I'm not sure where these posts go anymore - if it is better an another subforum, please let me know...

I'm trying to get to London and Berlin from NYC in late June. I would like to fly at least "Economy Plus"... Maybe business on the way back. Ideally I would fly out from NYC on Friday, stay the weekend in London, fly to Berlin early the next week, then fly back from Berlin to NYC on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday.

I have 100,000 Avios points and have priced out a trip that costs about 70,000 Avois +773 in fees, all in economy plus. Going to business on the way back would increase the price to 80,000 Avois and $900 in fees. I have about 80,000 in Barclays points that can be used against the fees.

Is that a decent redemption to Europe? I have 60,000 SkyPesos, 55,000 Alaska Miles and 45,000 MR Points (Which I will likely use to replenish Avois sometime this year). I don't know if I have any other real options with the low points I have.

those fees are extortionate. its only worth it if you can redeem BA-F. you could consider using the Coupon Connection to combine your other currency stash

If you can manage to do the trip on Aer Lingus via Dublin using Avios you'll save yourself those ridiculous fees. I dont know how important direct flights are to you, but if you fly JFK>DUB on Aer Lingus in business (both ways), you'll spend 80,000 Avios and around $100 in taxes/fees and then you can grab cheap flights to/from DUB.

I can redeem a one way flight from TXL-JFK on the way back in F for 69,000 Avois + $400 in fees, which I view as reasonable (British Airways). I can also redeem LHR to TXL one way for good prices (4,500/9,000 Avios in economy/business and minimal fees). The question is how to get from JFK-LHR reasonably. I can do economy for that flight. Maybe Aer Lingus or Icelandic?

Unfortunately I am seeing 0 award availibility (economy or business) from JFK or BOS to DUB/LHR on Aer Lingus in mid/latish June (checked Expert Flyer and Quantas).

Is this normal?

I could pay $740 for an Aer Lingus ticket across the pond, but then the trip starts getting decently expensive

Adelphos, as your focus is good use of air miles, and you're looking at possibly using different pools of miles, let me move this to the MilesBuzz forum for more discussion. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Neither Expert Flyer nor Qantas shows EI availability for BAEC members. You must call the BAEC Service Center to check that availability.

Is there no availability on AB, JFK-TXL-JFK? If there is, redeem on AB in both directions (with no surcharges), and then use RFS redemptions to get to and from London. (For getting to London, you could also look for JFK-DUS on AB, and then DUS-STN on AB, or DUS-LHR as an RFS redemption on BA.)

Just called, they aren't shoing any Aer Lingus availibilty from JFK-LHR on my requested dates (though maybe I should have asked just for JFK-DUB). I didn't see any Air Berlin redemptions either.

Assuming my heart is set on this trip, the best method may be to book an economy flight over with one of the low cost carriers (Aer, Icelandic, Air Berlin).

The best I think I can do with Avios is:

JFK to LHR in premium economy for 21,000 Avios + $374 in fees
LRH to TXL in business for 9,000 Avios + 40 in fees
TXL to JFK in first (connecting through LHR) for 69,000 and $401 in fees

All booked as one way trips
For 99,000 Avios and $815 in total fees, which I can defray via my Barclays rebate

This would clear out both of my Avios and Barclays balances, but I don't have many other uses for either (trips from NYC to Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Carribbean etc are pretty cheap with just cash). Flying first from LHR to JFK should be pretty cool (access to First Lounge, etc)

Is there a specific reason you want business or first on the return (daytime) flight rather than the overnight outbound?

Anyway if you can get an Alaska personal or business card, the miles post right away and there are seats on AA JFK-LHR some week days for 30K plus $15.

Mainly to access lounges at TXL and LHR, plus I expect I would be exhausted from the trip. I would like a premium seat during part of the trip. Also there doesn't appear to be business or first availibility from LHR.

I have Alaska miles. I will look into that.

EDIT - Alaska does have coach flights on AA that work for me to LHR for 30K + $15.
Avios would cost 20K+$249 for the same class. Thanks for that tip, Alaska looks a bit better, plus I can build that balance up easily via CC spend on my Alaska card or by crediting Delta flights to Alaska.

Now the question is should I spend 49,000 Avios on business class back to JFK or 69,000 for first (fees are the same at $400).

EDIT 2 - Booked AA via Alaska. Miles and fee are fully refundable until April, so I'm glad to have locked that in. Will likely book the BA flights tomorrow.

Use your alaska miles. Off season is 40k economy rt + $10-20 in fees. Or fly one way on Alaska miles business (40-50k) and then only use avios for long haul unless absolutely necessary ...

It's not a *great* redemption, but you do what you have to sometimes. I'd splurge on the extra 20k avios for first class--esp. since the fees are the same.

After some alterations to the trip, the itinerary is now

JFK-LHR on AA (economy) - 30K Alaska miles + $15 fee
LHR-TXL on British Airways (business) - 9K Avios + $40 fee
BCN-EWR (LHR connection) on BA (economy plus) - 37,500 Avios + $315 fee

The last leg is on the 787, where economy plus has been well reviewed. I get another three days in Europe out of this trip this way, and I gained some Avios and cash back, but I gave up F (which is fine).

Now the question is how to get from TXL to BCN?
I can use 12,500 United miles on Lufthansa or 7,500 Avios on Air Berlin...

Alaska is an option, although June isn't going to be off season.

Or use your 60,000 Skypesos for a coach ticket on DL, and pay for Economy Comfort. Or transfer 40k MR to Skypesos if you can snag a BE ticket for 100k. Edit: I forgot, BE on Delta will be 125k by then.

Both of those will have $20-30 in taxes. Might as well just pay ~$75 on Vueling.