$619 Roundtrip West Coast to New Zealand & Australia

I tweeted this deal first from @MileValueAlerts. Follow @MileValueAlerts on Twitter and follow these directions to get a text message every time I tweet from that account. I tweet from @MileValueAlerts only a few times a month because it is designed to be used only for the best and most limited-time deals–like mistake fares–so that you aren’t bombarded by text messages.

Qantas, Virgin Australia, and United are offering cheap roundtrip flights between San Francisco/Los Angeles and Australia/New Zealand.

Six Ultra-Luxurious First Classes to Book with American Airlines Miles

“Redeeming American Airlines Miles” Series Index

Part 1 — 5 Ways to Stretch American Airlines Miles on Economy Redemptions
Part 2 — 6 Ultra-Luxurious First Classes to Book with American Airlines Miles (this post)
Part 3 — Where to Search Award Space for All Partners
Part 4 — Award Rules and How Many Miles You Need
Part 5 — Taxes, Fees, and Fuel Surcharges
Part 6 — Redeeming for Domestic Awards
Part 7 — Redeeming for Hawaii
Part 8 — Redeeming for East and Southeast Asia
Part 9 — Redeeming for Middle East and Indian Subcontinent
Part 10 — Redeeming

How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions: ThankYou Points

Let’s talk about transferring ThankYou Points to airline partners for redeeming on domestic awards. This is part one in a series that will allow you to master redeeming awards within the United States, no matter what kind of points or miles you might have.
"How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions" Series Index

How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions Series: ThankYou Points (this post)
How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions Series: Ultimate Rewards
How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions Series: Membership Rewards
How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions Series: SPG Points
How to Maximize Domestic Award Redemptions Series: Conclusions About Best

Honeymoon Around the World: Part 3

A reader wrote to me recently about his success story planning and booking a fantastic Round-the-World honeymoon, through knowledge and tips he picked up right here on MileValue. He was eager to share his story, in hopes of showing you all that a luxurious round-the-world adventure is completely within reach if you apply and dedicate yourself to making it happen.

Honeymoon Around the World: Part 1

A reader wrote to me recently about his success story planning and booking a fantastic Round-the-World honeymoon, through knowledge and tips he picked up right here on MileValue. He was eager to share his story, in hopes of showing you all that a luxurious round-the-world adventure is completely within reach if you apply and dedicate yourself to making it happen. For the sake of anonymity, we will call him by his avatar here on the site, Pumatiger.

Redeem American Airlines Miles: Part 10 — Redeeming for Australia and New Zealand

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® 60,000 mile offer has expired.

AA.com Isn’t Showing Qantas Award Space

In Where to Search Award Space for All American Airlines Partners, I suggest searching Qantas award space on aa.com because aa.com displays Qantas award space.

Don't search Qantas award space on aa.com, at least for the moment.

For a month or so, Qantas award space has not displayed properly at aa.com.

All the Qantas Business and First Class Award Space Between the USA and Australia on the A380 for the Next 11 Months

The post title might be longer than the post. Here are both seats:

Sydney to Dallas on February 10

Melbourne to Los Angeles August 8

 

Here is my trip report of Qantas A380 Business Class.

There are no First Class seats on the Qantas A380 between Australia and the United States in either direction.

Qantas Improves Award Chart

Finally an anti-devaluation!

Qantas has lowered the number of miles needed to book Qantas and partner flights with Qantas miles. This is potentially big news since Citi ThankYou Points transfer 1:1 to Qantas miles.

ThankYou Points are easy to get. The Citi Prestige® Card comes with 40,000 bonus ThankYou Points after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open.

What Are the Changes?
Qantas is not touching Business or First Class award prices, only international economy.

Book the Longest Flights in the World in First Class with Miles

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.