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

AA flies mostly 767-300's to/from CDG, although one of the JFK-CDG-JFK flights uses a 757.

The 767-300 is configured 2-3-2 in Coach, so if you select your seats early enough, you won't have anyone else sitting next to you. (The 757, on the other hand, is configured 3-3 in Coach.)

Not so unusual. On the day of departure, you'll probably wake up at your usual hour (6-9 a.m.). The flights to Europe are generally overnight so you'll do a full day in the US. If you don't sleep well on planes (my unfortunate tendency), you'll remain awake all night, landing in Paris at daybreak or slightly later (time zone difference Chicago to Paris is seven hours--flight is roughly 8 hours to Europe, 9 back--headwinds flying westward).

Follow the standard advice to get yourself on the new schedule as soon as possible, and you'll not get to sleep until 9 p.m. or so Paris time, more than thirty hours after you awoke the day before. Get a little kick of adrenaline as I did on last month's trip to London, and you might stay up past midnight.

Thus, the argument for some sort of sleep medication in coach or flying business class.

Coach to Paris, then save up miles for Business/First for Honeymoon!

This was thinking as well but I am just a bumbling guy.

One idea
 

Since you have 15K Delta miles and your gf has 50K miles, you might want to each consider opening a checking account up at Suntrust. I'll save you all the T&C's, but I think the balanced banking option is the lowest required checking account they will issue the Delta Check Card to, which is a Mastercard. The fees are $12/month if you dont keep $3K in there each month, and the annual fee is $55. (You used to be able to get that card with the Student Checking but it looks like they quickly closed that loophole up).

Anyways you get 5K miles each for signing up, but more importantly you get 2 Delta miles for every $1 you spend, which is better than any card out there, credit or debit. Since you have the whole year to spend $, that may be an option if you guys anticipate spending $. Or maybe you know someone who is making a big purchase like a car or something and they will let you pay for it with your card. Just a thought since you already have 65K Delta Miles already.

Of course, the current AA offers give 2 AA miles per dollar spent for the first year and the Chase Sapphire card gives an effective 2.14 miles per dollar spent (with the 7% annual bonus with transfers to United and BA) so the Delta offer is not better than those two offers. But an option the OP might consider despite Delta's generally higher redemption requirements.

lwildnorva said this but we got up normal time in the morning, 8am caught our flight which was just under 9 hours because we flew out of MIA, overnight flight and landed at 8am Paris time. We didn't check in until 1pm which was really 7pm back home on the east coast, thats how it ended up being almost 36 hours. I was ready to go exploring but my GF insisted we sleep. Get acclimated to the time zone and you'll be fine. Also, our plane was a 767 so it had the 2-3-2 seating and we made sure to pick the 2 seats together. However, there were some empty seats in the middle so some people moved around to get more space, but thats not always the case.

I been busy so I am late, but haha that is exactly the comment I would have made. (Prenup) LOL

Anyway I feel the surprise is a great idea. NY part of it like you said then Paris. You said she has a passport I am sure you can pull it of. I would make sure the hotel is great, and fly coach. I never have done long flights so I don't know. But I did a first class domestic flight, and to me it means nothing. I always fly coach, and that difference to me is nothing. But on a trip to Paris if you can some how get enough miles to do Business/First then great. But if not I think flying coach won't be a problem for young people. And you can go all out on the hotel.

Hyatt Chase card 2 nights in Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome. Also I would see if your dad is willing to sign up for the CC offers. That way your gf does not need to, and you can still surprise her.

But yea good luck, and let us know how it goes.

I would definitely suggest prioritizing the hotel, I don't see the point in spending for a great flight and then checking-in to a mediocre hotel upon arrival.

Equally, though, flying in cattle class is not very romantic, so you could look at Air France Premium Voyageur (premium economy), purchasing revenue economy class tickets on AA and then upgrading with miles and co-pay, or flying Open Skies (affordable all business class service to Paris).

For a hotel, if you are on a budget, why not get two Hyatt credit cards for a total of four free nights at the Park Hyatt Vendome? You could pay for an additional night or two if you want to stay longer.

