MilesBuzz! - Help on trip to France

Mods, I'm not sure where to put this request. Please move it if needed.

I would be extremely grateful if somebody could help me figure out this situation. I am still fairly new to the travel world and have not been finding great solutions to this issue.

My Issue:

I've been dating a French girl for the past few months and she recently asked me to go to her Sister's wedding outside of Paris at the end of June. This is pretty last minute. My problem is, this being Paris in the Summer, the best coach tickets I've found are about $1,200. This is outside my price range given the short length of my stay there. Additionaly, my dates are pretty inflexible due to work and the wedding itself.

Dates:

Depart: June 21st (EWR, JFK, LGA) - This needs to be the latest possible flight because I'll be coming back from work.
Return: June 28th

My Point Situation:

Aeroplan: 20,000
United: 60,000
Hyatt: 50,000
SPG: 18,000
Membership Rewards: 11,000
Ultimate Rewards: 25,000

I would prefer to keep the Hyatt points to use for a few nights at the Park Hyatt Paris. I am also willing to pay for this, just can't quite afford what I've been finding.

Thank you so much in advance for your help,

Mitch

Mitch:

You need 50k more United. After moving the Ultimate Rewards over to United Mileage Plus that leaves 25,000 short. You simply need 25K more United. Have you got one of the Chase United credit cards? If not, get the Chase United Explorer Card ASAP.


Aeroplan: 20,000
United: 60,000
Hyatt: 50,000
SPG: 18,000
Membership Rewards: 11,000
Ultimate Rewards: 25,000

I think you would receive more replies if you had taken the time to create a descriptive title.

You need to find award availability, then figure out if you have the points to claim it. I would look first at Star Alliance because you can combine Ultimate Rewards with UA (85,000 total); then Membership Rewards and Starwood with Aeroplan (49,000 total). There are other possibilities.


You need 50k more United.

I am not at all familiar with UA's redemption chart. Does he really need 110,000 for an economy class roundtrip?

I am not at all familiar with UA's redemption chart. Does he really need 110,000 for an economy class roundtrip?
Shouldn't...a Saver coach award should be 30k each way. That said, I'm looking and only see Standard awards, which are 55k each way.

Sadly, I'm not seeing any options other than purchasing. You could do a standard award for one way and only pay for the other?

Mitch:

You need 50k more United. After moving the Ultimate Rewards over to United Mileage Plus that leaves 25,000 short. You simply need 25K more United. Have you got one of the Chase United credit cards? If not, get the Chase United Explorer Card ASAP.

I do have the United Card and the Sapphire Preferred already. Would it really be realistic to get expect points from a new app (today for example) to post that quickly?

Yeah - he's in a bit of a bind with his timing. Need to know if he still has the Sapphire? or a United card, as there is still some magic in my magic bag of tricks. But the timing is dicey.

Next time date a French Canadian?:D

Shouldn't...a Saver coach award should be 30k each way. That said, I'm looking and only see Standard awards, which are 55k each way.

Sadly, I'm not seeing any options other than purchasing. You could do a standard award for one way and only pay for the other?

You are asking a lot in a short period of time, but mia has pointed you in the right direction. You've got to look at award availability and you've got to be creative. The best route for you obviously is one of your NYC airports straight into Paris, but at this late date, you may need to consider a connection through an alternate airport.

Dublin and Aer Lingus may give you a good option if you're not able to work out something from NYC to CDG. You'll need to convert your 11K MR to 16.5K Avios (50% bonus through the end of the month) and your 25K UR to 25K Avios. If you can find a flight, you can fly JFK to Dublin RT (there's a 9:45 p.m. flight) in economy for 40K Avios on Aer Lingus plus about $125 in fees (you could do the same flight out of Boston for 25K Avios if you can get to and from Boston). You can either stay on Aer Lingus to fly to Paris on a paid ticket (around $300) or use another airline like Ryanair (maybe half that but just be sure to pack light to avoid checked baggage fees, know that you're flying into a secondary Paris airport, and thoroughly review their policies and fees to avoid getting burned).

