Finding First or Business awards to Europe
Dec 31, 2019, 4:18 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
The parent company of Condor is insolvent (Thomas Cook)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor_(airline)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...t_destinations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condor_(airline)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...t_destinations
Dec 31, 2019, 10:10 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: Alaska Gold 100k
Posts: 959
I found several days in early September with Condor availability to FRA from PDX (with stops in SEA or LAS or even MSP). Intra-Europe using Alaska miles can be difficult as I'm finding either Aer Lingus requiring overnights in Dublin or Finnair requiring overnights in Helsinki - no BA flights, even to London!
Alternatively, BOS seems to have all of the BA redemptions right now with nearly every day available in J, to and from, but with fees of $600+ so you might want to weigh that against what it would cost to make your own way to wherever from FRA if you go the Condor route.
Finnair availability in J does pop up here and there so maybe concentrate your searches from their North American gateways to Helsinki and then build on from there.
Good luck!
Alternatively, BOS seems to have all of the BA redemptions right now with nearly every day available in J, to and from, but with fees of $600+ so you might want to weigh that against what it would cost to make your own way to wherever from FRA if you go the Condor route.
Finnair availability in J does pop up here and there so maybe concentrate your searches from their North American gateways to Helsinki and then build on from there.
Good luck!
Last edited by Waitlisted; Dec 31, 2019 at 10:20 pm
Dec 31, 2019, 10:22 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
In the calendar view you can select the class of service. Is a radio button on the left. The choices are "Saver", "Lowest Available", "Business", and "First".
Unfortunately you can still get stuck with mixed cabin awards, so watch out for that. If I know the airline I want, I usually search from gateway to gateway to mitigate this (it can still show up if they give your a first class repositioning flight to another gateway before your coach long haul) and then try to build an itinerary from that. It's not foolproof because of married segments but it's helpful.
Also, if the partner publishers their award space, I'll use expertflyer. Sometimes searching using the website of a different partner can be helpful as well.
Unfortunately you can still get stuck with mixed cabin awards, so watch out for that. If I know the airline I want, I usually search from gateway to gateway to mitigate this (it can still show up if they give your a first class repositioning flight to another gateway before your coach long haul) and then try to build an itinerary from that. It's not foolproof because of married segments but it's helpful.
Also, if the partner publishers their award space, I'll use expertflyer. Sometimes searching using the website of a different partner can be helpful as well.
Jan 1, 2020, 12:27 am
#19
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Don't forget about searching from YVR, YYC or YEG. I seen some Condor J out of YYC to FRA over several dates in June. AS will provide connecting service to the "International" North American Gateway.
Also, while AS doesn't fly to MEX anymore, BA is an option for MEX to/from LHR and beyond for booking with Mileage Plan.
James
Also, while AS doesn't fly to MEX anymore, BA is an option for MEX to/from LHR and beyond for booking with Mileage Plan.
James