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?
Bangkok (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) with Avios from [OLD v2] British Airways Executive Club / oneworld
The surcharge for the direct Cathay Pacific flight to Bangkok from Hong Kong is USD 21.
11 December, 2016
Denpasar (DPS) to Hong Kong (HKG) with Avios from [OLD v2] British Airways Executive Club / oneworld
The surcharge for the direct Cathay Pacific flight to Bali (Denpasar, DPS) from Hong Kong is USD 19.
11 December, 2016
Frankfurt (FRA) to Toronto (YYZ) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
The Frankfurt (FRA) to Toronto (YYZ) route is served directly by Lufthansa. Unfortunately, the fuel surcharges and fees are very high. However, Lufthansa's first class is a great product and it can regularly be redeemed with miles. Overall the cost, even with miles, will be about CAD 1,000!
There are strategies to reduce the fuel surcharge by starting the journey in another country, e.g. Denmark or Norway, for the Copenhagen to Toronto itinerary (via Frankfurt), the fuel surcharge drops to under CAD 300 (per leg).
8 December, 2016
Los Angeles (LAX) to Rome (FCO) with Miles from MilleMiglia Alitalia
Generally this itinerary has pretty good availability, even in business class.
See corresponding article here.
8 December, 2016
New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) with Miles from MilleMiglia Alitalia
There are multiple daily flights between New York and Rome and generally there is pretty good availability, even in business class.
See corresponding article here.
8 December, 2016
New York (JFK) to Tel Aviv (TLV) with Miles from MilleMiglia Alitalia
Excellent value since Israel is zoned in Europe.
See corresponding article here.
8 December, 2016
Honolulu (HNL) to Santiago (SCL) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
This is an interesting redemption because the flights will invariably route through Canada or the USA. But the redemption from Hawaii to Southern South America is actually cheaper than from continental North America. By using United Airlines and Copa Airlines for the bulk of the flights the surcharges can be kept very low (under CAD 10 one-way).
7 December, 2016
Chicago (ORD) to Stockholm (ARN) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
This is fantastic redemption on the SAS direct flight between Chicago and Arlanda (Stockholm). There are only CAD 15 (!!) in surcharges for this round-trip redemption. But even connecting in Copenhagen (CPH) only amounts to a total of less than CAD 60 total surcharges.
Options with United Airlines (for example through Brussels -- BRU) and/or Swiss through Zurich (ZRH) are also very good.
7 December, 2016
Whitehorse (YXY) to Vancouver (YVR) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
According to youngandthrifty.ca this is a very good destination combination for an Aeroplan redemption. The flight to Whitehorse (YXY) from Vancouver (YVR) is a short-haul flight (15,000 miles for the round trip in economy) and the fees are about CAD 100 (compared to approx. CAD 550 for the round trip cash fare).
6 December, 2016
Toronto (YYZ) to Istanbul (IST) with Miles from [OLD] Aeroplan (Air Canada) / Star Alliance
This route is served by Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines. The fuel surcharges for Turkish Airlines flights are much lower than on Air Canada or Lufthansa; this is therefore a very attractive redemption.
6 December, 2016