US Airways,Avios,AAdvantage,Qantas
Brand New Flat Bed Business Class Option Between United States and Australia
October 22, 2014
Qantas is refurbishing its A330s with "fully flat beds in business class." Right now the A330s serve the following routes.
Sydney-Melbourne
Sydney-Brisbane
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Perth
Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane to Singapore
Melbourne/Brisbane to Hong Kong
Sydney-Bangkok
Sydney-Jakarta
Sydney-Manila
Sydney-Honolulu
Sydney-Shanghai
I have medium hopes for the new beds, which will roll out starting in December 2014. The reason I am not more excited is that the picture accompanying the press release looks to me like an angled lie flat beds, not fully flat beds.
This jives with my experience in business class on the Qantas A380.
7,500 Free American Airlines Miles for 10 Min Cadillac Test Drive
October 16, 2014
You can get 7,500 American Airlines miles for test driving any new Cadillac, and you might not even have to do the 10 minute test drive.
From the promo page:
Right now, AAdvantage® members can earn 7,500 AAdvantage miles when you test drive any Cadillac* vehicle, including the striking 2015 CTS sedan with available adaptive cruise control and available OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi®**.
AAdvantage,Off Peak,US Airways
Amazing Off Peak Awards to the Caribbean with AA/US Miles
October 15, 2014
You can get from anywhere in the United States to tons of destinations in the Caribbean for 20,000 US Airways miles roundtrip or 25,000 American Airlines miles.
The Caribbean from Google MapsBoth deals rely on the airlines' off peak award charts. US Airways' off peak dates are September 1 - 30. American Airlines' off peak dates are September 7 - November 14.
Both airlines, as well as Delta and United, normally charge 35,000 miles roundtrip in economy to the Caribbean.
Where is the Space? American Airlines New Flat Bed Business Class
October 10, 2014
For a long time, a major weakness of American Airlines miles has been that American Airlines Business Class featured exclusively angled lie flat seats.
4 Business Class Award Seats Every Day Between USA and Asia
October 9, 2014
There are four Business Class award seats available every day in June 2015 on Japan Airlines' flight from Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan. Hat tip to reader Oren for passing along the tip.
The award space is bookable with American Airlines and US Airways miles much for as low as 50,000 miles each way. There are excellent connection options to and from Los Angeles and Osaka, so this space effectively connects all of the United States with all of Asia.
Unfortunately the seat servicing the route is angled lie flat.
20 Percent Bonus on Marriott to American Airlines Transfers
October 9, 2014
Reader Steve passes along a great deal for people with lots of Marriott points.
Until October 31, 2014, you can get a 20% bonus when you transfer Marriott points to American Airlines miles.
This includes Marriott-points-to-miles transfers and transfers of Marriott points to hotel and air packages.
What are hotel and air packages?
Why are hotel and air packages often a better deal than just transferring to miles?
What airline transfer partner of Marriott points is always 10-20% better than other options?
Marriott points can be transferred to airline miles of most major airlines.
Marriott and United launched a partnership
American Airlines/El Al Partnership Ends, Cheapest Options to Israel
September 28, 2014
American Airlines' and El Al's partnership ends October 31, 2014.
To use American Airlines miles to fly to Israel on El Al, you must book by October 31, 2014. You can book American Airlines awards up to 11 months in advance, so you can travel on tickets booked October 31, 2014 until about the end of September 2015.
Once the partnership ends, you will still be able to use American Airlines miles to book US Airways flights from Philadelphia to Tel Aviv.
American Airlines Still Allows Stopovers on Awards
September 21, 2014
My sister asked me a few weeks ago: "Didn't you say there are no stopovers allowed on American Airlines awards?"
"Yes," I replied. "In April, American removed the ability to add a free stopover to awards under all circumstances.
US Airways,United,Singapore,AAdvantage
The Cheapest Awards within One Region
September 15, 2014
If you THINK BIG, and take an amazing multi-destination trip, you'll need to book several tickets to hop between destinations.
In the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia, flights are fairly cheap because of the many competing airlines, including low cost carriers. In other regions, like Africa and South America, short flights can be exorbitantly expensive as a lack of competition drives up prices.
When ticket prices are expensive, that's the time to use miles. I've already laid out the cheapest intra-region bargain awards with American Airlines and United miles.
American Airlines Best Business and First Class on New Route
September 12, 2014
American Airlines' best Business and First Class are both found on the 777-300ER, its newest international plane.
The 777-300ER features fully flat beds in Business Class and First Class, plus a walk up bar on board for the folks up front.