sikorloa

I'm trying to find a way to use points to travel within the next two weeks from Mexico to Europe.

(My final destination is Warsaw, so I'll most likely have to book a budget flight for the last leg to Warsaw. I am starting in Guadalajara, Mexico).

I've been calling in to AAdvantage bookings looking for Iberia flight options but they seem to be quite limited. I did find the following options:

Bogota - Madrid (June 10th) - Iberia (40k miles + $147)


However for the other 2 legs of my journey, it would require buying flights out of pocket.

Guadalajara (GDL) - Bogota (BOG) - $87 (Viva Aerobus)

Madrid (MAD) - Warsaw (WAW) - ~$250+ (Ryanair)


I tried looking for a continuing flight from Madrid to anywhere east, which would be cheaper to fly from to Warsaw (Norway, Sweden, Italy), but Iberia has no seating at all to any cities I looked at, on June 10th - June 15th.


Any tips on other options I could use to get from Guadalajara to Warsaw (or Central America to Europe really) using Alaska or AAdvantage points?

Flying for Fun

Look for DE from CUN. That will get you to FRA, possibly beyond.

James

sikorloa

Forgot to mention, is it possible to get rewards miles that would avoid flying through the US?

Or do I have to go through customs and all that if flying through the US, even if it's a layover?

Flying for Fun

Yes, it is possible to avoid the US, flying direct from Mexico the Europe. Searching from PVR & GDL will route you through the US on either AA or AS + Partner (including AA). You would need to be able to enter the US as there isn't a possibility to transfer from International to International.

Condor flies non-stop from Cancun to Frankfurt.



BA flies to LHR from MEX. The YQ on BA is a relatively inexpensive at $225 in J or F while Mexican Depature tax from MEX is pricey at ,~$60.


James

sikorloa

Thanks James - I booked the CUN - FRA flight, I appreciate the suggestion.

I'm trying to fly back from Europe to Mexico in early August (around August 8th) - but on Condor all the FRA - CUN flights get routed through the US.

Do you know any way to use Alaska (or AAdvantage) points to get from Europe to Mexico, without going through the US?

Condor seems to be out. I'm going to call AAdvantage and look for Iberia flights from Madrid to Mexico City (or anywhere in Latin America, and then get a cheap ticket back to GDL).

However Iberia seems to never have availability, so just wondering if you might know of any other good routes.

Flying for Fun

I am not sure what your Miles balance is but on August 8, WAR-LHR-MEX is available on BA but only in First Class, 92.5K and $392. Otherwise, slim pickings especially when you want to avoid the US. You can also check IB to South America & then a LA flight to MEX on a separate award might be fruitful.

Are you looking for business or okay with Main cabin awards too?

James

sikorloa

Thanks James, I have 140k AAdvantage miles but trying to be conservative with them. If there's no other option though maybe I could use it.

I was about to call AA to ask about Iberia flights to Latin America, and then a budget airline flight to GDL (my final destination). Is there a way to check Iberia flights online? I've always called in.

guv1976

When available, IB award flights show up just fine on the AA app, and presumably on aa.com as well:

Flying for Fun

Likewise for AS searches too. There is MAD-SCL available on August 11th, 90K in J with $62 in fees & taxes. Something to consider if you want to include a Chile visit or don't mind flying the extra distance to save the BA vig. From SCL you can fly SCL-MEX on LA, readily available in Main for 25K, also easy to find J at 45K, both have fees & taxes of $76.

Since BA, IB & LA don't serve GDL, you can't get all the way to GDL without transiting the US. All partners into the US can be combined with AS' service to GDL.

James

sikorloa

Thanks James! I will check out those routes, didn't consider going all the way down to SCL but would be cool to see it.

KSEA

Seeing British Airways BER-LHR (overnight)-MEX departing Berlin on August 8th and arriving MEX August 9th. 52,500 AS miles in Main for BER-LHR and Premium for LHR-MEX + $327 taxes and fees (and a hotel in LHR). This is similarly available from various European airports (e.g. CPH for 50k miles and $268 for example), but Berlin seems like the closest.

Weirdly BA won't offer an earlier departure from BER to connect to the LHR-MEX flight same day.

sikorloa

Thanks KSEA. In terms of the hotel, did you mean the hotel was included, for the $327? (I assume not, but just want to make sure).

tkelvin69

Using AS miles for LA flights can be a good value. You can stop over if you want.

KSEA

Correct, $327 is just the airline charges, you'd need to add on a hotel in London. From a quick check through Marriott the Renaissance LHR is $112 if you're willing to prepay ($146 cancellable).

sikorloa

Thanks KSEA, much appreciated. I think I'll be flying through LHR son either way - haven't been to that airport in probably 10 years. Do you know if the security / customs is as strict as in the US? Every year when I cross back into the US it feels more and more invasive.