I'm afraid that your income or lack thereof might mean that you won't get approved for the cards you would need. That said, if you go between Oct. 15-Dec 31, you would only need 40K AA miles each for flights to Paris.
Just FYI.

Assuming he tells the truth.

I like the idea of the surprise. I also wouldn't sweat the whole J thing. Coach for 8 hours is fine, as long as you aren't as tall as I am :) I'd put most of my energy into the hotel as well.

As others have mentioned, the two Citi cards are a quick way to enough miles. On top of that, the Chase Sapphire + Chase Hyatt card are a quick way to 4 nights at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome. Along that route, if you get your dad to sign up for the Sapphire card, it's easy to transfer the points to your account. You'd be 4,000 points short of five nights at the PH just with the Sapphire spend, and you can buy those points for $100 or so. Then, get the Chase Hyatt card, and you're looking at 7 nights at a really nice hotel in Paris.

Ya gonna spend more time in the plane or the hotel? Hands down save the bucks for the hotel (and restaurants).

Caution
 

Being a law student you should know that proposing on a holiday could be construed as you giving her a gift and NOT and engagement ring. So in case you don't get married she may be able to keep the ring based on the timing.

PS Spain is 100 times better than Paris. I've been to both 5 times and I hate FRANCE. Spain is awesome, the people are warm and kind. Paris is cliche. South of Spain is where its at....

thought I had posted this a couple of days ago...
 

The folks saying you can't go wrong with an apartment on Ile St Louis are absolutely right. It would be an absolutely stunning place to stay.

There are also a lot of amazing apartments available in the nicer arrondisements of Paris that might be more reasonable if you're on a budget. Rick Steves' always has some pretty good recommendations (especially if you buy into his theory of travel and living like a local).

If you want to splash out on a hotel, it might not be necessary to do Hyatt...Priority Club is affiliated with IC Hotels, who own Le Grand Paris...stayed there a few years back, great location, great view of the Opera Garnier. I think PC is offering an 80k pt Visa right now, and IC Hotels range from 30k/40k/50k.

Keep the J class for honeymoon and anniversaries etc. Fly economy, you are a student for God's sake. Spend like one. No need to go over the top.

I'm an ex-law-student myself, and Paris is my favorite city of all the ones I've visited. I get homesick for it and start getting cranky if I can't get there at least every 2-3 years. Heading there again in Oct, actually :) So I think you picked a great city, and I think the AA x 2 is probably the way to go. It'd be great if you could get enough miles for business class, but economy is totally fine too. I'm more in favor of keeping it a surprise trip than flying bus class, so I'd say to do what you have to in order to keep it a surprise.

Here's a couple thoughts: Do you think your Mom or Dad might be willing to obtain the AA cards, meet the spending reqs, and then let you use the miles to take your gf for the proposal trip?

Not sure I'd do the NYC-French-dinner thing. It seems too complex and would take a lot of "work" to keep your gf from finding out at the airport that Paris is the ultimate destination. Also, restaurants like Per Se and Daniel are of course wonderful but incredibly expensive... the dining in Paris is incredible and I'd want to save my budget for a nicer hotel room or restaurants in Paris. So here's what I'd do: I'd find a way to get the miles for economy OR business without having to involve the gf. Then, awhile before the trip, I'd either have her request the time off from work (if she works), or email her boss myself. At some point I'd tell her that the two of you are taking a trip, that she'll need her passport for it, and then I wouldn't say any more. No hints, no clues. Just tell her to take time off from x to y and show up at the airport with passport in hand. I think that's incredibly romantic and definitely a story she'll be telling forever (just don't make it more than 6 weeks in advance because it'll drive her crazy and you'll end up cracking). Add the proposal on top of that, and wow!

Oh and one more thing: I find the Hyatt and other major Paris hotels to be less charming than the smaller boutique hotels and apartment rentals. On our first trip there, we stayed at the Relais Bosquet in the 7th, and loved it, but their prices have increased a lot since our stay. You might also look at VRBO for apartments, but makes sure the apt has more than a handful of reviews. Anyway, the major chain hotels just seem a little cold to me.

Save the money or the miles on the flight.