Above all, however, don't make any transfers to any programs until you know you've got a flight you can book. Availability can dry up within hours and although you're not going during the absolute peak of tourist season over there, you're also not going during a low-demand season.

Good luck in your hunt!

PM me with your limits on each card and their current balance STAT.:cool: And your statement closing dates. This is gonna be a squeeker.

I do have the United Card and the Sapphire Preferred already. Would it really be realistic to get expect points from a new app (today for example) to post that quickly?

Not seeing AVIOS working...

Delta is 75K Skymiles now, but he is SOL on Delta Skymiles. He could Suntrust the Skymiles, but not in time. I have them in inventory. Might 1:1 for United if it is a Hail Mary situation.

Forgot to add that to book on Aer Lingus with Avios, you'll have to call BA's service center, which can be a bit of an adventure in itself. Nevertheless, in this situation, it's worth the call. A good, concise description of the method is here: http://thepointsguy.com/2012/04/using-british-airways-avios-on-aer-lingus-to-avoid-taxes-and-fuel-surcharges/.

...only see Standard awards, which are 55k each way.

Ah, that makes sense on short notice with very specific flight requirements. I think that also eliminates Aeroplan from the process because Saver inventory is required for partner awards.

I wouldn't do this, but:

11,000 Membership Rewards points could be transferred to 3,663 Starpoints. This would bring the SPG balance up to 21,663, which could transfer to UA 13,331.

It appears that Points.com will exchange 20,000 Aeroplan for 7,467 Mileage Plus

60,000 + 25,000 + 13,331 + 7,467 = 105,798. It would cost $188.13 to buy the remaining 5,000 UA miles.

You could fly into BRU and take the train - about 1.5hr. Do not see any saver into BRU, but coming back there is: total 85k. Which is just what you would have if you transferred UR to UA.

Even better: You can fly to CDG for 55k and leave from BRU for 30k - making a o/w train trip.

Yeah, but he gets royally screwed on the conversion. He's dating a French girl so he's gotta be broke (or soon will be).:D

Ah, that makes sense on short notice with very specific flight requirements. I think that also eliminates Aeroplan from the process because Saver inventory is required for partner awards.

I wouldn't do this, but:

11,000 Membership Rewards points could be transferred to 3,663 Starpoints. This would bring the SPG balance up to 21,663, which could transfer to UA 13,331.

It appears that Points.com will exchange 20,000 Aeroplan for 7,467 Mileage Plus

60,000 + 25,000 + 13,331 + 7,467 = 105,798. It would cost $188.13 to buy the remaining 5,000 UA miles.

I wouldn't do this...

Yeah, but he gets royally screwed on the conversion.

We are in agreement. Surface Interval has identified an elegant solution which leaves the AC, MR and SPG balances intact and which can be booked immediately with the added bonus of a visit to Brussels ^ .

Train adds $250ish? Any train deals he could get? Or else MRs might convert to AirFrance for a flight in or out?

Elegant, just not rock bottom.:cool: Passport time. But PM because if this works out you are gonna need a boatload more miles.


We are in agreement. Surface Interval has identified an elegant solution which leaves the AC, MR and SPG balances intact and which can be booked immediately with the added bonus of a visit to Brussels ^ .

Train adds $250ish? Any train deals he could get? Or else MRs might convert to AirFrance for a flight in or out?

Elegant, just not rock bottom.:cool: Passport time. But PM because if this works out you are gonna need a boatload more miles.

The trains I was looking at for the o/w Paris to Brussels on the 28th are $55 found on http://www.raileurope.com

What about flying to/from LHR? It looks like there's availability on those dates for 30K each way (United).. There are various ways of getting from London to Paris that shouldn't be too expensive.

What about flying to/from LHR? It looks like there's availability on those dates for 30K each way (United).. There are various ways of getting from London to Paris that shouldn't be too expensive.

