It Is Not Too Late to Book to Europe This Summer

There's an idea that you have to book your award tickets exactly 11 months in advance or there will be no award space. Having booked tons of awards for myself and clients of the MileValue Award Booking Service at all times from 11 months to 11 hours in advance, I can tell you that that idea is a myth.

While it is an advantage to know where you want to go 11 months out and start looking, the award space on your route might open up at any time before departure as airlines adjust their award space based on how

Business Class Award Space for 3 Wide Open in 2016

Alitalia Business Class award space is wide open in Spring 2016 from New York and Boston to Rome for 62,500 Delta miles each way. Many days have three award seats in nearly flat beds.

Devaluation: Delta Eliminates Some Mixed Cabin Awards

According to Delta's SkyMiles FAQs, mixed cabin awards are no longer allowed.

Mixed cabin awards used to be explicitly allowed (and indeed this FAQ at a slightly different URL has the old language.)

If mixed cabin awards were totally banned, that would terrible news. I can see three possible maladies:

Delta has "five" cabins: economy, Business, Business Elite, First, and One. Each plane has only two cabins but the front cabin is branded several ways.

Limited Time Deals to Europe 14,000 Points One Way or 32,000 Points in Flat Bed

With the 25% transfer bonus from Citi ThankYou Points to Virgin Atlantic miles, one way

List of Award Taxes from Major Cities in Europe, So You Return from Low Tax Countries

Below is a list of the taxes for awards departing from most major European cities, flying to the United States.

My friend wrote to me:
Not sure if any of the travel websites have done this, but the taxes of the airports in Europe really can impact the cost basis.

Just looking at three European cities for my United award:
London: $200
Athens: $98
Geneva: $48

Factoring for two people, that makes a big difference.
Every time you book an award with frequent flyer miles, you are responsible for paying government taxes associated with the award ticket.

Your Three Best Stopover/Open Jaw/Free One Way Options on United Awards to Europe

Last month, I helped my friend book a bread-and-butter United award to Europe. She flew from Newark to Rome to spend a few days, continued to Madrid for a few days, then returned home to Newark. All of it was booked as one award for 60,000 United miles + $110 in taxes.

Source: gcmap.com

I had helped her book one of the three highest value United awards to Europe, the "Stopover (Complete Two City)" award.

Your Three Best Stopover/Open Jaw/Free One Way Options on United Awards to Europe

Last month, I helped my friend book a bread-and-butter United award to Europe. She flew from Newark to Rome to spend a few days, continued to Madrid for a few days, then returned home to Newark. All of it was booked as one award for 60,000 United miles + $110 in taxes.

Source: gcmap.com

I had helped her book one of the three highest value United awards to Europe, the "Stopover (Complete Two City)" award.

Awards Between South America and Australia or New Zealand

Yesterday I published "How to Book a RTW Trip in 2015. Use These Underpriced Awards Around the World," which I am very proud of. Take a look if you're an adventurer who wants to take a BIG trip. In the comments, John Domingo asked about getting between South America and Australia.

The best flights to get between South America and Australia/New Zealand are the direct flights on LAN Airlines and Qantas, booked with American Airlines miles.

Source: gcmap.com

Qantas flies directly from Sydney to Santiago.

The Best Award Space to Argentina Year Round is with Delta Miles

Delta SkyMiles have access to the best award space to all of Argentina--not just Buenos Aires--year round in economy and Business Class.

The backbone of the award space is AeroMexico availability on its daily flights from Mexico City to Buenos Aires.

An American in Cuba in 2015: How to Book Flights or Ferries Into and Out of Cuba

I just spent a completely legal week in Cuba, split between Havana and Viñales. An American in Cuba in 2015 is a six part series on the trip.