Trip Report: Asiana First Class Seoul to Frankfurt
December 19, 2013
This review is a continuation of my huge US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Swiss Business Class: Boston to Zurich, Thai First Class: Paris to Bangkok on an A380, and the Thai Royal Orchid Spa in Bangkok already.
After a relaxing night at the Park Hyatt Seoul (a great value at 15,000 Hyatt points/night), I took the coach bus from the Gangnam bus terminal to Incheon airport at 10:00 a.m.
United,Award Booking,Singapore,Star Alliance
United No Longer Displays Singapore Award Space. Here’s How to Find It
December 14, 2013
Per this thread on Flyertalk, United.com no longer displays Singapore Airlines award space. This abrupt announcement might seem like terrible news to award bookers, but it's more of an inconvenience than anything else.
United.com is the easiest way to search for Star Alliance award space. It's far from a perfect booking tool, however.
Trip Report: Thai Royal Orchid Spa in Bangkok with Free Hour Long Massage
December 7, 2013
This review is a continuation of my huge US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post. I reviewed Swiss Business Class: Boston to Zurich and Thai First Class: Paris to Bangkok on an A380 already.
This post focuses on Thai's famous Royal Orchid Spa for First Class passengers, and the incredible complimentary massage I received!
Our hulking A380 pulled up to the gate at 6:00 AM Bangkok time, with my internal clock completely out of sorts.
Explorer Award,Free Oneway,AAdvantage,Anatomy of an Award
Anatomy of an Award: Business Class Roundtrip to Europe with Two Free Oneways to Hawaii and Canada
December 4, 2013
Last month I wrote about using American Airlines' distance-based Explorer Award chart to save miles and add stopovers traveling to Europe. Check out Get a Roundtrip Business Class Award to Europe with Three Stopovers for 90k American Airlines Miles before proceeding. This post compares that Explorer Award option with a "regular" award option.
On a roundtrip from New York to Eastern Europe, I was able to add three stopovers and save 10k AAdvantage miles (90k vs.
Trip Report: Thai Airways First Class on an A380 from Paris to Bangkok
December 4, 2013
This review is a continuation of my huge US Airways redemption that I wrote about back in this post.
Award Booking,AAdvantage,Explorer Award
Anatomy of an Award: Get a Roundtrip Business Class Award to Europe with Three Stopovers for 90k American Airlines Miles
November 20, 2013
The American Airlines Explorer Award is an incredible use of miles. An Explorer Award is a distance-based award that allows multiple stopovers, so it's a versatile award perfect for globetrotters on round-the-world itineraries or cramming many trips onto one award at a steep discount.
I want to illustrate how a relatively simple award routing to Europe can also be a great use of an Explorer Award by saving miles and adding free stopovers that wouldn't be permitted under normal circumstances.
I'm planning a trip to Sofia, Bulgaria this summer and uncovered a great value.
Trip Report: Swiss Business Class from Boston to Zurich
November 18, 2013
A few weeks ago I flew Boston to Zurich in Swiss business class. It was my first flight on a whirlwind trip to Asia. I documented the trip's booking in this post.
I was excited to try out Swiss' business class product for the first time.
The Eight Habits of Highly Effective Award Bookers
November 3, 2013
Our Award Booking Service has been rocking and rolling lately. Busy frequent flyers love the personal attention we give each itinerary, as well as our expert knowledge of award programs.
The MileValue crew has a battle-tested recipe for award booking success.
United,ANA,Award Booking,US Airways,Star Alliance
United Has Better Access to Air Canada Award Space?
October 22, 2013
While booking a family of four to Australia through our popular Award Booking Service, I ran into a vexing problem with Star Alliance award space.
On a certain Air Canada route, Air Canada's own Aeroplan members had access to more award seats than its Star Alliance partners. That's not a surprising practice on the surface. Air New Zealand never releases transpacific space to Star Alliance partners.
Star Alliance,How to,Free Oneway,US Airways,Trick
How to Save 70,000 Miles on US Airways Awards to Southeast Asia
October 16, 2013
By using the principles of free oneways and an incredible sweet spot on the US Airways award chart, you can save up to 70,000 miles on your next US Airways award booking to Asia.
I'm flying Turkish Airlines Business Class on My Next US Airways AwardUS Airways charges ordinarily charges 120k miles roundtrip in business class to India or Thailand and 160k in first.