British Airways has a unique, distance-based award chart that can provide fantastic value for short-haul flights.

Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards transfer 1:1 to British Airways Avios.

British Airways has access to all American Airlines "MileSAAver" award space. Furthermore, on some routes British Airways actually charges fewer miles for the same flight than American Airlines.

Unfortunately, using ba.com is not as straightforward as using aa.com.

Until July 31, 2014, you can transfer 20,000 SPG Starpoints to 30,000 US Airways Dividend miles.

This promotion is identical to the current promotion to transfer 20,000 Starpoints to 30,000 American Airlines miles, which makes sense since US Airways and American Airlines have legally merged.

Yesterday I said about the American Airlines promotion: "it's July 2nd, and I think we can probably declare this the best miles deal July will see!" Of course, such a statement was disproved in less than a day because I consider the US Airways promotion slightly better.

How many Starpoints

Overnight, I wrote about the current Starwood/American Airlines promotion: for all of July, 20,000 Starpoints will transfer to 30,000 American Airlines miles.

I gave the facts in this post, but I was called out in the comments for not analyzing the promotion. Said DH:

"Is this offer an indication there’s an AA devaluation right around the corner? If so, is this transfer still a good idea? Starwood points are really valuable, and I doubt devalued AA miles would be anywhere close.

Until July 31, 2014, you can transfer 20,000 SPG Starpoints to 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

It's July 2nd, and I think we can probably declare this the best miles deal July will see!

How many Starpoints can you transfer?
Do Starpoints transfer instantly to American Airlines miles?
In what increment must you transfer Starpoints to maximize this deal?

"From July 1 through July 31, 2014, simply convert your Starpoints® to American Airlines AAdvantage miles and earn a 20% bonus.

American Airlines' non-oneworld partner, Etihad, has fantastic award space to the Middle East, India, and the Maldives.

For five months, the Citi Executive AAdvantage World MasterCard has been offering 100,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $10,000 in the first three months.

You can now route through the Middle East on Qatar Airways on your way from the United States to Africa with American Airlines miles.

American Airlines has a unique routing rule that you cannot transit a third region on an award between two other regions. Under this rule, flying from the United States to the Middle East to Africa would require two awards, one from the United States to the Middle East and one from the Middle East to Africa.

Etihad is an incredible partner of American Airlines. Etihad is not part of American's oneworld alliance, nor is it a partner of US Airways, but you can use American Airlines miles to fly Etihad in style to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and beyond.

We explained how to search and book Etihad award space with American Airlines miles in "Anatomy of an Award: Booking Etihad Business Class Using American Miles."

Etihad's First Class is a fully enclosed suite. Etihad Business Class is a fully flat bed.

US Airways and American Airlines merged last year, and their frequent flyer programs will combine in 2015.

We don't know quite what that program will look like or what its award chart will be, but Barclaycard seemingly confirmed one of my biggest hopes, that one way awards still be allowed for half the roundtrip price.

Currently American Airlines publishes a one way award chart. One way awards cost a certain price and roundtrip awards are double that price. US Airways publishes a roundtrip award chart.

Qantas will operate its daily flight from Dallas to Sydney with an A380 starting October 1, 2014. This is a large increase in capacity from the current 747 on the route.

The Dallas to Sydney flight will be the longest A380 flight in the world at 16hr55min, so it's not one I'd be eager to fly in coach.

The route is in addition to the A380 flights Qantas operates from Los Angeles to Sydney and Melbourne.