American Airlines is releasing a ton of First Class award space from Miami and Dallas to Madrid for May through July, 2016.

This award space is easy to connect to from anywhere in the United States, and you can get anywhere in Europe with an Iberia flight from Madrid. These connecting flights do not add to the First Class mileage price of 62,500 American Airlines miles each way.

This year I've written the Complete Guide to Redeeming American Airlines miles. It is spread across 14 parts.

This year I've written the Complete Guide to Redeeming American Airlines miles. It is spread across 14 parts.

Every October 15 to May 15, you can fly to Europe for 20,000 American Airlines miles each way in economy. This off peak pricing extends to American Airlines and its partners.

From February 1, 2016, Emirates will fly daily between Dubai and Panama City, which will be the longest scheduled commercial flight at over 8,500 miles. The flight is blocked for 17:35 heading west. Hopefully the flight will be bookable with Alaska miles, and it will definitely be bookable with Japan Airlines miles.

I have a special interest in long flights because when I am flying an ultra-luxurious First Class, I don't want the flight to end. Eight hours--a typical transatlantic flight--are not enough.

Last month American Airlines announced it would fly from Los Angeles to Sydney beginning December 17, 2015. Even after it starting selling tickets and AAnytime (expensive) award space, it hadn't released a single MileSAAver award seat in any cabin in either direction as of a few weeks ago.

American Airlines is now releasing good economy award space on the route, especially from Los Angeles to Sydney. It still has released no Business Class or First Class award space.

Economy MileSAAver award space between North America and Australia/New Zealand is 37,500 American Airlines miles one way.

American Airlines miles can get you a last second seat in economy, flat bed Business Class, or super-luxurious First Class to Asia. Partners Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines both offer phenomenal products, routes to tons of destinations, and great award space near departure.

Right now the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard® are each offering 50,000 bonus American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open.

Womp womp! This is phantom award space--award space that shows up on a search engine but cannot be booked.

Check out this calendar instead that I made on Award Nexus. It shows award space from New York to Helsinki in April 2016 in Business Class, while excluding British Airways flights and their nasty fuel surcharges. Note that there is zero direct space on the JFK-HEL or HEL-JFK Finnair flights.

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.