Although I haven't studied the BA chart in much detail, my research to date suggests that it is pretty simple, especially insofar as US-Asia award levels are concerned.
In other words, HNL-NRT costs the same 25k miles (each way) as JFK-SIN, and C and F are always 2x and 3x Y levels.
(No easily exploitable zone system like the other UK based FFP that many FTers have grown to love.)
Originally Posted by
redtailshark
Good info guys. Yes, reasonable positioning flights are the lifeblood of great redemptions, sometimes.
Now, what about HNL? The former WP program allowed a great boondoggle from HNL to Asia. For 70k, one could redeem in J from HNL-Asia via NRT. The normal routing of course would be NW from HNL-NRT-x. However, west coast mainland gateways like LAX/SFO/SEA/PDX were legitimate routings on such redemptions. Splicing two of these itins with precision therefore yielded two return J trips LAX-Asia, plus one F trip LAX-HNL, for only 15% more miles than one normal CONUS-Asia J redemption (120k). The NW stopover rules allowed for a stopover of months to be invoked at LAX, thus making it perfect for spacing the trips during the year.
I know nothing about EC... is redemption from HNL is cheaper than CONUS? Can it be bent through mainland US? Or how about one-way from HNL to EU via Asia, then a positioning flight? I don't care about originating in TUS, I'll originate in EZE or CAI or GUM for the right redemptions, there are always ways to get there.