Best deal on J award from US to S Africa?
Dec 2, 2016, 11:43 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,000
Best deal on J award from US to S Africa?
AA charges 75k miles and UA charges 80k miles. Not too familiar with non-US programs but I have plenty of transferable points.
I'm flying from LAX, but it seems I need to connect either in JFK, WAS, Europe, or Middle east. Fri and Sat departures show the least J award space.
Can anyone recommend a convenient routing that's a good use of miles?
I'm flying from LAX, but it seems I need to connect either in JFK, WAS, Europe, or Middle east. Fri and Sat departures show the least J award space.
Can anyone recommend a convenient routing that's a good use of miles?
Dec 2, 2016, 11:45 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, UA Gold (status match)
Posts: 777
We flew JNB to JFK for low mileage a year and change ago via DL (Virgin Atlantic). You might try Virgin Atlantic as well directly. We also have flown to Tanzania on DL awards for maybe 65,000 points one way in business. The AMS to Tanzania leg was Klm.
Dec 2, 2016, 11:48 am
#3
Used to be highman123
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,541
OP - I recommend looking at Qatar for LAX-DOH-JNB. Their Business Class on the 787 (JNB leg) is excellent. The 777 from LAX is decent too (I actually like the seat a a lot. Just one easy connection and a quality product. AA charges 75,000 miles and availability is decent.
Dec 2, 2016, 5:06 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
The vast majority of options include a layover in Europe.
There is a very limited number of non-stop flights from NA to JNB (ATL/JFK/IAD-JNB).
Some FFPs (such as Aeroplan) will allow a routing via South America instead of Europe, e.g. US-GRU/EZE-JNB).
Routing via the Middle East (e.g. EK via DXB, QR via DOH, EY via AUH is another option.
Last but not least, routing via Asia can work well. The best program to do this using AS on CX US-HKG-JNB.
There is a very limited number of non-stop flights from NA to JNB (ATL/JFK/IAD-JNB).
Some FFPs (such as Aeroplan) will allow a routing via South America instead of Europe, e.g. US-GRU/EZE-JNB).
Routing via the Middle East (e.g. EK via DXB, QR via DOH, EY via AUH is another option.
Last but not least, routing via Asia can work well. The best program to do this using AS on CX US-HKG-JNB.
Dec 2, 2016, 7:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, UA Gold (status match)
Posts: 777
I think Delta raised prices to 80,000 to East Africa and 95,000 to Southern Africa for departures after January 1st 2017 now.
OP - I recommend looking at Qatar for LAX-DOH-JNB. Their Business Class on the 787 (JNB leg) is excellent. The 777 from LAX is decent too (I actually like the seat a a lot. Just one easy connection and a quality product. AA charges 75,000 miles and availability is decent.
OP - I recommend looking at Qatar for LAX-DOH-JNB. Their Business Class on the 787 (JNB leg) is excellent. The 777 from LAX is decent too (I actually like the seat a a lot. Just one easy connection and a quality product. AA charges 75,000 miles and availability is decent.
Dec 7, 2016, 9:51 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AA MM PP, MR LT Plat, Globalist
Posts: 1,000
You're right- connecting in Doh also requires flying QR on the inbound and outbound. Once you reach SA, you may then connect onwards via BA. E. G. I'm doing a 23 hour stopover in CPT before going to JNB.
Thanks for all the responses!
Thanks for all the responses!
Jan 5, 2017, 11:36 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 967
Alaska miles is 62.5/70k biz/first to
I've been hoarding Alaska miles just to take the First Class award! It's via Hong Kong and you can have a stopover there as well, so its like getting a Southeast Asia trip and an Africa trip all-in-one!
I've been hoarding Alaska miles just to take the First Class award! It's via Hong Kong and you can have a stopover there as well, so its like getting a Southeast Asia trip and an Africa trip all-in-one!
May 3, 2017, 10:11 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Ottawa
Programs: AC MM SE; SPG Plat; Hilton Gold
Posts: 247
Air Canada option
several times I've booked an Air Canada and star alliance option from YOW when I think starslliance matched something another airline initiated. As I recall the last one was under $3000 Canadian and allowed a stop over in Europe. Once I flew to Cape Town, once to Johannesburg. In both cases I open jawed to Dar. As I recall these deals seem to come up in September. I'm currently monitoring. Too bad several of the posts above that mention good prices don't give a ballpark of what the amount was.