Using miles to get 8 business class tickets to paris
Jul 1, 2016, 11:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1
Using miles to get 8 business class tickets to paris
I have over a million miles combined with American, United and Hawaiian. I am planning a family trip to Paris from San Francisco next June and would love to get business class for everyone (8) using miles. How realistic is this? I understand there are companies which charge a fee per ticket if they are successful.
Jul 1, 2016, 12:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: AGH
Posts: 5,971
Btw. Welcome to FT!
Jul 1, 2016, 3:44 pm
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
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One one flight? Not a chance. Breaking up the party in smaller groups like 2+3+3 or 2+2+2+2 (which you need to do anyway if you have the miles spread across 3 programs, right?) and allow perhaps one of them to arrive a day early or later then the rest, there is quite a good chance if you are a bit flexible with the routings and dates.
Think creatively. For example, some of the group could take UA or LH to Frankfurt, from where it is a less than 4 hour train ride to Paris.
With the AA miles, BA usually has some availability, but you must pay their profit surcharge. Also look at Iberia via Madrid.
Jul 1, 2016, 3:50 pm
#4
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This.
Think creatively. For example, some of the group could take UA or LH to Frankfurt, from where it is a less than 4 hour train ride to Paris.
With the AA miles, BA usually has some availability, but you must pay their profit surcharge. Also look at Iberia via Madrid.
Think creatively. For example, some of the group could take UA or LH to Frankfurt, from where it is a less than 4 hour train ride to Paris.
With the AA miles, BA usually has some availability, but you must pay their profit surcharge. Also look at Iberia via Madrid.
Jul 1, 2016, 5:15 pm
#5
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I'm generally as anti-Award Booking Service as they come because I'd rather save the money and do the work myself.
However in this case it might be worth it so you don't have to spend a ton of time figuring out how to put everything together since, as mentioned above, this will require a fair amount of decisions and effort to split it effectively.
However in this case it might be worth it so you don't have to spend a ton of time figuring out how to put everything together since, as mentioned above, this will require a fair amount of decisions and effort to split it effectively.
Jul 1, 2016, 6:25 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,120
5 on one flight is quite easy if you are flexible. BA may even have up to 8 seats in business and if a few in F so that would work. Though likely from NYC so it requires some creativity. One option is to fly to London one two separate BA/AA flights and connect to a combo of economy/business to Paris or take the Eurostar. ALso consider some sectors in economy or PE to make it work.
Last edited by erik123; Jul 1, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Jul 1, 2016, 6:54 pm
#7
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: AA, UA, BA, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 2,074
There are rare instances of this many seats being released on one flight, but it's very rare. It's big news when there are even 4 J seats available on the same flight. Yet still, 8+ could happen (would only matter if you have enough miles in one program for 8 one ways in J). For example:
http://dcta.boardingarea.com/2016/04...ummer-8-seats/
http://thepointsguy.com/2015/09/busi...-jals-new-787/
Jul 1, 2016, 8:39 pm
#8
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Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
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I mentioned the rail alternative in case the FRA-CDG (in conjunction with a TATL flight) was constrained. Always good to have multiple options. ^
Last edited by Non-NonRev; Jul 3, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Jul 4, 2016, 8:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Posts: 7,320
Not to point out the obvious, but how much "over a million" and how they're divided will matter. using United miles for Star Alliance travel in business will be 140,000 miles each person.
Your Hawaiian miles will not be particularly useful here.
Your Hawaiian miles will not be particularly useful here.