Six Sweet International Economy Flight Redemptions
I write a fair bit about using FF miles to fly international First and Business Class.
Certainly, it’s more comfortable to be in First or Business class and the flight itself can be a cool experience, but unlike some FF mile collectors, I don’t travel simply to find out which First Class cabins have the best free pajamas or cushiest beds and I know most of you don’t either.
Ultimately, what I care about most is where the miles can take you.
To that end, here’s a list of great values available using FF miles to travel international economy.
These are award redemptions that certain airlines have that require less FF miles than the other airlines require or that are less FF miles because you are traveling off-season.
1.) 25,000 British Airways Avios from Boston or New York to Ireland on Aer Lingus. It usually takes 60,000 FF miles to get to Europe from the US. This is a great deal if you live on the East Coast.
2.) 35,000 US Airways Dividend Miles from the US to Europe during the off-peak season (Jan.15-Feb.28). For this award, you need to travel on US Airways, not one of its partners. Most airlines charge 60,000 FF miles for a trip to Europe from N. America. Europe is great in the off-season. Less tourists, shorter lines for everything, cheaper hotel rooms. Also worth doing before American and US Airways merge as this is likely to be gone.
3.) 35,000 US Airways Dividend Miles from the US to South America during the off-peak season (2013 – March 1 – 15 & May 1 – 31, 2014 – Feb 3 – Feb 13 & Mar 17 – Apr 3). Same as above, you must fly on US Airways, not a partner airline. The same trip during peak season or using a different airlines miles will require 60,000 FF miles.
4.) 40,000 American Airlines Miles from the US to Europe off-peak (Oct. 15-May 15). Normally takes 60,000 miles when traveling using other airlines’ points or during the peak time period.
5.) 50,000 American Airlines Miles from the US to Japan off-peak (Oct.1-April 30) with a free one-way possible in each direction. Great deal to my personal favorite destination. Traveling during peak period or using most other airlines’ miles takes 60,000-65,000 miles for the same award.
6.) 60,000 US Airways Dividend Miles to fly from North America to Japan (or another N. Asian country) via Europe with a stopover in Europe. This is one way to do an around-the-world trip or just add a free trip to Europe on your way to (or back from) N. Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Mongolia, S. Korea, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
The flights can be on any of their Star Alliance Partners. Of course, with the American Airlines/US Airways merger this redemption will most likely change or go away so it’s best to take advantage of this sooner than later.
Two more bonus economy bargains that are not international:
7.) 25,000 British Airways Avios from the West Coast to Hawaii on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines.
8.) 4,500 British Airways Avios for a one-way economy flight on one of BA’s partner airlines that is 650 miles or less. A great example of this is Melbourne to Sydney on Qantas (a OneWorld partner of British Airways). I took that flight earlier this year for 4,500 Avios plus about $16 in fees and taxes. I booked the flight the day before travel on an impulse. This short flight would have cost in the $400-500 range had I paid for it.