I am sure a better hotel room makes the stay more exciting and relaxing than a business class flight.

Of course, I prefer a First Class flight above a economy flight, but at the end it's just a flight for 8 hours. However you will spend a few days at the hotel and whats better than a big bathtub or shower for a couple? Splurge your money/points for the hotel.

Make sure you make your language clear when you propose. IE This is a CONDITIONAL gift . . .

. . . but then again that my kill the romance . . .

Just a couple of thoughts.

First) If I were going to splurge on Business only one way, I would do so for the outbound, overnight leg.

Second) Just in case you have trouble with getting the AA miles through Citi, you might want to consider USAirways. I know, I know, it is trashed all the time here, and I have to admit that I cannot remember ever having flown USAir (and you lose the extra "stop over leg"). However, there is a USAirways card being offered that gives 40,000 miles with first use. If you can travel in January or February (a little after your target dates), USAir offers round trip to CDG for 30,000 miles per person (you save 5000 miles with the card). Of course, you would need to come up with the remaining 20,000 miles (purchase?), but it is something to keep in mind. Because it has no spend requirement (other than first use), you could then go for a hotel card and focus your spend there. Also, although I don't believe you can get oneway awards on USAirways, you can on AA and you could check Delta. It might work better to go one way on one airline and use another for the return. Good Luck.

But, please! Tell her she should be packing stylish outfits for a cool, city climate ... no girl wants to end up in Paris with a suitcase full of jeans and bulky ski sweaters. (Unless you plan to take her shopping as well ...)

Couple thoughts:

Don't get her involved. Do this more as a surprise for her. It'll be a great surprise to have if you can manage it.

Don't go with Biz seats. Two reasons for this. First, if you go Business, she may pick up on this being a 'special' trip. Keep it coach and just like another trip, no reason to give her any hints as to this being a special/different trip. Plus, once you go Biz you may get both her and you spoiled on Biz and then you get to deal with the long term mileage running to either get status or miles so that you can upgrade on Intl flights. (It's a disease, I have it and don't see myself getting rid of it as long as I can control it)

Play it just like any other trip right up to time you propose. "regular" hotel, airfare, everything. If you like, maybe schedule some 'upgrades' after the date you propose but make sure she knows nothing about this. Say you go for one hotel from Date X-Proposal date and then another hotel, or even a nicer room, from Proposal Date-Return date. Do your best to keep this hidden from her. Say you'll check in while she deals with the taxi/baggage. Do you best to hide each thing from her. SHe won't think anything of you doing this, but if she's standing there and they say "We have you booked through Friday in a room and then Saturday-Monday in a suite", she may wonder.

Key here is to keep everything 'normal'. No extravagant anything before the date. Keep is just like you would any other time.

As for miles, seems AA cards are the easiest way to get the points. But you have to act quickly. If you do decide on Business class for outbound or return, consider doing one award ticket and one purchased ticket with a miles upgrade. Depending on availability and timing to get all requried miles, this may work better for you.

And, above all, enjoy yourself. This is a rare occasion that you want to be fully engaged in and be able to tell your grandkids :)

^

Too bad you didn't give me this idea back in Sept...

I would of said you should do the US AIRWAYS Grand Slam...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/2011-...promotion-684/

and then use the miles for two tickets in ENVOY class which are only 60K during off peak..

http://www.usairways.com/en-US/divid...wardchart.html

For hotels, check:
tablethotels.com
jetsetter.com
vacationist.com
ruelala.com

These are all private sale sites that have boutique hotels for great rates. For example, Vacationist is currently offering the Hotel California-Champs Elysses for $160-200 per night (although the entire peak travel season is blacked out).

It's also worth explicitly searching for Paris on Jetsetter, because they have a bunch of good deals that aren't always listed on their front page.

(Full disclosure: these are referral links. I think all these sites require a referral before you can see the private sales otherwise. Sorry.)

Agreed that the chances of being approved for the cards you need is unlikely considering the fairly low credit limits you seem to have so far. Is your Chase Freedom card a Visa Signature card? It would look something like below. If it is, you probably have a good chance of getting approved for the cards with big bonuses; otherwise, don't count on it.

http://usa.visa.com/img/personal/vis...-yours-say.png

(It could say "Signature" under the Visa logo on front, instead.)

