Flight Intel
- What are the fees and surcharges that travelers needed to pay in order to book their award flight?
- How was the availability of a given route(s) when it came to booking the award flight?
- Are there tricks that program members used in order to optimize their redemption?
- Which specific flights were used for the award ticket? Are some flights better than others?
- How does this award ticket compare to other programs and how does it compare to a ticket bought with cash?
- Are there specific sweet spots in the award tables that one should try to take advantage of?
- Are there exceptions to the award tables where our calculations are not accurate?
- What was your overall experience with a particular award ticket?
- Was it worth cashing your miles in for a given flight?
Vancouver (YVR) to New York (JFK) with Miles from Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer / Star Alliance
The fees for a one-way business class award ticket to get on the direct Air Canada flight from Vancouver to New York are only USD 10.
Source: http://www.pointhacks.com.au/reviews/air-canada-business-class-vancouver-new-york/
18 July, 2016
Montreal (YUL) to Zurich (ZRH) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
Here is a write-up on Milesopedia about the Montreal-Zurich route with Swiss, using Aeroplan miles [in French].
9 July, 2016
Zurich (ZRH) to Split (SPU) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
The Zurich to Split itinerary can be redeemed on Star Alliance partner Croatia Airlines, which has a direct flight between the two cities. Fees and surcharges for the direct flight are CAD 72.
8 July, 2016
Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Singapore (SIN) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
Topbonus members can redeem flights with Etihad, which has an interesting route network to Asia. What's more flights from AUH to the Gulf States, South Asia and South East Asia require the same number of miles! The round-trip Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi to Singapore incurs fees of only EUR 41.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
Frankfurt (FRA) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
The direct American Airlines connection from Frankfurt to Dallas can be booked with topbonus miles. AA does not charge fuel surcharges so that the return redemption has fees of only EUR 140. Düsseldorf to Chicago is another direct AA flight that can be booked for this same overall fee.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
Seattle (SEA) to Miami (MIA) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
Award fees for flights with the same partner carrier are a little different than if multiple carriers are required. You can cross the USA from Miami to Seattle with American Airlines for 15,000 miles one-way and only EUR 13 in fees.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
Honolulu (HNL) to Miami (MIA) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
As long as you use only American Airlines the fees for the itinerary from Miami to Honolulu are only EUR 26 in fees for the round trip.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
New York (JFK) to Panama City (PTY) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
You can use all American Airlines flights to reach Panama City (e.g. with a connection in Miami), the fees will be approximately EUR 60 for the round-trip. The Central America / Caribbean zone can be seen here.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
Miami (MIA) to Buenos Aires (EZE) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
Miami is the hub for American Airlines flights to South America. The fees for a round-trip award ticket to Buenos Aires in economy class are EUR 50.
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016
New York (JFK) to Hong Kong (HKG) with Miles from topbonus (airberlin, NIKI) [Partners]
The fees for a round-trip award ticket from North America to the Far East in economy class are a reasonable EUR 58. A possible connection between New York and Hong Kong (for AA flights) is Dallas (DFW).
Source: http://meilenoptimieren.com/beste-airberlin-topbonus-praemienfluege/ [in German]
4 July, 2016