Which Airline to Europe?
Jun 22, 2001 | 2:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Dallas - AA PLT Hilton Gld
Posts: 206
married 2 miles, have you considered One World partners? Both Iberia and Finnair go to Rome from your market. Iberia only gives 30% AAdvantage miles for discount economy but Finnair gives 100%. They both service Milan as well. And, of course, AA and TWA both service Paris.
You might call the OW desk and ask what they might have to offer you in the way of a OW excursion ticket.
Another program available: if you book on AA or TWA, you can buy OW vouchers (that you have to purchase BEFORE you leave the US) that are good for any flight on any OW partner. They are priced by the number of miles between cities. That way, you don't have to decide your European itineary before you begin your trip - you just have to have purchased the number of vouchers you will want to use.
You might call the OW desk and ask what they might have to offer you in the way of a OW excursion ticket.
Another program available: if you book on AA or TWA, you can buy OW vouchers (that you have to purchase BEFORE you leave the US) that are good for any flight on any OW partner. They are priced by the number of miles between cities. That way, you don't have to decide your European itineary before you begin your trip - you just have to have purchased the number of vouchers you will want to use.
Jun 22, 2001 | 3:00 pm
#17
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Vicksburg, MS USA
Posts: 1
My two cents...have flown Delta, Alitalia, and Swiss Air to Europe and was really blown away by Swiss Air's First Class product. Additionally, I had no trouble getting ff first class awards to Europe last summer with one month advance notice. Flew from ATL-ZUR-FCO (Rome) and was very pleased. However, Delta's BizElite is comporable to Swiss Air's Business Class. (In my opinion...)
Jun 22, 2001 | 4:24 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: UA/1K, DL/PM, AA/PLT, NW/SLV; SW/PLT, HH/DIA
Posts: 1,732
Unfortunately, there is no uber-airline that's right for all circumstances.
Asking the question as, "I've got X MR points with AmEx, and want to go from MCO to BUD, returning from FCO this summer in biz or FC. What's the best airline, and how can I get award tickets on it using my AmEx miles?" would probably get you better answers to what I think you're trying to ask.
Unfortunately, there is no single best airline to Europe.
If you're looking at business class, then a lot of people will say CO is the best choice. On the other hand, CO doesn't have any FC to speak of. SR and BA are both great, and I'd take either one non-stop in FC any day over taking the other with a connection. In some cases, the airlines are close in quality, and the speicifc equipment being used on the route might push me in one direction or the other.
Without more details, it's really not possible to give you a good answer...
Asking the question as, "I've got X MR points with AmEx, and want to go from MCO to BUD, returning from FCO this summer in biz or FC. What's the best airline, and how can I get award tickets on it using my AmEx miles?" would probably get you better answers to what I think you're trying to ask.
Unfortunately, there is no single best airline to Europe.
If you're looking at business class, then a lot of people will say CO is the best choice. On the other hand, CO doesn't have any FC to speak of. SR and BA are both great, and I'd take either one non-stop in FC any day over taking the other with a connection. In some cases, the airlines are close in quality, and the speicifc equipment being used on the route might push me in one direction or the other.
Without more details, it's really not possible to give you a good answer...