Oops, just noticed the high taxes! Never mind (unless paying a few hundred dollars extra is worth it to you...)

Good idea below as saver award availability from NYC to CDG on ua.com appears to be far less than to LHR. OP can travel cheaply between LHR-CDG using BA miles (transfer from MR to BA). I checked ba.com and it shows LHR-CDG each way costs only 4.5K Avios points plus $20. [ETA] Notice the award type from ba.com says "Reward Flight Saver", i.e., no taxes/fees, not sure if this is a promotion or not.

Another consideration is to check flights from/to PHL for travel on ua miles. Its a relatively easy commute between NYC-PHL.


What about flying to/from LHR? It looks like there's availability on those dates for 30K each way (United).. There are various ways of getting from London to Paris that shouldn't be too expensive.

For the outbound flight, there's a non-stop to EDI for 30K United (leaves around 8pm) that has almost NO taxes and fees! You could still use Avios to get to CDG, or even a low-cost flight might make sense.

The out-bound leg EWR-LHR incurs only $2.50 for tax/fee, its the in-bound LHR-EWR that would have cost $179 in tax/fee instead of $85.xx for CDG-EWR.

For the outbound flight, there's a non-stop to EDI for 30K United (leaves around 8pm) that has almost NO taxes and fees! You could still use Avios to get to CDG, or even a low-cost flight might make sense.

OP could chose
Option A.
a1) EWR-LHR UA28 leaves at 7:35pm on 6/21(30K UA + $2.50), arrive LHR in early morning on 6/22
a2) LHR-CDG (4.5K BA + $20), I don't see flight available on same day right now on ba.com but it may open up later; alternate is that OP can choose to stay in LHR for a day, and take e.g. BA304 leaves 7:25am on 6/23 (currently bookable on ba.com)
a3) CDG-EWR UA55 leaves at 1:10pm on 6/28 (55K UA + $85.30), arrive back home airport at 3:50pm
---> total cost 30+55=85K UA, $2.50+$20+$85.30=$107.8, 4.5K BA, plus potentially overnight hotel cost at LHR

Option B. as suggested by an earlier post (in-bound CDG-BRU via train, then use UA miles for saver award available for BRU-(YUL?)-EWR
---> total cost 55+30=85K UA, $2.50+$55(train)+$53.80=$111.30,
I do have a question: since BRU-(YUL?)-EWR departs BRU at 10:40am, would OP be able to make same day connection from Paris, or does he need consider at least overnight at BRU one day before to ensure he has sufficient buffer for his return flights? If the latter is warranted then the total cost would be similar to Option A. I guess OP could then choose based on which connection city he prefers :)

After checking a bit on the United website, I found a saver award for 60,000 miles + $96.20 if you can leave one day earlier and fly RT Newark--Brussels. Here are the details.

Wednesday, June 20:

UA 28 Newark--London Heathrow; lv 7:35 PM arr 7:40 AM next day
SN 2094 LHR--Brussels; lv 10:05 AM arr 12:20 PM

Thursday, June 28:

AC 833 Brussels--Montreal; lv 10:40 AM arr 12:20 PM
UA 4968 Montreal--Newark; lv 2:53 PM arr 4:46 PM

I realize that it's not ideal, but it seemed worth calling it to your attention.

There is also availability from GVA on the 20th at the low level. GVA isn't much worse than BRU when it comes to train travel time. I don't think leaving a day earlier would be in issue in this case because the travel is overnight on a non-stop flight. Probably the best option here.

You can travel on your dates via ZRH. ZRH is 4.5 hours away, or most likely a 100E plane flight.

I'm not on KVS so I can't do much better right now. This isn't a difficult situation if you are willing to use nearby airports and be slightly flexible with your dates.

P.S. - French girls are tough. I've dated 2.

I've been a lurker on FT for a while now and it's things like this that I always find spectacular. Perfect strangers helping someone out for nothing else than the challenege of solving the puzzle. Amazing.

