Update 8/5/15 at noon ET:

I totally messed this one up. Transfers are 1.35 Singapore miles to 1 Virgin Australia point or 1.35 Virgin Australia points to 1 Singapore mile. In both directions you lose about a quarter of your miles, so this is a terrible deal.

Update 8/5/15 at noon ET:

I totally messed this one up. Transfers are 1.35 Singapore miles to 1 Virgin Australia point or 1.35 Virgin Australia points to 1 Singapore mile. In both directions you lose about a quarter of your miles, so this is a terrible deal.

I have a clear picture of where I'll be until about April 2016. Last week, I booked a flurry of awards, mostly with obscure mileage programs to lock in my dates for 2015.

I have a clear picture of where I'll be until about April 2016. Last week, I booked a flurry of awards, mostly with obscure mileage programs to lock in my dates for 2015.

Qatar's A380 First Class looks fantastic. It is not the best Middle Eastern product and looks a half step behind Emirates First Class and Etihad First Class on their A380s, but overall the Qatar A380 is definitely a plane I would love to fly in First Class, especially for 40,000 or 45,000 miles.

The spacious seat/beds are not fully enclosed, but are luxurious.

You and a companion can dine at one table.

The bathrooms are large, but do not contain showers like Etihad's and Emirates'.

The star of the Qatar A380 is the bar behind Business Class.

Qatar's A380 First Class looks fantastic. It is not the best Middle Eastern product and looks a half step behind Emirates First Class and Etihad First Class on their A380s, but overall the Qatar A380 is definitely a plane I would love to fly in First Class, especially for 40,000 or 45,000 miles.

The spacious seat/beds are not fully enclosed, but are luxurious.

You and a companion can dine at one table.

The bathrooms are large, but do not contain showers like Etihad's and Emirates'.

The star of the Qatar A380 is the bar behind Business Class.

Last week, I re-published my guide to using Singapore miles to book United flights to Hawaii. The idea is that you are better off using Singapore miles than United miles to book the United flights because both can access the same award space, but Singapore charges fewer miles, and its miles are easier to get.

Last week, I re-published my guide to using Singapore miles to book United flights to Hawaii. The idea is that you are better off using Singapore miles than United miles to book the United flights because both can access the same award space, but Singapore charges fewer miles, and its miles are easier to get.

Loyal reader Drew sent along an amazing targeted offer he received to continue spending on his Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard (which is what US Airways cards turned into after the US Airways/American Airlines merger.)

If he spends $500 per month on his card in August, September, and October, he'll get 15,000 bonus miles!

That means for a total of $1,500 in spending, he will earn 16,500 miles, which is 11 American Airlines miles per dollar!

The email came to Drew with the subject "Earn 15,000 bonus miles with your card!" Check your email for

United is offering tons of Business Class award space for the next 11 months on its flights to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Santiago, Chile.

Both routes will soon be flown by United's brand new 787-9 Dreamliners with flat beds in Business Class. You can book either route for as little as 35,000 miles one way.
United 787-9 Dreamliner
The United 787-9 Dreamliner has 48 beds in Business class in a 2-2-2 configuration. I would choose a middle seat, since both have direct aisle access.