The final transition from US Airways to American Airlines was a total non-event and for that I must offer my congratulations to American Airlines. Thinking back to that fateful March day of Continental – United system integration in 2011,...
The Bright Side of the Aeroplan Devaluation
Aeroplan announced changes to its award chart today, effective 15 December 2015. The bad news is that the amazing prices to Europe in business and first class will go up, a tad. The good news is that this round...
New California British Airways Route Has Lots of Award Space
British Airways will commence service between the Silicon Valley and London on May 4, 2016, offering daily non-stop service between San Jose, CA and London Heathrow on its new 787-9 Dreamliner. If you are looking for non-stop business class...
Are Held Award Tickets Really Guaranteed?
For a full-timer award booker, the most valuable tool any airline loyalty program can offer is the ability to hold a ticket prior to booking. Few things are for more frustrating than finding ideal award space, alerting the client,...
Special Report: Delta’s Secret Skymiles Devaluation
When Delta Air Lines depublished its Skymiles award charts in February, we were told that we no longer needed charts because the online pricing system would tell us how many miles were required for any given trip. The problem...
The Significance of American Airlines’ Starwood Transfer Bonus
As the mantra goes, miles and points are a depreciating asset and are better burned than stored for future use. American Airlines is offering a generous 20% transfer bonus on points from Starwood Preferred Guest. Essentially, that means instead...
A Secret Trick for Securing Business Class Award Space to Europe is Exposed
Brussels Airlines award space is again bookable on united.com…the secret trick to dependable business class award space to Europe has been exposed. Brussels Airlines space has played cat and mouse games on united.com over the last few years, appearing...
A Non-Stop 5-Day Trip Around the World
Non-stop as in, I do not leave airports or sleep in hotels. For five days. Yes, this is what I consider fun and no, I do not need to be institutionalized. I am halfway through a 31,770 mile trip...
Major British Airways Executive Club Devaluation in Late April
British Airways has announced changes to how you earn and burn Avios effective 28 April 2015 and let’s not kid ourselves — this is a massive devaluation. Our one reprieve is that short-haul economy class redemptions will not go...
Flying Blue Promo Awards for January 2015
Each month Air France / KLM Flying Blue offer Promo Awards and I have highlighted the value of these awards on many occasions. While the January 2015 promotion is modest, Canadian travelers have a great opportunity to save on business class travel to Europe. Business...
Great Deals with November 2014 Flying Blue Promo Awards
I have highlighted the value of Air France/KLM Flying Blue Promo Awards on many occasions, and after several months of rather mediocre sales, November offers a number of discounted awards worth considering. Air France/KLM tends to release a lot of saver space to its own...
LOT Polish Airlines Award Space Bookable on united.com
LOT Polish Airlines is back after a long hiatus on united.com. The Polish flag carrier operates a fleet of 787s to North American gateways including Chicago, New York JFK, and Toronto and award space in both business and economy...
US Airways 100% Bonus on Purchased Dividend Miles Extended
US Airways has extended, perhaps for one final time, its 100% bonus on purchased miles. It appears this sale will mark the end of US Airway’s role a consolidator for premium award tickets, as word is there will never...
South African Airways Award Space Again Bookable
I wrote yesterday that South African Airways award space had been unbookable for one week using miles from any Star Alliance loyalty program outside of South African Voyager. Thankfully, the space is again bookable. The one-week hiatus of all...
ExpertFlyer Now Features US Airways Awards and Upgrades
While Delta Air Lines has demanded that ExpertFlyer remove not only award and upgrade info, but revenue info, the new American Airlines has moved in the opposite direction, working with ExpertFlyer to load availability for US Airways upgrade and...
September 2014 Flying Blue Promo Awards for November + December Travel
Air France/KLM Flying Blue has released its Promo Awards for September 2014 and the pickings continue to get slimmer for business class deals between North America and Europe. This month, there is not a single city 50% off or...
Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased US Airways Miles – 7 Tips and Tricks
US Airways is once again running a 100% bonus on purchased miles through September 30, 2014. Every other month US Airways has been running this promotion, but I would not expect it to last – I sense an imbalance...
Giving up Lufthansa First Class for Love
Today was the day that my wife was to fly Lufthansa First Class for the first time. I was looking forward to it so much! First Tokyo Haneda to Frankfurt, then Munich to Toronto in First Class tomorrow with...
Air France Flying Blue Promo Awards – 50% Off Business Class from Washington to Europe
Air France/KLM Flying Blue offers Promo Awards every quarter in which select worldwide destinations are discounted 25-50%. Paying only 62.5K miles r/t to fly between North America and Europe in business class makes the ~$750 fuel surcharge stomachable on...
Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for May 2014
We have been spared from any major award chart devaluation announcements the last couple months and I trust we are settling into a new era of status quo–there has been enough bloodshed over the last year. But whether the...
