How to Consistently Buy Business Class Tickets to Europe for about $1,000

Update: I Followed the Exact Steps in This Post to Buy My Friend a Business Class Ticket for $1,040
Update 2: LifeMiles are now on sale for as little as 1.4 cents each through September 30, 2015, which allows you to follow the steps in this post.

The Citi Prestige offer mentioned in this post is expired. See the new offer and analysis here.

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You can consistently buy one way Business Class tickets between the United States and Europe for around $1,000, even at the last minute.

Using LifeMiles to Book Transcontinental Flat Beds for $400

You can use Avianca LifeMiles to book domestic First Class or Business Class on United for about $400 one way, including United's fully flat beds on its routes from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York. (Currently these flights go to JFK.

Ends Tomorrow: Buy LifeMiles for 1.5 Cents Each During 100% Transfer Bonus

Update: I transferred 26,000 LifeMiles to my friend for $390. He received 52,000 after the 100% bonus. I did this because he likes to book one way Business Class tickets between the United States and Europe for about $1,000 by using LifeMiles and 52,000 miles gives him the base to do that twice.

The transfer is instant, and I got 3x points on my Citi ThankYou® Premier Card because the $390 coded as an airline purchase.

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Avianca LifeMiles is running a 100% bonus on transferred miles from July 8 to July 22, 2015.

Anatomy of an Award: Using Avianca LifeMiles to Buy Business Class Ticket Between US and Europe for $1,040

Update: LifeMiles are now on sale for as little as 1.4 cents each through September 30, 2015, which allows you to follow the steps in this post.

Last week I published How to Consistently Buy Business Class Tickets to Europe for about $1,000, which explained how to purchase Avianca miles and use them to book award tickets, so that the total cash outlay is far less than just purchasing a ticket.

Yesterday, I had the chance to book my friend into Lufthansa Business Class from Tallinn, Estonia to Chicago for $1,050 for a flight this weekend.

Booking one

Buy Up to 150,000 LifeMiles for 1.5 or 1.65 Cents Each. Good Deal?

Avianca LifeMiles is running a 2 x 1 sale on the purchase of their miles through May 29, 2015. You can buy up to 75,000 LifeMiles during the sale and get up to 75,000 bonus miles.

LifeMiles cost 3.3 cents each, so with a 100% bonus, you get the miles for 1.65 cents each.

Cheapest Flights and Awards To & From Cuba

I'm considering a trip to Cuba in April because I fall under one of the 12 categories of Americans that now have a general license to visit Cuba: journalistic activity. (See the US State Department's information on visiting Cuba. This post is not suggesting you should.)

I've been looking into the cheapest ways to get to Cuba with miles or cash.

Luxurious ANA First Class Award Space Wide Open for 50,000 Miles

ANA's "First Square" is one of the nicest First Classes in the world.

The fully enclosed suite featured on ANA's 777-300ERs is a top of the line hard product, including a fully flat bed.

In addition, it comes with--from the reports I've read--typical, excellent service you would expect from a top Asian airline and fancy touches like caviar.

ANA has announced schedule changes that put the 777-300ER on new routes this year.

Tokyo-Narita to Houston starting June 12
Tokyo-Narita to Singapore starting March 29
Tokyo-Narita to Seattle starting May 6
Tokyo-Narita to Frankfurt starting May 7

The only one of

Incredible Asiana First Class on A380 Flying to US

Asiana has started flying an A380 between Seoul-Incheon and Los Angeles. The daily flight includes fully enclosed suites in First Class and fully flat beds in Business Class.

First Class on Asiana A380

Asiana is a member of the Star Alliance, so Asiana flights are bookable with United miles and Avianca LifeMiles without fuel surcharges.

Business Class on Asiana A380

Award space is wide open in summer 2015 on the route in all cabins.

LifeMiles Blocking Lufthansa First Class Award Space. Back Up Plans

Lufthansa First Class is no longer bookable using LifeMiles.

For the past few years, Lufthansa has only released first class award space to its Star Alliance partners 15 days before flight departure.

LifeMiles Devalues Its Award Chart Effective October 15th

A few days ago, LifeMiles joined United and Delta in announcing an award chart devaluation, which will take place on October 15, 2014.

Bookings made until October 14, for travel until mid-2015 will cost the current mileage prices.