I've been a lurker on FT for a while now and it's things like this that I always find spectacular. Perfect strangers helping someone out for nothing else than the challenege of solving the puzzle. Amazing.

I am similarly highly impressed. I started to open some windows to search before I realized that everything I was thinking about had already been suggested!

Hey Everyone,

Thank you so much for all of the help. I'm sorry I haven't been back on to respond sooner but I had a flight back from Greensboro last night that went late so I didn't get to take care of this flight as quickly as I would like. I'm hoping to be able to weigh all the options you've given me at lunch or right after work today and hopefully lock it down.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the effort.

Mitch

You could fly into BRU and take the train - about 1.5hr. Do not see any saver into BRU, but coming back there is: total 85k. Which is just what you would have if you transferred UR to UA.

Even better: You can fly to CDG for 55k and leave from BRU for 30k - making a o/w train trip.

Good idea below as saver award availability from NYC to CDG on ua.com appears to be far less than to LHR. OP can travel cheaply between LHR-CDG using BA miles (transfer from MR to BA). I checked ba.com and it shows LHR-CDG each way costs only 4.5K Avios points plus $20. [ETA] Notice the award type from ba.com says "Reward Flight Saver", i.e., no taxes/fees, not sure if this is a promotion or not.

Another consideration is to check flights from/to PHL for travel on ua miles. Its a relatively easy commute between NYC-PHL.

For the outbound flight, there's a non-stop to EDI for 30K United (leaves around 8pm) that has almost NO taxes and fees! You could still use Avios to get to CDG, or even a low-cost flight might make sense.

After checking a bit on the United website, I found a saver award for 60,000 miles + $96.20 if you can leave one day earlier and fly RT Newark--Brussels. Here are the details.

Wednesday, June 20:

UA 28 Newark--London Heathrow; lv 7:35 PM arr 7:40 AM next day
SN 2094 LHR--Brussels; lv 10:05 AM arr 12:20 PM

Thursday, June 28:

AC 833 Brussels--Montreal; lv 10:40 AM arr 12:20 PM
UA 4968 Montreal--Newark; lv 2:53 PM arr 4:46 PM

I realize that it's not ideal, but it seemed worth calling it to your attention.

These and some other suggestions here are great ideas. One back-up option is to check awardnexus.com, which can do some good searches for award availability on various routes. I think the initial sign-up is free for FT members, though it could cost you if you use it too much.

Given the great options folks have already suggested and the fairly short time frame, I'd just hold awardnexus as a back-up if these routes don't pan out.

I've been a lurker on FT for a while now and it's things like this that I always find spectacular. Perfect strangers helping someone out for nothing else than the challenege of solving the puzzle. Amazing.

+10 Best.Community.Ever.

+10 Best.Community.Ever.

Agree. And some solutions are highly creative as well.
Love it.

After checking a bit on the United website, I found a saver award for 60,000 miles + $96.20 if you can leave one day earlier and fly RT Newark--Brussels.

If the OP can leave a day earlier, there are actually plenty of *A Awards available to PAR itself:

[KVS Availability Tool 6.9.9.R3/Diamond - ITA: Awards/AC-StarAlliance/CA] (http://www.KVSTool.com/)
JFK New York John F Kennedy Intl NY US [KJFK]
CDG Paris Charles De Gaulle FR [LFPG]
WED 20 Jun 2012 | 1 Seat

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ------------
LX 23 JFK 19:30 GVA 09:20 +1 333 0 YS+
-> LH 1215 GVA 11:00 +1 FRA 12:25 +1 733 0 CS+ YS+
-> LH 1036 FRA 13:35 +1 CDG 14:45 +1 735 0 CS+ YS+
LX 23 JFK 19:30 GVA 09:20 +1 333 0 YS+
-> OS/VO 572 GVA 10:05 +1 VIE 11:45 +1 100 0 CS+ YS+
-> OS 415 VIE 12:55 +1 CDG 15:00 +1 738 0 CS+ YS+
LX 23 JFK 19:30 GVA 09:20 +1 333 0 YS+
-> LX 2807 GVA 10:10 +1 ZRH 11:00 +1 320 0 CS+ YS+
-> LX 638 ZRH 12:40 +1 CDG 13:55 +1 319 0 CS+ YS+
LX 23 JFK 19:30 GVA 09:20 +1 333 0 YS+
-> LX 2809 GVA 11:05 +1 ZRH 12:00 +1 320 0 CS+ YS+
-> LX 638 ZRH 12:40 +1 CDG 13:55 +1 319 0 CS+ YS+

Pics of the french girl?

