MG asks:
I’m not too well-versed with AA miles, but I have about 100k. I really want to use them for off-peak to either Chile or Argentina and somehow use them to get down to either country’s Patagonia region. Where do you recommend searching for LAN and TAM to get to Patagonia… the airport codes don’t seem to show up on BA.com???
 

If you search ba.com for award space, which you should do a lot when trying to redeem American Airlines miles, you will notice some missing airports.

You can check out the updated version of this post here.

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I get a lot of questions about the Citi Prestige® Card because it is an awesome and complicated card.

The Citi Prestige® Card is one of the best cards on the market now with:

50,000 bonus ThankYou Points after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open
$250 in airfare or airline fee credits per calendar year
access to the American Airlines Admirals Clubs and Priority Pass lounges
the fourth night free on hotel stays
three free

American Airlines is offering up to a 50% bonus on the purchase of AAdvantage miles through January 29, 2016. You can now buy 100,000 American Airlines miles and get 50,000 bonus miles, for a total of 150,000 miles, for 2.13 cents each.

The bonus miles are tiered, based on how many miles you purchase. The best deals are to buy 70k + 35k or 100k + 50k.

American Airlines miles cost 2.95 cents each plus a 7.5% excise tax, and every purchase has a $30 processing fee.

I run the MileValue Award Booking Service. We use your miles and your goals to book your dream trip. How does it work? And how can you use an award booking service properly?

Choose one award booking service when you know the who, where, and when
Fill out the submission form thoroughly
Be responsive to email
Enjoy your trip

1. Choose one award booking service when you know the who, where, and when
2. Fill out the submission form thoroughly
There are several award booking services of varying quality.

American passport holders got good news recently for travel to three countries: China, Vietnam, and Brazil.

China allows Americans a 72 hour visit to several cities without a prior visa as long as you fly into China from one country and fly out to another country.

Through February 15, IHG is running a promotion that offers a prize for every stay beyond your first. Since the prize is randomly drawn, though, IHG had to offer a free way to enter to avoid violating lottery laws.

All you have to do is send a hand-written note to IHG's prize fulfillment company, and you get an entry. You can get 94 entries this way.

The American Airlines devAAluation is coming. For awards booked March 22, 2016 or later, you will need a lot more miles. This affects all awards from First Class all the way down to off peak economy.

If you book an award by March 21, though, your award is locked in, and will not be affected by the devAAluation. On March 21, you can book through February 16, 2017.

What are great awards you can book at the last minute to take travel in February 2017?

Australia
Argentina
Southeast Asia
Japan

The first two are in the middle of summer.

Thai AirAsia 3207
Bangkok (DMK) – Chiang Rai (CEI)
Depart: 1:55 PM on Sunday January 3, 2016
Arrive: 3:15 PM
Duration: 1:20
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Seat: 21D (all economy plane)

Are low-cost carriers safe? Are the flights on time? How much leg room is there? Do you really have to pay for water? Can you get around the high baggage fees? What entertainment options are there?

I don't fly Emirates First Class or Thai Business Class for all my flights. On short hops, I usually book the cheapest ticket I can.

According to Airline Route, British Airways has begun operating its 787-9 Dreamliner on three routes from London-Heathrow:

Delhi
Abu Dhabi/Muscat
Kuala Lumpur

In 2016, it adds a ton of 787-9 destinations including several in the United States:

Austin from February 1
Newark from April 2
Philadelphia from April 9
San Jose from May 4
Houston from August 1
Boston from October 1

The British Airways 787-9 Dreamliner is exciting both because it is a brand new plane and because British Airways features First Class on the plane, which the British Airways 787-8 doesn't have.

These flights have fuel surcharges, but

Thai 647
Central Japan International Airport (NGO) - Bangkok (BKK)
Depart: 12:30 AM on Friday January 1, 2016
Arrive: 5:10 AM
Duration: 6:40
Aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Seat: 15F Royal Silk (Business)

Last month I booked myself Thai Business Class for 36,000 LifeMiles + $47 to get from Japan, where I spent five days, to Thailand to meet my friend.

I woke up the morning of my flight in Kyoto and took a train to Nagoya. Unfortunately all the sites I wanted to see in Nagoya were closed for New Year's Eve.