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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.

Madrid (MAD) to Lima (LIM) with Avios from Iberia Plus

The fees for the round-trip redemption between Madrid and Peru are EUR 188 in 'Blue Class'.

Source: http://flyingpiggie.com/sp/2015/02/iberia-plus-valor-avios/ [in Spanish]

3 February, 2015

Madrid (MAD) to Buenos Aires (EZE) with Avios from Iberia Plus

The fees for the round-trip redemption between Madrid and Buenos Aires are EUR 224 in business class. This ticket would cost about EUR 2,700 even in low season, if bought with cash.

Source: http://flyingpiggie.com/sp/2015/02/iberia-plus-valor-avios/ [in Spanish]

3 February, 2015

New York (JFK) to Buenos Aires (EZE) with Avios from Iberia Plus / oneworld

The fees for the round-trip redemption between Buenos Aires and New York are EUR 90 with flights on American Airlines. This ticket would cost about a minimum of  EUR 1,500, if bought with cash.

Source: http://flyingpiggie.com/sp/2015/02/iberia-plus-valor-avios/ [in Spanish]

3 February, 2015

Toronto (YTZ) to Montreal (YUL) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance

There are many flights every day between Toronto's Island Airport (YTZ) and Dorval in Montreal (YUL). Seats are often available and surcharges for the round trip redemption are currently CAD 173.
This can be booked one way too, for half the cost in miles and fees.

28 January, 2015

Tokyo (HND) to San Francisco (SFO) with Miles from American Airlines AAdvantage [oneworld / Partners]

Here's a trip report from mightytravels.com:
http://www.mightytravels.com/2015/01/jal-economy-class-review-tokyo-haneda-hnd-to-san-francisco-sfo-jl2/

The recommendation is to book during the very advantageous off-season.

21 January, 2015

Halifax (YHZ) to Istanbul (IST) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance

Read this article at packinglighttravel.com on tricks on how to best redeem a flight from Halifax to Istanbul. The key is to use Turkish Airlines in order to avoid the high fuel surcharges.

14 December, 2014

Edmonton (YEG) to Istanbul (IST) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance

When traveling from Edmonton to Istanbul, try routing through Chicago (ORD) in order to avoid the high Air Canada fuel surcharges. The flight to Istanbul from Chicago is with United Airlines and therefore has much lower fees (under CAD 200 for the round trip). Connecting in Toronto (YYZ) with Turkish Airlines is also a good option with lower surcharges.
Read more here.

14 December, 2014

Halifax (YHZ) to Taipei (TPE) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance

To avoid fuel surcharges on this itinerary, connections through Boston (BOS) and Los Angeles (LAX) are advantageous. The longer flights (with minimal surcharges) will be with United Airlines to LAX and then with Eva Air to Taiwan. Total surcharges will be under CAD 100 for the round trip.
See the article on packinglighttravel.com.

14 December, 2014

Guatemala City (GUA) to Rio De Janeiro (GIG) with Miles from Miles & Bonus (Aegean) / Star Alliance

For a Star Alliance economy seat redemption with Copa Airlines between Guatemala (GUA) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Aegean's Miles & Bonus charges approximately USD 230 in fees. This fee consists of the Guatemalan sales tax, airport security fees, departure taxes and an Aegean booking fee.


30 November, 2014

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

20,000 miles is a great deal for the return flights from Zurich to Funchal (Madeira). The island of Madeira (as well as the Canaries) are often zoned outside Europe for redemption flights -- but not in the case of Aeroplan. Zurich to Funchal typically will require a transfer in Lisbon. To reduce the surcharges try to book part of this itinerary on Swiss (ZRH-LIS), with that the fees are about CAD 150.

21 November, 2014