Award Travel to Spain or Portugal
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, SPG/Marriott Plt
Posts: 230
Award Travel to Spain or Portugal
Hello all,
I am looking for an award travel on J for 2 to either Spain or Portugal for 5-7 nights in October/November. Is there a good way/tactic to look for business saver award besides the calendar option (not very reliable). It doesn't have to be round trip from the same city in EU. Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
I am looking for an award travel on J for 2 to either Spain or Portugal for 5-7 nights in October/November. Is there a good way/tactic to look for business saver award besides the calendar option (not very reliable). It doesn't have to be round trip from the same city in EU. Any advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
#2
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Former 1KMM now free as UA Gold MM, former HH D, Marriott Lifetime Plat current Titanium
Posts: 1,090
My advice is to look first at international US gateway to EU hub cities for availability and then work from there. Can you find availability LAX or SFO or DEN to FRA/MUC? Then you can try to see if domestic legs are the issue or not. In my experience that’s the new issue—getting to the right gateway.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: Mileage Plus Premier 1K, SkyMiles Gold Medallion, AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 873
10/21: LAX-FRA-MAD or LAX-MUC-MAD (both Lufthansa) 70k miles and reasonable layover times
10/28: LIS-HAM-LHR-LAX (TAP/Eurowings/Air New Zealand) or LIS-LGW/LHR-LAX (TAP/Air New Zealand) 70k miles and reasonable layover times
10/28: LIS-HAM-LHR-LAX (TAP/Eurowings/Air New Zealand) or LIS-LGW/LHR-LAX (TAP/Air New Zealand) 70k miles and reasonable layover times
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, SPG/Marriott Plt
Posts: 230
My advice is to look first at international US gateway to EU hub cities for availability and then work from there. Can you find availability LAX or SFO or DEN to FRA/MUC? Then you can try to see if domestic legs are the issue or not. In my experience that’s the new issue—getting to the right gateway.
Thanks
Last edited by MrCUBS; Sep 4, 19 at 8:25 am Reason: Adding additional questions
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,695
Thanks will do a search this way. Once you find availability from LAX or SFO, then you add a segment SAN-SFO/LAX or do a separate reservation for this?
Thanks for this, good options, will look for them. Same as the question above, then for the segment SAN-LAX-SAN do you usually do a separate reservation
Thanks
Personally, I start my search with what I want, then try other gateways to look for space. You'll likely find saver awards that are "mixed cabin" where the domestic UA legs are in Y.
You are correct that the 30 day calendar isn't the most reliable (it tends to only show the UA options). I find that I start with a date, then use the 7 day calendar to increment the date and sort on the "Business Saver Award" column. UA usually sorts the partner awards at the end of the list.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTE, BA Bronze
Posts: 4,842
I'd also recommend aiming for LH LAX-FRA/MUC-XXX at 70k if you can find dates with them available.
Then check frequently within T-14 (and T-3/2/1) for 110K LH F awards and change your ticket for free (1K). LH often only release 1 F seat at a time, but it can occur right up to the departure time (i.e. incl. same day). LAX-FRA/MUC is a great flight length for LH F. ^
Then check frequently within T-14 (and T-3/2/1) for 110K LH F awards and change your ticket for free (1K). LH often only release 1 F seat at a time, but it can occur right up to the departure time (i.e. incl. same day). LAX-FRA/MUC is a great flight length for LH F. ^
#9
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,043
(1) definitely search one-way, not r/t. If you need the ticket to be r/t you can call to book once you've found your flights
(2) Whenever I'm looking for award tickets to anywhere in Europe it's always offering me TAP and LOT...but it really all depends on the dates!
(2) Whenever I'm looking for award tickets to anywhere in Europe it's always offering me TAP and LOT...but it really all depends on the dates!
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, SPG/Marriott Plt
Posts: 230
Thanks for the advice, so far I have been able to find SAN-DEN-FRA-MAD (SAN-DEN on Y) and return OPO-BRU-IAD-SAN (same IAD-SAN on Y). But did it as o/w so will continue to look and change if I ind anything different.
Thanks again for the advice
Thanks again for the advice
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,695
If you're in I for the TATL legs, don't forget to call and waitlist the SAN-DEN and IAD-SAN legs for I space.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1K, SPG/Marriott Plt
Posts: 230
#13
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold, Avis Pref Plus
Posts: 290
I’ve run into irritating phantom availability issues with TP out of ORD. United agent informed me TP has been worst partner recently when it comes to phantom inventory
#14
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Northwest, United
Posts: 2,985