RTW first/business using FF miles
Feb 28, 2009 | 2:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Programs: VS, BA, AA
Posts: 9
RTW first/business using FF miles
I have 400,000 plus miles in AM EX, and want to use these miles for two first/business class, 5 continent, RTW tickets later this year or early 2010, when I hope to have 500,000 miles. I am a memebr of BA, AA, Virgin, LAN, plus a few others.
Would like to include S.America, AUS/NZ, Africa
I am USA based and I live in Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Any ideas, including the FF miles needed.
Would like to include S.America, AUS/NZ, Africa
I am USA based and I live in Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Any ideas, including the FF miles needed.
Feb 28, 2009 | 2:39 pm
#2
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
Welcome to Flyer Talk gabirds 
Awards seats between South America and Australia/NZ are very difficult to get, especially in first (just EZE-SYD Buenos Aires to Sydney) and business (EZE-SYD or SCL-AKL Santiago to Aukland or SCL-SYD).
Similar between Australia and South Africa on Qantas (QF), and South Africa and London on British Airways (BA) - are also notoriously hard to get premium awards.
For all these you need to book well ahead (say 11 months) or get lucky. If you are wanting to travel early 2010 then now is the time to book, and with 400,000 miles for 2 that means business not first class (and some programs will still not be enough).
It may be easier to break up the trip into bits and have a mixture of paid and award tickets.
Awards seats between South America and Australia/NZ are very difficult to get, especially in first (just EZE-SYD Buenos Aires to Sydney) and business (EZE-SYD or SCL-AKL Santiago to Aukland or SCL-SYD).
Similar between Australia and South Africa on Qantas (QF), and South Africa and London on British Airways (BA) - are also notoriously hard to get premium awards.
For all these you need to book well ahead (say 11 months) or get lucky. If you are wanting to travel early 2010 then now is the time to book, and with 400,000 miles for 2 that means business not first class (and some programs will still not be enough).
It may be easier to break up the trip into bits and have a mixture of paid and award tickets.
Mar 3, 2009 | 1:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK (LAS)
Programs: AA Ex Plat, ICH Plat RA, Hyatt Diamond, LAN Prem Silver
Posts: 544
I looked into availabilty on certain One World routes in the last few weeks.
I dont agree re London to South Africa. I have always found decent availability in Premium Classes on BA. 100,000 AA Miles for 1st Class return from LHR to JNB/CPT is one of the great bargains in the business.
BA appear to be a far better option than Cathay or Qantas. You may have to consider a routing which omits both these airlines if you are planning on a 1st class routing. Business class may be easier to find. As an example Cathay seem to have no or very few seats available for redemption across the Pacific in First but plenty in Biz.
From Asia to Europe I did notice that there appears to be plenty of availability in First with Cathay on HKG to AMS but not the other european capitals that they fly to.
You may have to consider taking return trips from the NH to South American (LAN - MIA-SCL) & South African Destinations (LHR to JNB/CPT) given the paucity of seats on the direct SH services.
I dont agree re London to South Africa. I have always found decent availability in Premium Classes on BA. 100,000 AA Miles for 1st Class return from LHR to JNB/CPT is one of the great bargains in the business.
BA appear to be a far better option than Cathay or Qantas. You may have to consider a routing which omits both these airlines if you are planning on a 1st class routing. Business class may be easier to find. As an example Cathay seem to have no or very few seats available for redemption across the Pacific in First but plenty in Biz.
From Asia to Europe I did notice that there appears to be plenty of availability in First with Cathay on HKG to AMS but not the other european capitals that they fly to.
You may have to consider taking return trips from the NH to South American (LAN - MIA-SCL) & South African Destinations (LHR to JNB/CPT) given the paucity of seats on the direct SH services.
