Despite not having any transfer partners, the Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard is still a great tool for getting award flights. In addition to a 40,000 mile sign-up bonus, this card has great earning capabilities and the flexibility to redeem your miles for most of your travel expenses.
What does Iguazu Falls in South America have in common with these destinations: Table Mountain in South Africa, the Amazon Rainforest, Halong Bay in Vietnam, the Philippines’ Puerto Princesa Underground River, Jeju Island in South Korea, and Komodo Island in Indonesia? The answer: They are all included on the list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Some airlines like American Airlines have predictable off-peak mileage discounts to various destinations, but there are also several programs that offer reduced mileage bargains throughout the year.
Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, this stunning Croatian resort town is known for its natural beauty and tranquility as well as its rich history and cultural heritage.
The Philippines is comprised of over 7,000 islands, some of which are among the most magnificent in the world. Almost 90 percent of the islands are uninhabited, making the Philippines a hotbed of Asia’s ecotourism in its most pure and unadulterated form.
Japan Airlines (JAL) is the flagship carrier of Japan. JAL’s planes and service in all cabins are consistently rated among the best in the industry. Their award program, JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), is flexible and offers some great redemption rates on flights between the U.S. and Japan. They are also a member of the powerful oneworld alliance.
In many ways Cuba is a country frozen in time, which makes it a fascinating destination. Meticulously maintained vintage cars from the 1950s roam the streets, and colonial architecture still dominates Havana. Only an hour and a half away from the capital, and you’re in Veradero enjoying some of the best unspoiled beaches and pristine waters in the Caribbean.
Milan was just named the number one place to go in 2015 by the New York Times. This year the city will host the 2015 World Expo from May 1 until October 31, so if you’re savvy enough with your booking dates you can explore the over 60 pavilions from more than 130 countries for the bargain price of an off-peak award ticket. You’ll have to fly in early May or late October, but you’ll save 20,000 miles.
Using off-peak awards with American Airlines is one of the best ways to make your AAdvantage miles go further. If you don’t mind traveling off-season, they offer exceptional savings on flights to Europe and South America.
Most hotel loyalty programs allow you to convert
Lufthansa’s Miles and More is one of the best frequent flyer programs among European carriers. Despite some heavy fuel surcharges by Lufthansa and most of its European partners, the Miles and More program has enough sweet spots to make it very valuable, and award flights could be a true bargain under the right circumstances.
One of the most common gripes about frequent flyer programs is that the miles you earn are hard to redeem when you need them. It’s not that airlines want to upset you; it’s just that they don’t want to give away seats they hope to sell. They want to let go only those seats that according to their calculations are going to fly empty anyway. An airline is a commercial enterprise that would rather make money than fly us for free no matter how much we think we deserve it. But if you are flexible, you can make the most of your miles.
Finding premium award seats to Australia is not easy. They are considered the ultimate prize in frequent flyer circles because the flights are long and the award seats are scarce. And also because business and first class travel on Qantas, the Australian flagship carrier, is great. It rivals premium seats from the best airlines in the world, including Singapore, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates.
USA Today has dubbed Berlin “Europe’s Capital of Cool. In the summer, it blossoms and becomes a hot spot for party-goers and fun-loving people from all over the world.
The Economist calls Vienna the second-most livable city in the world, but despite the recognition, not a single U.S.-based airline flies there. There are, however, plenty of alternatives to finding award seats in business or first class on partner airlines.
Madrid is a fantastic city with great sights and great food, and despite being a major European capital it’s relatively easy on the wallet.
A hotel room in a 4-star boutique hotel can be had for about $80. A dinner for two in a nice restaurant might set you back around $60. Getting there in style can be even cheaper if you have the right currency: frequent-flyer miles.
If you want to travel to Europe in business or first class, going through Rome is one option. The Eternal City is a great choice for a stopover with its ancient Roman architecture including the famous Colosseum. As usual you should be flexible and plan ahead, but there are plenty of options. Not only do all roads lead to Rome, but most airlines do, too, although some airlines only go there seasonally so London may be your best off-season bet. Most U.S.-based airlines fly to Rome between late spring and early fall.
Want to go to Paris in first class? There are more than a few ways to fly to the City of Light in a premium class cabin for merely the price of taxes. The Saver award rate, the lowest available, will cost you from 100,000 to 125,000 miles per round trip, but the product quality will vary. Since many airlines are currently in the process of refitting their premium cabins with new types of seats/beds, it’s not always easy to know the specifics, but let’s take a look at a few of the options you have.
London is an unofficial European hub. Even if it is not your final destination, it is cheap, and easy to get almost anywhere else in Europe from there whether using miles or paying cash.
The easiest and cheapest way to fly to London in a premium seat is by using American Airlines AAdvantage miles on American Airlines or one of the other oneworld partners. Availability is reasonable although not always on direct flights even if you are flying in peak season. Avoid booking British Airways across the ocean though as they impose huge fuel surcharges.
