FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Honeymoon Award Travel Advice

Jan 26, 2017 | 7:10 pm

#6

dukerau

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: CLT

Programs: AA, AS, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum

Posts: 2,075

Unsorted thoughts:

I must echo what everyone else has said about Paris. You're spending basically 1 full day there. With the LH F itinerary with intentional long FRA layover you'll arrive late and tired into Paris. Your day 4 plans have you on 2 flights to get to CHQ that night, so you'll probably have a noon departure from CDG at the latest. So that day is almost a full travel day with getting to the airport, security cushion, etc. I know Paris is a romantic honeymoon destination, and I truly do like Paris, but to me spending that time in Athens would be much better. Unlike Paris, you can reasonably spend a day and change in Athens and feel like you've seen most everything (I've done it). Also, it's naturally on your route.
For your intra-Europe flights, don't mentally lock yourself into using miles. 15k miles one way + high European airport taxes often make cash more appealing. And by "cash" that can mean using Arrival points or booking via Chase using UR @ 1.25cents each (if you have Sapphire Preferred) or 1.5cents each (if you have Sapphire Reserve). Huge added benefit that you wouldn't be flying on separate tickets. For example, I looked at a random date in April for CDG-CHQ and the cash cost is $222. If you have Sapphire Reserve, that can be booked for 14,800 Chase points, easily beating United's award price.
Am I missing something? Why are you locked into United miles? You have over 300k Chase points, so you could fly SQ F by transferring the points to SQ.
Are you dead set on F instead of J? Few airlines fly F between US and Europe - UA, LH, LX, AA, BA, EK, SQ...maybe I'm missing a few, but with Chase points and avoiding fuel surcharges, you are limited to UA, SQ, and LH. Many more fly J and they're nothing to scoff at. In particular, consider TK (70k UA per person), DL (62.5k Flying Blue pp), LX (70k UA).
In terms of having a backup for LH F, I would encourage you to book the best "satisfactory" United award itinerary you see. LH J, UA F, etc. Then if/when LH F opens up within 2 weeks, pay the $75 change fee that UA Golds are charged to switch to it. You'd have to pay a $25 close in booking fee anyway, so $50 extra per person is cheap insurance to have something in case your plan doesn't all come together for LH F.

Reply