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Flight Intel


To ensure that Milez.biz users are always well-informed with the latest industry intelligence and our site boasts the most up-to-date data possible, we collect anecdotal material about award flights, organized by destination pairings and frequent flyer program. We’re always looking for the following type of information:
  • 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?
Let us know if you have intel you would like to share. We’d also be more than happy to link to your trip reports and sources, too! Click on the "comment" button for any of the miles calculations or email us through the contact page.

Doha (DOH) to Casablanca (CMN) with Miles from American Airlines AAdvantage [oneworld / Partners]

Apparently booking a first class redemption (on Qatar Airways) is possible for this route, even though the rate is not published by AA. See the following article on One Mile at a Time:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/07/24/does-american-allow-first-class-awards-between-the-middle-east-and-africa/

29 July, 2015

Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Casablanca (CMN) with Miles from American Airlines AAdvantage [oneworld / Partners]

Apparently booking a first class redemption (on Etihad) is possible for this route, even though the rate is not published by AA. See the following article on One Mile at a Time:
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/07/24/does-american-allow-first-class-awards-between-the-middle-east-and-africa/

29 July, 2015

Zurich (ZRH) to Lisbon (LIS) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance

TAP has a direct flights from Zurich (ZRH) to Lisbon (LIS) and flights seem to be readily available. The 20,000 mile redemption for an economy class ticket is good value. There are fees and a fuel surcharge on TAP, approx. CAD 169.

27 July, 2015

Frankfurt (FRA) to Rome (FCO) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Intra-European redemptions are not such a great deal due to high fuel surcharges and high airport fees. The fees for the Frankfurt to Rome route are about EUR 50. You can buy a cash ticket for less than EUR 150.

Source:  Using Your Miles The Best Way — Case Lufthansa Miles

7 July, 2015

Vienna (VIE) to Brussels (BRU) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Intra-European redemptions are generally not such a great deal due to high fuel surcharges and high airport fees. But the redemption between Vienna and Brussels is not bad because a cash ticket is pretty expensive: EUR 470.
The fees for a one-way ticket on Miles & More are about EUR 70, plus 15,000 miles.

Source:  Using Your Miles The Best Way — Case Lufthansa Miles

7 July, 2015

Frankfurt (FRA) to Los Angeles (LAX) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

First Class award tickets between Frankfurt and Los Angeles are the way to go! Despite the high surcharges (EUR 630) this is still a great deal.

Source:  Using Your Miles The Best Way — Case Lufthansa Miles

7 July, 2015

Sao Paulo (GRU) to Tokyo (NRT) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

This would be two long haul flights with Lufthansa from Brazil to Germany to Japan. If you can get both of these long haul trips in first class would be even better and the fees would be low due to the "no fuel surcharge" rule in Brazil. So a one-way journey starting in Brazil would only incur EUR 63 in surcharges!

Source:  Using Your Miles The Best Way — Case Lufthansa Miles

7 July, 2015

San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK) with Miles from Delta SkyMiles / SkyTeam

According to the Consumer Reports Ultimate Frequent Flyer Guide SFO to JFK is one of the better Delta SkyMiles redemption routes, meaning you get good value for your miles and seat availability is good as well (almost 10%).

Consult the Consumer Report chart for the top US routes here

26 June, 2015

Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) with Miles from Delta SkyMiles / SkyTeam

According to the Consumer Reports Ultimate Frequent Flyer Guide LAX to JFK is one of the better Delta SkyMiles redemption routes, meaning you get good value for your miles and seat availability is good as well (almost 15%).

Consult the Consumer Report chart for the top US routes here

26 June, 2015

Las Vegas (LAS) to New York (JFK) with Miles from Delta SkyMiles / SkyTeam

According to the Consumer Reports Ultimate Frequent Flyer Guide Las Vegas to New York is one of the better Delta SkyMiles redemption routes, meaning you get good value for your miles and seat availability is good as well (almost 9%).

Consult the Consumer Report chart for the top US routes here

26 June, 2015