards Via Partners
Japan Air Lines is one of my favorite first class products in the world. The service and food are over the top. Thus, it is with sadness that I share that JAL now seems to be restricting first class...
United No Longer Publishes Star Alliance Award Chart
United Airlines has removed its Star Alliance award chart from its website. Are prices on partner awards about to go up further? While chatting with a United spokesperson about the changes to earning on partner flights, she volunteered that...
American AAdvantage Bolsters European Award Travel
American Airlines AAdvantage has re-designated Morocco from Africa to Europe, a move that will be an objective net positive for most AAdvantage members. You’ll now have more options for using your miles to travel between North America and Europe...
Fabulous First Class Award Option To Australia Returns
Japan Airlines (JAL) is restoring first class service to Australia, representing a remarkable opportunity to enjoy first class using miles. As of September 1, 2020, Japan Airlines will add a daily 777-300ER flight between Tokyo Haneda and Sydney. The...
Waiting For The Next AAdvantage Devaluation? It’s Already Here
If you thought the elimination of close-in award bookings fees on American (to match Delta and United) was simply a gift, you have not been paying attention. Have you seen what “AAnytime” awards are suddenly pricing at? American Airlines...
Considering A One-Way Delta SkyMiles Award? Check Round-Trip Pricing First
While I understand the economics of airline pricing to the extent that distance and price rarely correlate, the idea of charging more for A alone than A + B still requires the suspension of logic. Today, I’m not talking...
United’s New Dynamic Award Pricing = Bad Deal On Many Routes
Just to reiterate a warning I feared and is now a reality: United’s new variable award pricing means some awards are pricing at levels under one cent each. Don’t waste your miles on these awards. While Live and Let’s Fly stresses the...
An Aspirational First Class Award Is Now Within Reach
It may be a blessing in disguise that I have not found the time to flying Singapore A380 Suites this year…now maybe I’ll fly it for 14 hours instead of just five… Singapore Airlines is not only stingy with...
Aeroplan Update: No News Is Not Good News
Still having trouble booking your Aeroplan award? If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, there is still not a global fix to what has become an ongoing issue. I’ve outlined the problem here. Put simply, Air Canada recently transitioned to...
Los Angeles To New Zealand For 5,000 American Miles? Don’t Be Fooled.
As nice as redeeming 5,000 miles to fly from Los Angeles to New Zealand using AA miles sounds, please don’t take your eyes off the bigger picture. These gimmicky redemptions come at great cost. Last night, American Airlines ran...