With a bit more research, I've found another option for travel to Europe on June 21. You can get a saver award on United from Neward to Duesseldorf, Germany. The flights are:

Newark--Edinburgh UA 36 lv 8:05 PM arr 7:55 AM next day
Edinburgh--Duesseldorf LH 3473 lv 12:05 PM arr 2:40 PM

There are no saver awards available from Duesseldorf the day you wish to return, but you could combine a flight to Dusseldorf with a return flight from Brussels, Geneva, Zurich or other cities have been recommended as having award availability.

Hope this helps.

A somewhat expensive alternative for the return is to borrow 1,500 MR points, transfer 12.5K MR to AF and fly CDG-MAD-JFK (AF & UX). Fuel surcharge makes the taxes/fees around $300.:eek:

Hey All,

I just wanted to provide an update. Currently I'm holding the reservation as follows:

6/21 EWR - CDG for 55k miles
6/28 BRU - EWR (via YUL) for 30K

I'm going to transfer my UR points to United to get it done. This seemed to be the best option for me schedule, convenience in getting to my final destination of northern France, and maximizing my time over there. I'll figure out a train to Brussels Wednesday night and probably stay near the airport to catch the ride out on Thursday.

Thanks again to everyone for all the help, I really appreciate the time and thought.

Regards,

Mitch

Hey All,

I just wanted to provide an update. Currently I'm holding the reservation as follows:

6/21 EWR - CDG for 55k miles
6/28 BRU - EWR (via YUL) for 30K

I'm going to transfer my UR points to United to get it done. This seemed to be the best option for me schedule, convenience in getting to my final destination of northern France, and maximizing my time over there. I'll figure out a train to Brussels Wednesday night and probably stay near the airport to catch the ride out on Thursday.

Thanks again to everyone for all the help, I really appreciate the time and thought.

Regards,

Mitch

Not sure if you're aware, but for your return you will actually have to pass through the U.S. immigration in Montreal before you board your EWR flight, so make sure your layover is long enough.

Not sure if you're aware, but for your return you will actually have to pass through the U.S. immigration in Montreal before you board your EWR flight, so make sure your layover is long enough.

The good news is that there are flights operated by UA or a UA codeshare nearly every hour from 2PM to 6:45PM from YUL-EWR. When you do your final booking, do be sure to take into account akcae's advice; i.e., factor immigration into the connection. Don't just take the shortest connection or you may be on the standby bubble (odds are, you would get a flight - but it could be more of a wait than you had expected). More good news - you will land at EWR a free man - no waiting for immigration there.

The suggested return option that I posted earlier allows about 2 1/2 hours in Montreal. That should be plenty of time to clear immigration in time for the flight to Newark.

I'll figure out a train to Brussels Wednesday night and probably stay near the airport to catch the ride out on Thursday.



If you have time, go to a good beer bar in Brussels. Perhaps Delirium Cafe or Moedor Lambic.

Try as many sours as you can. It'll change your life.

The suggested return option that I posted earlier allows about 2 1/2 hours in Montreal. That should be plenty of time to clear immigration in time for the flight to Newark.

That is plenty of time. I went through YUL last week from CDG and it took a total of about 1hr 15 min.

Bobette

Not sure if you're aware, but for your return you will actually have to pass through the U.S. immigration in Montreal before you board your EWR flight, so make sure your layover is long enough.

Unless you have good ol nexus ;)