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The best value flight between the United States and Europe is American Airlines’ daily 777-300ER flight from Los Angeles to London.

The 10hr40min flight east features fully flat beds in Business Class for 50k American Airlines miles each way, and American’s newest First Class product for 62,500 miles each way.

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Considering that Delta now charges 125k miles for roundtrip business class awards to Europe and United charges 115-140k for a roundtrip business class award and 160k-220k for a roundtrip first class award to Europe, American’s prices are a steal!

For a great hard product, and west-coast-to-Europe flights, you can’t beat American’s Los Angeles to London route’s Saver prices.

Award Availability

What is the award availability in business class and first class on American’s direct flight from Los Angeles to London and back?

When the 777-300ER, American’s newest plane, was loaded into the schedule last year on the route, award availability was incredible in all three cabins, and I was telling everyone to book it.

Unfortunately, now award space is very hard to find.

All calendars display results for a one passenger search on the direct American Airlines flights between Los Angeles and London.

There are a handful of days with MileSAAver award space in First Class from Los Angeles to London in May and June for one passenger for 62,500 miles.

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Next January and February, there are a few days with Business and one day with First Class award space.

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From London to Los Angeles, the premium cabin award space picture is worse. I see only one day in the next 11 months with Saver award space in a premium cabin–January 10, 2015 in First Class.

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It should be noted that economy award space in both directions on the route is solid for many months at a time and costs only 20k miles each way from October 15 to May 15 and 30k miles each way during the rest of the year.

Recap

It is disappointing to see how much award space has deteriorated on American’s Los Angeles <-> London flight since last year. At the moment, it’s nearly impossible to take advantage of the 50k and 62,500 mile price points for the excellent Business and First Class cabins.

If you want to fly from the west coast to Europe with miles, consider connections on the east coast or in Canada. And if you’re running into trouble finding any award space, hire the MileValue Award Booking Service to book your trip for you!


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