2015 has brought new and exciting changes to the way your redeem your Delta SkyMiles including a new five-tiered award chart and one-way awards at half the price of a round-trip tickets. Read on for more about these changes...
Business Class Partner Awards on United Airlines Pricing for 115K instead of 140K RT!
I am loath to post many mileage deals that appear to be mistakes on this blog because airlines do read blogs and respond quickly – I may not have the readership of The Points Guy, but it is no...
Cyber Monday Bonus: 125% Bonus on Purchased Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is in the midst of a 100% bonus on purchased miles promotion but is offering a 125% bonus special today only for Cyber Monday. Bottom line: you can buy up to 66,000 miles for $2,178.00 (1.47 cents each) and...
Is the Elimination of Stopovers on United MileagePlus Awards Inevitable?
Delta Air Lines has announced that free stopovers will not be part of the 2015 Skymiles program and it seems likely that the combined American and US Airways AAdvantage program will also not offer complimentary stopovers. That would leave...
Bad News for Aeroplan with Stricter Routing Rules
The news just keeps getting worse for Aeroplan members. Lucky wrote a post entitled Aeroplan Improving Routing Rules — No More MPM! a couple days ago and my heart sank immediately when reading it — I knew the news could...
South African Airways Award Space Not Bookable
South African Airways has been a stalwart member of Star Alliance for the last eight years and offers an extensive route network within Africa and to key cities around the world from its hub in Johannesburg. Although I would...
Abundant Turkish Airlines Award Space on New San Francisco – Istanbul Route
Turkish Airlines is launching new non-stop service between San Francisco and Istanbul in April 2015 and the award space is abundant in both business and economy class – even on the inaugural flights! We’re not just talking about one or...
The US Airways Dividend Miles Tax Game
While charging fraudulent “government” taxes on Dividend Miles transfers appears to be a nefarious policy choice by US Airways, another equally distressing issue is just as concerning — agent incompetence may mean you pay a lot more taxes on your...
United Loosens Award Routing Rules Between North America and Africa
Fearing that United Airlines had further tightened up award routing rules to Asia based on a new and restrictive revision of the fine print, I warned in May that if enforced, United’s draconian new routing rules would mark a stealth...
Air India Joins Star Alliance
After years of drama, Indian flag carrier Air India has formally partnered with Star Alliance and becomes the first Indian carrier to join a global air alliance. I remember all too well how the drama unfolded in 2011 while...
Booking My First Class US Airways Award with No Fuel Surcharges
Although the window is closing fast, it is still possible to book British Airways award flights using US Airways Dividend Miles without a fuel surcharge. It took me a couple tries, but I just booked a mega-award redemption with...
Using Lufthansa Miles for Travel to Hawaii in First Class
The Lufthansa Mile & More Mastercard from Barclays is offering a 50,000 mile sign-up bonus through June 30, 2014 and one of the best uses of these points for U.S. and Canadian residents is to book award travel on...
No Fuel Surcharges on British Airways Awards with US Airways Miles
Since US Airways joined oneworld, the carrier has not imposed fuel surcharges on British Airways award flights. Considering fuel surcharges run more than $800 r/t for Europe and much more if you continue on to Asia or Africa, this...
Update on Air China Award Booking Cancellations
More are reporting that their Air China award reservations booked with United MileagePlus miles are being cancelled and United is finally waking up to the problem. Still, there is no solution in sight. You should be vigilant in monitoring...
United Releases Award Space on New Los Angeles – Melbourne Route!
United formally announced new service between Los Angeles and Melbourne yesterday. The route will operate 6x weekly, utilize a Boeing 787-9, and be operated by ex-Continental crews. On Wednesday, I noted– United has indicated that the flight will be...
Brussels Airlines Award Space Returns to united.com
Shielded from the user-friendly united.com, Brussels Airlines has been one of the hidden secrets of my award booking business for several months. Award space is generous in both economy and business class and Brussels Airlines serves both Washington Dulles...
Customer Friendly? United Softens Blow of New Award Chart
United Airlines left a substantial question unanswered before its award chart devaluation yesterday–what changes to awards booked under the old chart will be permitted without having to pay additional miles? Today, it answered the question and also lessened the...
Germanwings (4U) Award Space Now Available on United.com
United Airlines MileagePlus members have been eligible to earn miles on Germanwings, the Lufthansa low-cost-subsidiary since last October, with the promise that Germanwings flights would soon be available for mileage bookings. Now, Germanwings flights are bookable on united.com in both...
The ANA Award Search Tool is Great, but not Perfect
Even if it can be a bit cumbersome to use, I have found ANA’s award search tool to be the single most accurate source of Star Alliance award availability for several years. Singapore Airlines space has been problematic–ANA automatically...
Top 10 Airline Award Redemptions for January 2014
With the new year here and many changes negatively affecting airline loyalty programs now in effect or shortly taking effect, there are still a number of superb deals available. Here are my top ten award travel bright spots for...