What's the Best Airline Award Remaining?
Jul 3, 2003, 10:26 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
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Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
What's the Best Airline Award Remaining?
Most FF programs have been revamping their Award Charts, or modifying accumulation levels. Few of these changes have been welcomed by many here, as these have tended to revalue awards for the worst. Though many of us Old Timers have been through worse devaluations, and can raphsodize over the unbelieveable awards we used to get for half the current levels. But those days are long gone.
STAR carriers brought out their unified award chart over the past 12-months, though actual redemption levels can vary from program to program given their various accumulation and other perculiarities. Among STAR awards, UA's Indian subcontinent from NAmerivca appears to represent the best deal: still under 150K for a First Class ticket, I believe. On Aeroplan's chart, it brought down significantly the "price" of premium class awards on TG and SQ, if one can actually secure First or Business seats on the latter carrier.
AAdvantage has just posted their new award chart, which consolidates all its partner carriers, oneworld and otehrs. Biggest loss is the ability to get from NAmerica to SAfrica on CX over the Pacific for a single 140K award in First. [Up to 29K of travel on one of the best carriers in the world!] This trip now can only be done for a single award using AA/BA combo for about 200K in First. Or using two separate awards on either CX or QF for 265K or 295K respectively!
I am not familiar with many of the other STAR and oneworld partner programs, or those of the other alliances, so would be curious to know what you value as The Best Award in your main program.
Perhaps you could post two such entries:
before recent changes, after recent changes.
I have already indicated my choice for best "old" award: CX in First, NAmerica to SAfrica, 140K AAdvantage miles. [Almost as good, on the defunct CanadianPlus program was NAmerica to SAfrica, via BA in First over Atlantic, 125K CP points.]
Best in the "new" awards: not sure yet.
STAR carriers brought out their unified award chart over the past 12-months, though actual redemption levels can vary from program to program given their various accumulation and other perculiarities. Among STAR awards, UA's Indian subcontinent from NAmerivca appears to represent the best deal: still under 150K for a First Class ticket, I believe. On Aeroplan's chart, it brought down significantly the "price" of premium class awards on TG and SQ, if one can actually secure First or Business seats on the latter carrier.
AAdvantage has just posted their new award chart, which consolidates all its partner carriers, oneworld and otehrs. Biggest loss is the ability to get from NAmerica to SAfrica on CX over the Pacific for a single 140K award in First. [Up to 29K of travel on one of the best carriers in the world!] This trip now can only be done for a single award using AA/BA combo for about 200K in First. Or using two separate awards on either CX or QF for 265K or 295K respectively!
I am not familiar with many of the other STAR and oneworld partner programs, or those of the other alliances, so would be curious to know what you value as The Best Award in your main program.
Perhaps you could post two such entries:
before recent changes, after recent changes.
I have already indicated my choice for best "old" award: CX in First, NAmerica to SAfrica, 140K AAdvantage miles. [Almost as good, on the defunct CanadianPlus program was NAmerica to SAfrica, via BA in First over Atlantic, 125K CP points.]
Best in the "new" awards: not sure yet.
Jul 3, 2003, 11:36 am
#2
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: NYC
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What about "best value" rewards (ie not necessarily the longest distance/highest class, but something else you value)?
I used 40,000 AC miles last Christmas to fly home Business Class within Canada - a 5 hour flight in each direction, plus a long snow delay on the ground, during the stressed-out, jam-packed Christmas season. An economy ticket is 25,000 points, so a 40,000 point business class seat in those circumstances was a good deal. I never would have purchased a business class seat. Air Canada got rid of most blackout periods last year, so you can use points at Christmas. I've already got my business class seat booked for Christmas 2003.
I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard that another good value is WT+ upgrade to Club World (NA-Europe), using a discounted WT+ class fare (about 25,000 miles plus a ticket costing about $1350 Cdn).
I used 40,000 AC miles last Christmas to fly home Business Class within Canada - a 5 hour flight in each direction, plus a long snow delay on the ground, during the stressed-out, jam-packed Christmas season. An economy ticket is 25,000 points, so a 40,000 point business class seat in those circumstances was a good deal. I never would have purchased a business class seat. Air Canada got rid of most blackout periods last year, so you can use points at Christmas. I've already got my business class seat booked for Christmas 2003.
