Aly_James

HI Guys

Am quite new to all of this and am looking at options for a trip to the UK next year. I have just put my dates in Aeroplan (May 11-25) and am being quoted 290000 miles for 2 in Business class with Thai.

This is obviously more than the 120000 per person others seem to be able to get.

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong!!

many thanks

James

sammyg

Yes, James.

The aeroplan site just shows you availability for awards flights.

US airways requires 120k miles for a business flight and it is US airways you have to buy the miles from and book through?

Hope that helps?

Stu

bcworld

JoeBloggs80

Does this work for normal flights, or just business class?

I'm one of the few people who dont actually mind flying economy, I'd rather save the $1000 and just pay for a normal flight.

But if it can get me savings on economy then I'd be interested....

bcworld

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KJCherokee

For economy you need 100,000 miles for a return ticket, which in the latest offer (now ended!) would have cost you $1450 - then add on the airport fees and taxes when you make the booking. So probably not worth it, since you can get a flight for about the same cost without relying on FF seats being available on a limited number of airlines.

Where did the 'save $1000' come from? The difference between a business and economy return flight to Europe is about $4000+!

Aly_James

Thanks very much. That makes sense!!

JoeBloggs80

Thanks for the explanation (and bcworld too)

My 'save $1000' meant I'd rather spend approx 1800 on an economy flight than the discounted 2800 on Business....

bcworld

With the last promo and the current ex rate the discounted business price was more like $2400. The compares pretty well with economy fares in (northern hemisphere) summer and is almost certainly better then 95% of Xmas fares...give or take the odd China Airlines flight.

JoeBloggs80

That is pretty good. I'm planning on going back in October so am currently looking at 1700ish economy. Although Malaysia had a sale a while back that went as low as 1200 so am waiting to see if that comes back round. I've signed up to this dividends thing though so will have def be investigating this avenue too.

saintstu

US Airways have launched their new promo, but it's for sharing miles only:

Limited time offer: Get a 50% Bonus!
Share miles between July 5 - 31, 2011 and your friend or family member will get 50% MORE.

So, with my girlfriend and I having purchased 100,000 miles each last month (50 + 50 free), if we 'share' 50,000 to each other we would get an extra 25,000 each, taking us to 125,000.

With shared miles costing $0.01 each and a $30 fee + tax at 7.5%, I make that 25,000 extra miles for just $569.75, saving $120 each on the 'buy miles' price.

This all sounds very good, does anyone know if am I missing something?

louie

Only that this is a poor offer in comparison with most of the offers they have had over the past couple of years. Unless you need more miles to use very soon, if I were you, I'd wait for the next offer (at least, that is what I will be doing!).

nic75

Hi Guys - looking for a bit of help. Was hoping to get two business class from London to LA and thought it would be easier to use US airways via Philadelphia. I have looked througth ANA at every month through September to March with no luck at all, not one flight. Am I doing something wrong or is it always this difficult. I would really appreciate some advice. Thanks

bcworld

A few things:

• If you really do want to fly US Airways (a big if) you can check availability for that (and book online) by logging in to Dividend Miles. Note that the mileage quoted will most probably not be the same as for a partner award, it can often be more expensive.
• Second, on US domestic flights business class is generally referred to as First, and books into an F code - this may be confusing ANA (you should still be able to get these flights for business miles)
• There are better options non stop from LHR to LAX; Air NZ & United Airlines
• There are better one stop options than having a long domestic sector on US Airways; look for a flight to LAX via a European hub, maybe on Lufthansa or Swiss
• If non stop is not an option maybe also look at Air Canada and what you could do via, say, Vancouver or somewhere else
• If you are finding the longhaul flights you need but maybe struggling with domestic sectors on ANA...call up US and ask, you may find there is no problem after all. If ANA is showing it as F you can probably get it booked.
• Flying to PHL then to LAX is probably the least desirable option of all!

nic75

Thank you bcworld, you really are a mine of wonderful information.