Update: 5/8/18: I originally posted this at the end of April to report on Lufthansa First Class award space open specifically between San Francisco and Munich, but it looks like there is now plenty of space on various other routes as well!

Credit card sign up bonuses and buying cash flights tend to be the major opportunities to earn big chunks of rewards. But being a true miles and points enthusiast means taking advantage of even the little opportunities when you can, that only take a minute or two to sign up for/participate in and over time add up to big savings. Every penny–or mile–counts.

Here are two ways you can easily boost your balances this week.

Update 3/16/17: Looks like TAP made a mistake and is now in the process of retracting their fuel surcharges. I believe the ban on fuel surcharges in Brazil is actually still in place, check out this post written by a lawyer, blogger, and travel consultant for more info (it's in Portuguese so just use a translator).  

The Brazilian government has decided to once again allow fuel surcharges on flights originating in Brazil.

In addition to my written trip report of my recent trip to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, here is a video I shot, which shows the tarmac Porsche ride and the inside of the terminal.

Update 1/1/17: I've added a video of the ground experience to the end of this post

Recently I flew from Croatia to the United States in Lufthansa First Class for 40,000 Starpoints + $300. Here’s how I booked the award.

Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Munich
Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (this post)
Trip Report: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt to Washington-Dulles (future post)

After a one hour flight from Munich, I arrived in Frankfurt at a remote stand.

Last month I flew from Croatia to the United States in Lufthansa First Class for 40,000 Starpoints + $300. Here's how I booked the award.

Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Munich (this post)
Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (future post)
Trip Report: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt to Washington-Dulles (future post)

The award started with an early morning flight from Zagreb to Munich to meet my sister for a day at Oktoberfest.

I wanted to put something out quickly about my recent experience flying Lufthansa First Class for 40,000 points. A full trip report will follow.

My experience started Thursday at 6 AM at the Munich Airport, where I only had about 15 minutes in the First Class Lounge before my 7 AM flight to Frankfurt.

Next month I want to fly Lufthansa First Class from the United States to Europe, like I did a few years ago, because I love the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt, the luxury of sitting in the nose of a 747-8, and the onboard food and drinks.

But I want to do it smartly. Instead of paying 110,000 United miles one way, I want to pay 40,000 Starpoints.

We have seen a ton of cheap fares to Europe lately, like the $414 roundtrips to Zurich and Frankfurt at the beginning of the month. Now Star Alliance airlines are also running fantastic sales on roundtrip flights to Europe to keep up with the fare war.

Today (May 11, 2016) is the last day to take advantage of the 30% discount on Virgin Atlantic economy awards that brings the price of an award between select U.S cities and London down to only 12,250 Virgin Atlantic miles and $134.60 in taxes and fuel surcharges.

If you stack that Virgin Atlantic economy sale with the current deal American Express is offering-- a 30% transfer bonus of Membership Rewards to Virgin Atlantic through May 31, 2016--then you can book an award to London for only 10,000 Membership Rewards +$134.60!! Book now, but not as a roundtrip.
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