As far as business versus coach travel goes, I say stick with coach. Beyond requiring many more miles, business class awards are almost impossible to find, while coach awards are pretty available. It would have been nice, but just too hard, and maybe too over the top. Besides, five to ten years out of law school, you should be able to afford paying cash for business class!

Maybe. First, US's off-peak season for flights from the USA to Europe is only from January 15-February 28. Second, Envoy availability is not always so great. Believe me, I've been looking for Envoy seats for late February for PHL-FCO for six weeks now. None of the "off-peak" fares are available after February 13 (in fact, the only available dates I've seen in February are the 11th and 13th).

The Grand Slam is a great way to build up a pile of US miles, but with the parameters the OP has given, AA is still his best bet.

He still might want to consider participating in this year's GS, however, to start accumulating miles for his honeymoon flight.

My GF already knew that I was obsessed about FF miles, as she saw me every time I had to buy a ticket.

Why not buy F instead of J?
And, I think that Y should be OK. It's not like OP is going on YYZ HKG in Y, which is more than twice as long and in CX's uncomfortable shell seats.

just wanted to add another option that i did not see mentioned. Although I am not a huge fan of Flying Blue it may be a good option for you. Flying Blue routinely offers Web Awards for half off the normal award. So you can get economy for 25k RT, premium economy 31k RT, and Biz for 50k RT. Mind you, these awards carry fuel surcharges which come out to around $400 per ticket. So you may be out some cash but it may be much easier for you to get a free ticket and this way you can fly premium economy at a very small increase for miles. The easiest way to get FB miles may be to open up an AMEX card and convert membership rewards points to FB miles. Also, do note that the promo destinations change every two months but either Chicago, Detroit, or NYC are usually almost always offered.

Or we could book cheap MRs....

mikelat, you didn't just knock it out of the park, this was a World Series walk-off, David Freese Game 6 type post.

OP: Do exactly as he says!

Because F usually costs 2-3x as much as J for maybe 30% more service. That's just a bad value proposition, any way you slice it, unless you really need the privacy of F and can't, for whatever reason, fly private, or you're buying for someone else and really need to impress them. (I'm thinking recruiting executives, etc...) The difference in service between Y and J, however, is much, much larger, and I think is much more justifiable.

F awards, however, are different, since they're usually much more available and maybe only 30% more expensive in terms of miles. I think F awards are a reasonable option if/when J isn't available.

Good point.

Recommendations on a first class flight between nyc and paris
 

Sorry for a short post without much details. Im writing this outside on my phone. I want to take my very long long time girlfriend from nyc to paris for a surprise proposal in this July or August. I would like to fly first class. I know this might be hard with such short notice trying to find first (oh, I plan to use points to book it) but what do you guys suggest I try to fly on? AA first doesnt seem very good.

I have AA, UR, SPG, BA miles.
Thx. Please let me know if I forgot to mention anything else.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Does it have to be nonstop?

Paying?

Awards?

How many Points with whom?

Do you have any Status?

If Paying then Air France Non-Stop at $14,413 Each, or you could save your money and put it towards a deposit on a home.

Alternative would be BA Via LHR if you have BA or AAwards but you are competing with 2012 Games in London.

UR->UA and book LH C/F. From what I've seen in my limited searching, LH pretty reliably releases award inventory close to departure date (as long as there is space, of course...) so your late notice may work in your favor.

If it's a surprise proposal, wouldn't flying F to Europe kind of give a hint towards it?

I say Y/Y+ on the way there, J/F on the way back :p

I agree, plus you can keep costs down if that is of concern.
Take a non-stop revenue flight NYC-PAR in Y/Y+ then fly back in F.

LH are good to release F close in plus you get to use the wonderful FCT in FRA if you time your flights correctly

What if she says "No." Might be an awkward flight home.

I suppose with enough lead time her F ticket could be downgraded to a Y middle seat with no recline. Oh, and throw in a request for her to get a MOML meal. ;)