African Award Redemptions
 

I'm gonna be living in Malawi starting in July. So i could really use some Flyertalk help with this big change.

I basically need to figure out the best way to build a balance on the right airlines that fly to and from Malawi back to the States. I did a little research and it seems the best airlines that flies into Malawi that also have larger alliances are Kenyan Airways for skyteam or South african Airways for star alliance. I don't have miles with either alliance but I have a ton with one world and with AMEX and starwood that I can transfer. I figure, once i get out of Malawi, I can use oneworld miles to get to the states. So, I basically need to build big balances on an airline with Skyteam and Star Alliance as quickly as possible but I'm not sure the best way to do it.

I'm assuming the two biggest factors are how easy it is to get the miles quickly and how cheap it is to redeem them. So for example, I could apply for a united or continental credit cards to quickly build miles on that airline for star alliance but if their redemption rate on South African Airways is much worse than say Air Canada, I should be looking at building a balance with Air canada instead right?

So my questions are basically:

1) Does anyone know the airline that has the best award redemption rates on Kenyan or South African airways in their respective alliances?

2) Is there an airline I am missing that I should look at?

3) Any other advice that could help with travel to and from Malawi over the next year?

4) Are there other things to keep in mind or to note (e.g. Delta is a skyteam partner and has a 40% bonus from Amex MR points transfer, etc.)?

Any help is much appreciated.

Ethiopian will be joining *A as well at some point in the future.

I would transfer AMEX MR points to Delta to get the 40% bonus and redeem awards on KLM. The Kenyan Airlines flights out of Malawi are code shared with KLM. Check Air France too.
I just did the same thing to get an award to another African country. Delta miles on KLM; BE 120k miles all the way to Africa. Not bad.

Isn't the bonus 50% for first time transfers until 5/31/11?

http://dmn.delta.com/offers/getmore/

And they give silver status.

Ethiopian
 

I've lived in various African countries and I can tell you, finding an affordable way to earn miles is hard! I would highly recommend the Ethiopian Airways-Lufthansa alliance. It was in its infancy when I was using Ethiopian for US-Africa travel and so I don't know much about its current state. However, general +s of the Sheba Miles (awesome name) program are that you get lounge access for simply signing up, with no mileage balance requirements. It isn't going to be a Singapore lounge, but its better than the normal Addis airport! Also, the basically direct routing to Addis from IAD can be quite convenient as opposed to long layovers in LHR, CDG, BRU, etc. I'm not sure if you could get Lufthansa elite and then have it matched here in the US? Anyway, my rambling two cents.

Yes but only for first time transfer. The OP mentioned 40% so I assumed he meant the 40% promotion.
http://dmn.delta.com/offers/servingupmiles/

OP, note that DL charges a foreign origination fee or something that is almost equal to YQ for itins that start abroad.

Thanks for all the feedback. This is helpful. and Brings up a few follow up questions:

It seems my best bet for getting to Malawi is on either South African Air, Ethiopian (when it joins) or Kenyan Airways. So is the best redemption for any of these 3 the ANA 10k Distance based award that can be used on South African?

For getting to/from Africa the best three options seems to be:

1) US airways 70k reward from JFK to JNB - Seems like a great deal but what is the availability since i'm assuming it's redeemed on South African Airways which is the only non-stop to South Africa from the US

2) using 80k Delta miles on Air France/KLM going Boston-Paris/Amsterdam-Nairobi-Lilongwe (KLM code shares with Kenyan it appears).

3) using 75k AA to fly from BOS - JNB on British Airways

Of these 3 options, what might the taxes and award availability be? I imagine the AA option would have the BA YQ pushing it in the $500 range. Does Delta charge high taxes on option #2, how bout US airways?

I can answer 2.
I paid 120k miles and $107 in taxes for a J award to Africa. Delta to Ams and KLM the rest of the way. Coach should be less taxes. Hope that helps.

Great. Those taxes are a heck of a lot better than it would be using AA miles on British Airways. Was award availability good?

I guess it comes down to Delta vs US airways. Although the Delta Foreign origination fee could be a killer. I like the idea of only 70k US Airways miles to Africa. Has anyone flown this award that can share the the taxes, availability, etc.? Does it also have a foreign origination fee?

Excellent availability AMS-Africa. You just have to work a little bit to get to AMS but definitely doable.
If you can plan your trips well in advance you don't have to pay foreign origination fees. For example US-Malawi now return December, US-Malawi January and so on. It's easier to find awards well in advance anyway. I'm assuming you still haven't gone already or if you are already there get a OW ticket to US first trip and stack the rest of your trips originating in the US.
Good luck.

I booked YYZ-YUL-ZRH-DAR and back in Biz, 110K US miles + ~$150 in taxes. You can get an idea of the taxes by selecting example flights on the route/airline you're thinking on ITA and seeing the tax breakdown.

My work is flying me over the first time so Unfortunately my award tickets will have to mainly start in Africa unless I do a one way the first time and Delta doesn't seem to do one way awards.

What airlines did you find the biz award availability using US air Miles?