Last edit by: skunker
- Fare feels too good to be true? Don't call the airline!
- Double-check that the fare is actually in Business or First as some online search engines or OTAs confuse booking classes on some airlines.
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- The deeply discounted international fares discussed here are almost always specific to a certain point of origin, and only very rarely work in reverse (e.g. a SFO-LHR-SFO fare usually won't work LHR-SFO-LHR). Domestic fares more commonly work in reverse.
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Note: There is a known miscoding on ITA and elsewhere, where fares on EI (Aer Lingus) are showing as being in first class. This is not correct, as Aer Lingus does not offer first class. If you see this fare, please ignore it and do not post it here as it is completely unbookable in every sense of the term. The mods are summarily deleting these posts in order to unclutter the thread.
Note: There is a known miscoding on ITA and elsewhere, where Z fares on EY (Etihad) are showing as being in first class. This is not correct, as Z fares are discount business on EY. These fares will not receive chaffeur service. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etihad-airways-etihad-guest/1622229-removal-chauffeur-service-some-business-class-passengers.html
List of known, active deals:
JNB-DXB-SFO in EK F, $4k-ish one-way
MLE-HKG-US (various) in C, $1400 +/- available only on CX's website.
CMB-MIA, other US cities, for about $4400 in F, round-trip/return
BA AARP $400 discount for J/F bookings is now valid again for booking until 31 Oct 2014 but departure to EOS seems to get the discount. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1435816-ba-fare-discounts-aarp-4.html
Good Deal Premium Fares 2014
#3317
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,384
To each their own. I don't make millions, or have millions, but have flown paid F on BA and I thought that was a bargain (about $7.5K for a family of 4, $2K in bonus miles). I'd do it again in a heartbeat in the same financial situation.
Last edited by bmchris; Dec 19, 2014 at 10:15 am
#3318
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 224
I've been able to get $100/hr or less when buying miles flying CX and EK F. I don't travel enough to have availability be an issue. I've been lucky the last few years buying miles and one awesome ex-CMB fare (RIP). Unless you're working on status, don't underestimate buying miles for redemptions.
#3319
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,350
Or I could just buy a nice dinner in the city I live in and not travel at all? Talk about apples and oranges, what does a hotel and dinner have to do with the comfort and experience of the flight to get there and home?
BTW, I've been to Sri Lanka dozens of times for the past decade and enjoy it both as a destination itself and a point of return from central and south asia for what have been historically cheap(er) tickets.
My point was that if I am going to fly half way around the world for a vacation (wherever that may be), I'd like the to and from portion to be in F.
BTW, I've been to Sri Lanka dozens of times for the past decade and enjoy it both as a destination itself and a point of return from central and south asia for what have been historically cheap(er) tickets.
My point was that if I am going to fly half way around the world for a vacation (wherever that may be), I'd like the to and from portion to be in F.
#3320
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,350
So it looks like with the current AS sale, EK is about $1800+ or so for F in each direction. And AA looks like about $1700+
Are those the best miles based deals?
Are those the best miles based deals?
I've been able to get $100/hr or less when buying miles flying CX and EK F. I don't travel enough to have availability be an issue. I've been lucky the last few years buying miles and one awesome ex-CMB fare (RIP). Unless you're working on status, don't underestimate buying miles for redemptions.
#3321
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; IHG Diamond-Amb; Accor & Meli & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,434
The point was that past/typical pricing allows us to determine whether or not a fare represents a relative bargain for a particular combination of airline and route, regardless of whether we find that fare attractive or affordable.
There are places on the internet even sadder than FT , where you can find people arguing that the McDouble and Sausage Biscuit represents a terrific deal now that the Bacon Cheddar McChicken has increased in price. The fact that I'm not remotely interested in trying either 'meal' doesn't make those people wrong.
There are places on the internet even sadder than FT , where you can find people arguing that the McDouble and Sausage Biscuit represents a terrific deal now that the Bacon Cheddar McChicken has increased in price. The fact that I'm not remotely interested in trying either 'meal' doesn't make those people wrong.
#3322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,556
#3323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
LM is probably cheapest, but you can't mix F and J with them, so almost nothing would work out of CMB or really most places. They also can't book LH F, and of course no LX F.
#3324
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,350
Thx, some past experience with LM, it was kinda like the old BMI days in terms of getting things booked right.
Just realized I have enough EY miles to upgrade J-F, but with the lowest business class fare of $1200 ex-cmb, that really only shaves about six hundred off the cost of buying the miles outright from either AA or AS.
I am traveling end of Jan and there is plenty of F award space on both EY and EK if I act now, so thanks again for the heads up on that option.
Just realized I have enough EY miles to upgrade J-F, but with the lowest business class fare of $1200 ex-cmb, that really only shaves about six hundred off the cost of buying the miles outright from either AA or AS.
I am traveling end of Jan and there is plenty of F award space on both EY and EK if I act now, so thanks again for the heads up on that option.
US is probably cheaper depending on exact routing, but of course you would have to fly round trip with them, and it would depend where you want to go.
LM is probably cheapest, but you can't mix F and J with them, so almost nothing would work out of CMB or really most places. They also can't book LH F, and of course no LX F.
LM is probably cheapest, but you can't mix F and J with them, so almost nothing would work out of CMB or really most places. They also can't book LH F, and of course no LX F.
#3325
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Posts: 224
Thx, some past experience with LM, it was kinda like the old BMI days in terms of getting things booked right.
Just realized I have enough EY miles to upgrade J-F, but with the lowest business class fare of $1200 ex-cmb, that really only shaves about six hundred off the cost of buying the miles outright from either AA or AS.
I am traveling end of Jan and there is plenty of F award space on both EY and EK if I act now, so thanks again for the heads up on that option.
Just realized I have enough EY miles to upgrade J-F, but with the lowest business class fare of $1200 ex-cmb, that really only shaves about six hundred off the cost of buying the miles outright from either AA or AS.
I am traveling end of Jan and there is plenty of F award space on both EY and EK if I act now, so thanks again for the heads up on that option.
Don't forget that with AS miles on EK it's only an extra 10,000 miles for Asia. Sri Lanka is indeed a nice place to visit, but you could start in other asian spots (if you can find availability. SIN is tough in F which is why I changed my plans when I found a combo that worked.)
#3326
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: CPH
Programs: SAS Gold, Marriott Platinum, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 162
There are places on the internet even sadder than FT , where you can find people arguing that the McDouble and Sausage Biscuit represents a terrific deal now that the Bacon Cheddar McChicken has increased in price. The fact that I'm not remotely interested in trying either 'meal' doesn't make those people wrong.
#3327
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,681
UA: SFO-ATL r/t $798 (P) nonstop most days through March 2015.
Fare rules allow routing through ORD and IAD, so hopefully can utilize SDC to add connection(s) on day of departure. If you can SDC to SFO-IAD-ATL-IAD-SFO, works out to 8,856 EQM for $798, or 9.02 cpEQM. Not bad for F.
Fare rules allow routing through ORD and IAD, so hopefully can utilize SDC to add connection(s) on day of departure. If you can SDC to SFO-IAD-ATL-IAD-SFO, works out to 8,856 EQM for $798, or 9.02 cpEQM. Not bad for F.
#3328
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,472
I have removed two posts and closed this thread.
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Pat89339
Mileage Run Moderator
A reminder to all re TOS:
Discussion Of Moderator Actions
Moderators value your private views and feedback related to their actions and duties. You may submit appropriate feedback to moderators by private message or e-mail. Do not post comments about moderator decisions or actions, or about the work of moderators, unless a moderator has invited members to post feedback in a particular thread.
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Pat89339
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