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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.

Washington (IAD) to Seattle (SEA) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

All US domestic flights with United Airlines can be redeemed for the same 25,000-mile fee in economy for a round-trip. The surcharge for a one-way segment is less than EUR 2. Washington to Seattle is one of the longer itineraries that qualifies.

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

21 October, 2014

Perth (PER) to Nandi (NAN) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Australia and Fiji are in the same Miles & More Oceania zone. The itinerary from Perth to Fiji can be booked via Auckland with Air New Zealand. The fess for the one-way trip from Perth to Nandi are EUR 56.

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

21 October, 2014

Houston (IAH) to Buenos Aires (EZE) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

If you use United Airlines to get to South America from North America you avoid fuel surcharges. The fees on this itinerary are approximately EUR 10.

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

21 October, 2014

Boston (BOS) to Honolulu (HNL) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

The are very low domestic fees (EUR 2) for United Airlines flights apply to Hawaii as well, even though these islands are in their own award zone. The 40,000-mile economy redemption is therefore a very attractive deal, especially from the east coast.

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

21 October, 2014

Vancouver (YVR) to Auckland (AKL) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

This is a pretty good redemption according to meilenoptimieren.com, if you can find availability. The fees to get from Vancouver the New Zealand are approximately EUR 80 for the round-trip. The Air New Zealand allows a stop over in Honolulu as well.

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

21 October, 2014

Honolulu (HNL) to Seoul (ICN) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Several airlines fly from Hawaii to Asia. Asiana Airlines is the Korean carrier that connects with Seoul (ICN). Fees for this direct flight are about EUR 110 one-way.

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

21 October, 2014

Honolulu (HNL) to Beijing (PEK) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Several airlines fly from Hawaii to Asia. Air China is the Chinese carrier that connects with Beijing (PEK). Fees for this direct flight are only about EUR 10 one-way.

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

21 October, 2014

Sao Paulo (GRU) to Frankfurt (FRA) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Due to the Brazilian law prohibiting fuel surcharges a round-trip redemption starting in Brazil is very advantageous, even with Lufthansa. The fees are about EUR 108.
However, if you start the trip in Germany the fees jump to EUR 500!

Other direct Star Alliance options from Sao Paulo include: Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, Madrid, Istanbul, Zurich.

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

21 October, 2014

Addis Ababa (ADD) to Accra (ACC) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

Ethiopian Airlines is a great Star Alliance partner for flights in Africa. The round trip flight between Ghana and Ethiopia has about EUR 153 in surcharges (economy or business).

http://meilenoptimieren.com/miles-and-more-tutorial-teil-1-die-besten-wege-miles-and-more-meilen-einzulosen/ [in German]

21 October, 2014

Sao Paulo (GRU) to Johannesburg (JNB) with Miles from Miles & More (Lufthansa) / Star Alliance

The Sao Paulo to Johannesburg itinerary is one of the few direct flights available between South America and Africa in the Star Alliance universe.The fees for Miles & More members are quite low too, they are EUR 27 per leg both in economy and business class. The flight is operated by South African Airways.

Source: Miles & More Tutorial Teil 1 – Top 16 Miles & More Prämienflüge

21 October, 2014