Possible to use miles for half a flight?
Jan 3, 2011, 2:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
Possible to use miles for half a flight?
We have ~ 150k miles and rather than booking 2 round trip europe tickets (MIA->LHR) and buying one outright, were wondering if we can use 52.5k miles for 3 first-class outgoing tickets, then pay the return flight.
Is that possible to do? (Using miles for outgoing - paying for the return)
Is that possible to do? (Using miles for outgoing - paying for the return)
Last edited by aphex; Jan 3, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Jan 3, 2011, 2:36 pm
#2
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Currently CO does not offer one-way awards so I don't believe what you're asking for is possible.
Jan 3, 2011, 2:47 pm
#3
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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It's our first time booking reward travel
Jan 3, 2011, 2:51 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,541
OnePass does not offer that option however one way tickets for international are a rip-off compared to roundtrip tickets.
Jan 3, 2011, 2:56 pm
#5
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AA allows you to book one way awards but I would think the one way return flight cost would be almost as much as the roundtrip so in effect you'd just be wasting miles for the most part
Jan 3, 2011, 2:59 pm
#6
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
Oh well, thanks for the quick replies!
MIA to LHR is showing a direct flight on Virgin, but i've heard some pretty bad things about Virgin economy so we figured that maybe we would upgrade our flight out to first, then just take economy back on our own dime. Too bad they don't offer a premium economy w/ Virgin.
That being said, 90% our miles are with Amex, so we technically could move them to any airline so I'll look elsewhere as well. Thx again for the help!
Jan 3, 2011, 3:01 pm
#8
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Based on the thread title, I thought that the OP was going to bail out with a parachute mid-flight.
Based on the thread title, I thought that the OP was going to bail out with a parachute mid-flight.
Jan 3, 2011, 3:14 pm
#9
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aphex, if you do find a FFP that accepts your Amex MR points and offers one-way redemptions, I would take a look at http://www.skyauction.com where you can occasionally find auctions for one-way tickets between the U.S. and Europe. If you decide to bid, make sure you take into account all of the (disclosed) taxes and fees before deciding on your maximum bid.
aphex, if you do find a FFP that accepts your Amex MR points and offers one-way redemptions, I would take a look at http://www.skyauction.com where you can occasionally find auctions for one-way tickets between the U.S. and Europe. If you decide to bid, make sure you take into account all of the (disclosed) taxes and fees before deciding on your maximum bid.
Jan 3, 2011, 4:56 pm
#11
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http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/amc/referen...ikeiair_1.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-n...-tax-fuel.html
Jan 3, 2011, 5:41 pm
#12
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
If your points are with AMEX, depending on how many you have, a better option may be to open up (if you don't have one already) and transfer your miles to ANA's frequent flier program, where you can redeem miles on Star Alliance partners and/or Virgin Atlantic (as well as other partners). Since ANA's partner awards are all distance based, a MIA-LHR roundtrip (4437 miles each way) on Virgin Atlantic booked with ANA miles would only cost 68,000 miles (i.e. 68,000 AMEX points) in business class (which would also equate to Virgin's Upper Class). And if you redeem on Virgin Atlantic, they also don't charge the fuel surcharges and other fees that Virgin would charge if you redeemed the points for and booked the trip using Virgin miles (same Upper Class itinerary on Virgin would cost 100,000 miles or 100,000 AMEX points). See links below for ANA's partner airline award chart as well as Flyertalk thread explaining tax and fee differences.
http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/amc/referen...ikeiair_1.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-n...-tax-fuel.html
http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/amc/referen...ikeiair_1.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/all-n...-tax-fuel.html
Hmmmm, very interesting. Just searching the site though I see no option to fly from MIA --> LHR, is that only available when searching reward flights once a member of ANA's frequent flier program?
Jan 3, 2011, 6:25 pm
#13
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(because ANA allows full search functionality on its website for its members who have miles with their program).
If you cant find it, basically here is what you do:
Search for some random mileage award route on ANA: e.g, ORD-NRT;
Then, on the results page, click on "search partner airlines". Then repeat the search for your route.
Jan 3, 2011, 8:06 pm
#14
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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Good to know, thanks! I'll give it a try.
One additional question specific to continental - As the account holder, does one of the tickets have to be in my name? For example, can I book two reward tickets for my wife and mother with my onepass account, then just book myself a paid flight.
One additional question specific to continental - As the account holder, does one of the tickets have to be in my name? For example, can I book two reward tickets for my wife and mother with my onepass account, then just book myself a paid flight.
Jan 3, 2011, 8:10 pm
#15
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Good to know, thanks! I'll give it a try.
One additional question specific to continental - As the account holder, does one of the tickets have to be in my name? For example, can I book two reward tickets for my wife and mother with my onepass account, then just book myself a paid flight.
One additional question specific to continental - As the account holder, does one of the tickets have to be in my name? For example, can I book two reward tickets for my wife and mother with my onepass account, then just book myself a paid flight.
No (tickets need not be in your name)
Yes (you can book your wife and mother with your miles)