Easy Round the World with Miles on Luxury Products

We've been getting bad news in the miles world lately, so let me state unequivocally: miles still offer unmatched value to travel the world more, better, and cheaper.

Here's a round-the-world (RTW) trip you can take with miles that took me me about 10 minutes to find the award space for.

There's nothing particularly important about the cities or even the regions where this trip stops. It just shows an easy RTW award using one way awards.

Ends Today: Membership Rewards 40% Transfer Bonus to British Airways Avios

Well, it's January 31. So today is your last chance to transfer. Since I posted this initially, I have two other posts on Avios:

New, Worse Avios Award Chart takes effect in April.

The Myth of the 10 Cents Per Mile Award and Why Miles Are Most Valuable to the Rich

The other day, I booked myself a direct flight from Tampa to Charlotte with 4,500 British Airways Avios and $5.60.

Take Your Whole Family to Europe This Summer

Aer Lingus, a partner of United MileagePlus and British Airways Avios, debuts a Washington-Dulles to Dublin route on May 1, 2015.

Brand New Flat Bed Business Class Option Between United States and Australia

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.

How and Why I Was Totally Wrong about the Avios Devaluation

Sunday I read a post on Gary Leff's blog that said that Iberia Avios had massively devalued its award chart for flights on oneworld airlines.

I looked up the Iberia award chart for oneworld flights and came to the same conclusion as Gary--that Iberia had put out a new, worse award chart. I wrote a post Sunday and another yesterday about the changes and how to beat them.

It turns out my posts were mistaken. Iberia hasn't touched its award chart since November 2011.

The reason I was wrong is that I had misunderstood Iberia's program.

Massive Avios Devaluation? No, I Was Wrong

Well, this is embarrassing. As it turns out, there was no devaluation of the Iberia Avios program. The rates in this post have been consistent since November 2011.

Almost no one in the world knew the rates for Iberia Avios oneworld redemptions because they weren't bookable online. Thankfully this FlyerTalk thread and in particular these two posts set the record straight.

Travellair said:

"I don’t know what the fuss is all about. These have been the same Avios amounts for Oneworld redemptions through IB Plus since 2011.

Anatomy of an Award: Three Cities in Asia on Two Awards

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Anatomy of an Award posts highlight real awards I’ve booked to show you the techniques needed to book your dream trip.

I recently booked my brother a pair of awards that will allow us to visit Hong Kong, Beijing, and Seoul together.

Ten Minute Three Day Trip with Avios and Hawaiian Miles

Anatomy of an Award posts highlight real awards I’ve booked to show you the techniques needed to book your dream trip.

I recently made a last-second decision to head to Las Vegas and Phoenix for three days for a mix of work and pleasure.

I planned and booked the trip in 10 minutes with miles and points, saving myself $1,500 in the process and getting to fly First Class on one long flight.