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...
New, Stricter United MileagePlus Routing Rules for Travel Between USA and North Asia?
A report on FT suggests that United has imposed new, stricter routing rules on travel between the USA/Canada and North Asia. Thus far, my research points to a case of a mistaken agent. Still, the following new rules, apparently effective today,...
US Airways + TAM Join oneworld Alliance
As Star Alliance shrinks, oneworld grows. Effective today, both US Airways and TAM transition from Star Alliance to oneworld, adding a more robust route network across the U.S., South America, and Europe for oneworld flyers. How Will This Affect You? If...
Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for March 2014
Award chart devaluations continue, there are still a number of superb deals available. Here are my top ten award travel bright spots for March 2014. Nothing has changed from last month except the removal of United Airlines Asian redemptions...
Old United MileagePlus Award Chart Extended Through 02 February 2014!
Just got off the phone with United, where an agent read a memo stating that to “ensure a seamless customer experience” the old award chart will remain in effect through 02 February 2014. All travel booked on or after...
Reminder: New Aeroplan Award Chart Takes Effect on 01/01/14
Aeroplan is updating its award chart on January 01, 2014 and the changes are both good and bad. The Good: One-way awards at half the round-trip cost Right now Aeroplan charges 67% of the r/t price for a one-way...
United: US Airways Award Flights Bookable through March 30, 2014
United Airlines released an update concerning its future relationship with US Airways– As you’ve undoubtedly seen, American Airlines and US Airways closed their merger today. While our partnership with US Airways will be ending on March 30, 2014, it’s still...
Simplicity: The Key to a Smooth US Airways Award Booking
US Airways mileage awards are perhaps the most enigmatic because there is seemingly no rhyme or reason to what is permitted and what is not. I laid out some general guidelines about booking US Airways awards, but six phone...
Leaked US Airways Memo: Agents Forbidden to Manually Request Award Space
US Airways apparently did not appreciate my story on how to book blocked Lufthansa award space, because a new memo has been issued that explicitly instructs Dividend Miles agents not to manually request award space on any flight. It was...
