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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.

Charlotte (CLT) to New York (JFK) with Avios from [OLD v2] British Airways Executive Club / oneworld

Short-haul US trips can be great deals for Executive Club members. Charlotte to New York is such an example. An added bonus is that these US flights do not incur fuel surcharges.

1 November, 2014

New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

According to travelisfree.com the Flying Blue redemption from North America  to Israel (zoned in Europe 3) is one of the best ones around. One-way flights with Delta Airlines cost about USD 23 in surcharges and the availability is pretty good too.
Here is the article: Unveiling Flying Blue (Air France + KLM) Miles 101 and Best Uses

27 October, 2014

Cancun (CUN) to New York (JFK) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

Mexico is part of the North America zone in the Flying Blue program. This means you can travel to Cancun (CUN) for only 12,500 miles one-way in economy. The surcharges are about EUR 36.
See the article on travelisfree.com.

27 October, 2014

New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

The Hawaii to North America redemption is low compared to other programs. A routing from JFK through LAX to Honolulu incurred EUR 5 in one-way surcharges.
Unveiling Flying Blue (Air France + KLM) Miles 101 and Best Uses

27 October, 2014

Los Angeles (LAX) to Papeete (PPT) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

Air France has a direct flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti and there seems to be pretty good award availability on it.
Unveiling Flying Blue (Air France + KLM) Miles 101 and Best Uses

27 October, 2014

Madrid (MAD) to Tenerife (TFN) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

The Canaries used to be in their own zone but now they are zoned in Europe 3. A direct round trip flight from Madrid with Air Europe has very reasonable taxes of about EUR 43.

Unveiling Flying Blue (Air France + KLM) Miles 101 and Best Uses

27 October, 2014

Los Angeles (LAX) to Noumea (NOU) with Miles from Flying Blue (Air France, KLM) / SkyTeam

Interesting pricing for Los Angeles to Noumea (Tahiti) through Sydney in the Flying Blue calculator. No additional cost is added even if the flight connects in Australia. The one-way surcharges list as about EUR 70.

http://travelisfree.com/2014/10/27/unveiling-flying-blue-air-france-klm-miles-101-and-best-uses/

27 October, 2014

Cologne (CGN) to Marrakech (RAK) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

There are not many flights worth redeeming within Europe and Miles & More, due to the high fuel surcharges. Germanwings flights, however, incur relatively low surcharges and are worth looking into. The example from Cologne to Marrakech has fees of about EUR 32 for the round trip.
See the article here on meilenoptimieren.com [in German].

21 October, 2014

New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Try using United's business class "Premium Service" for this trans-continental flight. One-way fees are less EUR 2! This needs to be booked by phone.

Here's the article:
Miles & More Tutorial Teil 1 – Top 16 Miles & More Prämienflüge

21 October, 2014

Warsaw (WAW) to Chicago (ORD) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

LOT has direct flights from Poland to Chicago and New York. These can be booked with Miles & More miles and fees are very reasonable at EUR 117 for the round trip.

Here's the article:
Miles & More Tutorial Teil 1 – Top 16 Miles & More Prämienflüge

21 October, 2014