I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard that another good value is WT+ upgrade to Club World (NA-Europe), using a discounted WT+ class fare (about 25,000 miles plus a ticket costing about $1350 Cdn).
Jul 3, 2003, 12:14 pm
#4
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Hi,
The Miles to upgrade is certainly new for UK members after 1st July ( ie 25k miles plus discounted WT+ to travel in NCW)
Regards
TBS
The Miles to upgrade is certainly new for UK members after 1st July ( ie 25k miles plus discounted WT+ to travel in NCW)
Regards
TBS
Jul 3, 2003, 12:23 pm
#5
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Truly outstanding award values, off the top of my head:
United 90k C award, North America to Australia
United 120k F award, North America to Australia
Mexicana 25k Y award, Anywhere in the US to Hawaii
Mexicana 40k F award, Anywhere in the US to Hawaii
United 15k Upgrade award (used to be 10k
), Anywhere in the US including the East Coast to Hawaii from any fare.
Do take note of those MX Star Alliance awards -- that's right -- from Alaska, Canadá, and the lower 48 US to Hawaii in 2-class F for only 40,000 miles. Compare that to United's award chart which offers coach for 35,000 miles.
Looking further at the MX award chart, I see Europe to Australia for only 140k in F!
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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
United 90k C award, North America to Australia
United 120k F award, North America to Australia
Mexicana 25k Y award, Anywhere in the US to Hawaii
Mexicana 40k F award, Anywhere in the US to Hawaii
United 15k Upgrade award (used to be 10k
), Anywhere in the US including the East Coast to Hawaii from any fare.Do take note of those MX Star Alliance awards -- that's right -- from Alaska, Canadá, and the lower 48 US to Hawaii in 2-class F for only 40,000 miles. Compare that to United's award chart which offers coach for 35,000 miles.
Looking further at the MX award chart, I see Europe to Australia for only 140k in F!
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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
Jul 3, 2003, 5:19 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Diego,CA,USA
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Posts: 1,358
30K for US 48 to Hawaii on DL is still a good deal.
HP anywhere in 48 states for 20k ain't bad
Southwest-still unbeatable
HP anywhere in 48 states for 20k ain't bad
Southwest-still unbeatable
Jul 3, 2003, 5:52 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2001
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gleff:
United 15k Upgrade award (used to be 10k), Anywhere in the US including the East Coast to Hawaii from any fare.
</font>
United 15k Upgrade award (used to be 10k
), Anywhere in the US including the East Coast to Hawaii from any fare.</font>
Thanks!
~BK
Jul 3, 2003, 6:00 pm
#8
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Location: Currently in Bloomington, IN, but Normally NYC, CDG, and even POZ or wherever FT takes me.
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135K CO miles on Quantas to OZ in F.
5K NW miles for interisland on Hawaiaan.
[This message has been edited by notsosmart (edited 07-03-2003).]
5K NW miles for interisland on Hawaiaan.
[This message has been edited by notsosmart (edited 07-03-2003).]
Jul 3, 2003, 6:56 pm
#9
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25k Continental miles can be made useful by converting them to Amtrak and then onto United with no devaluation.
2500 Amtrak points buys a one-way unreserved train ticket between DC and Boston (or points in between). Thus, 5000 CO miles gets you a DC-NY roundtrip!
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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
2500 Amtrak points buys a one-way unreserved train ticket between DC and Boston (or points in between). Thus, 5000 CO miles gets you a DC-NY roundtrip!
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View from the Wing: A blog about Free Miles and Free Markets
Jul 3, 2003, 8:32 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Brooklyn, NY, US
Posts: 2,311
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JS1K:
Recently sent wife to South Africa on *A in C for 120k. We included a stop in UK on her return.</font>
Recently sent wife to South Africa on *A in C for 120k. We included a stop in UK on her return.</font>
That joke would probably be better for a mother-in-law....