Originally Posted by
intltravel90
Thanks for your replies. I usually buy the cheapest tix available (kayak, etc), which sometimes takes me to Orbitz but sometimes takes me directly to airline website. Sometimes, I'm willing to pay marginally more for more miles - but rarely.
I'm looking primarily for free flights - but I'm curious what the reply would be with regard to upgrades, too. My focus is free flights.
Based in NYC, want to fly to Europe, Latin America or the Middle East; Asia wouldn't be bad, either, though!
Thanks again.
From east coast to Europe ANA is great because it's mileage based rewards. Much fewer miles from east coast to Europe. But you have to watch out for ANA surcharge fees.
Aeroplan Air Canada is also great. Their rewards are lower than most and they're Star Alliance. If you get a no-fee Fidelity AmEx card you can earn 2 Air Canada miles per dollar on all purchases. (The BoA Aeroplan card gives a 25K bonus for a fee and 1 mile per $). Aeroplan has a wonderful 120K around-the-world in First Class option.
US Air has off-peaks to Rio in May and Oct. for 35K rt (30K if you get their credit card). Their off peaks for the same to Europe are Jan. and Feb. and they fly to most of Europe from Philadelphia. They're running a waived fee 35K mile cc promo now.
Delta is a chore to get partner rewards on but their own international flights are largely out of JFK. There's 50K pers. and biz DL cc offers out with fee waived.
American and United/Continental aren't bad at all and both have many cc offers out.