Your thoughts on Bwi-mad-par-bwi
 

I'm considering a trip next summer from Baltimore to Madrid and Paris. I would like to use points where it makes sense. Leave sometime after July 19 and return before August 15.

My wife and I have:

1. Chase UR points - 800k total
2. AA 150-175k EACH
3. UA 50-60k each
4. US 40k each
5. No status on any airline

Regardless of the program, I always prefer the "saver" fares. It seems that the US points won't work because they don't let you do anything but a R/T on an award ticket. I'm currently holding UA/US/AA credit cards if that makes a difference.

I would like to do Madrid and then Paris, as I consider Paris the highlight of the trip and always like to save the best for last. Now, I would say that I've never been to Madrid and I was last in Paris approximately 20 years ago, but that's my opinion...

I would like to maximize my use of points, but obviously it must make sense. I think that biz would be better going to Madrid, but it's not imperative. We have also been satisfied with EconPlus on United flights.

We could fly from BWI or also IAD or PHL. The only nonstop flight to Madrid from any of those airports is out of PHL on US and they're still United partners, so that seems attractive. There are nonstop flights from Paris to both PHL and IAD (AirFrance and United/US for both). How often the flight from CDG comes up in the saver fare in either coach or biz is anyone's guess.

I know I'm rambling and haven't even asked a question yet, so I'm going to try and ask away...

1) Could I use my UR points to Korean and book a one-way flight from CDG-PHL or from CDG-IAD and my United points to fly to Madrid? I thought Korean only did r/t, but I remember calling and asking once and they said you could do oneways...

2) I know I could fly to Madrid and stop for a few days and then continue MAD-CDG and then return from CDG-home for the same points as home-MAD out and CDG-home return. However, *A doesn't have a nonstop between MAD and Paris, and it seems silly to connect and waste all that time. I could use Avios and fly MAD-ORY nonstop for a nominal amount. Doesn't that make sense? Or even pay a LCC between the two?

3) Should I book entirely using UA and then set some alerts on EF to see about the seats that might come up?

4) How do you juggle between the saver fare connecting vs. nonstops in regular fare?

5) While the nonstop is very nice from PHL-MAD, I would have to drive from Baltimore to PHL and it might be just as easy/cheap to fly from BWI and connect to MAD.

6) Are there any other connections/flights that I"m not considering? Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance and please ask anything that might need clarification...I know this is a bit of a rambling mess.

Farbster

1. Korean does allow one-ways, I'd call and check on surcharges.

2. I'd definitely go with Avios or LCC, or consider the overnight train which goes from city center to city center and avoids airports and security altogether.

6. If you want to go anywhere between now and then, this begs for a free one-way (up to 9K Avios) on AA.

Quick ITA search finds one way tickets MAD-CDG on 7/29, 8/2, and 8/5 as low as €59. I wouldn't bother using points on those.

Thanks for your responses.

I forgot about the fuel surcharges on KE. Thanks for reminding me. I'll certainly phone and find out.

No way on the overnight train. Not for us.

As to the free one way, I could do it on United, but I don't think I can squeeze another trip in. UA and their partners don't fly where we want to go nonstop. We've got some trips to PBI, but we go on WN. How would I do it on AA for the routes I'm going on?

I'd fired up the ol' Matrix, but some of the really cheap flights (like the 7/29) were not at a good time. I could go on Iberia on the same day at noon for 7500 Avios + $ 84.69. The money is the same, but I would have to give 7500 Avios/pax, but that's not a big deal. Also, the LCC make you pay for luggage, so not so cheap if I consider that 7500 Avios is very little.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

With so many WN BWI routes, it won't be worthwhile unless you want a trip to Hawaii or Mexico / Caribbean. You can fly, for instance, HNL-LAX-NY (Stopover, continue to BWI and back with 4500 Avios each way)- MAD, and save 10K AA miles if the HNL-NY (or ORD or BOS) segment is before May 15 in coach, or just get a really good deal in business. Again, it only makes sense if you want that winter-in-the-tropics trip.

Kenny,

I hadn't really considered burning Avios to get to NYC or another town.

I have a trip to FL planned for Dec (winter break), SLC for MLK weekend (with 1 daughter), CUN for Prez weekend with family, and SLC for guys ski trip in March. If you could figure out how to get me to Hawaii, please let me know! You'd be my best friend!

Can you work a long weekend into May? 20K United miles BWI-HNL May 6-9, return to MIA May 12 in business on HA/AA HNL-SAN-MIA, continue MIA-MAD on IB business 7/24. Total HNL-MIA-MAD 50K AA, and 15K Avios to fill in to BWI. Boston also works in business class, with an extra stop on the return from HNL.

All available right now. BTW thanks for stealing my seats to CUN presidents day (and my anniversary) weekend. That made me look around more and get RTB which looks like it should be awesome!

May is a no go due to my daughter's Bat Mitzvah. However, we're planning to go to California in June. Any thoughts on a return home from San Fran? When we go to Cali it will be with 2 kids and 2 grandparents. Most likely WN, but we could split up if necessary I suppose. Also, doesn't have to be WN if the fares are competitive, especially on UA.

I'd be tempted to use SFO-JFK-BWI as your free oneway and get UA p.s. business on SFO-JFK. Then go BWI-XXX-MAD//CGD-YYY-BWI. That should price out at 100k UA miles per person. You can easily do that with your UR points. Then use any of the methods discussed earlier to get from MAD-CDG.