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Add to del.icio.usThere are decent deals on discount Business Class travel to South America if you know this upgrade strategy involving "B fares."
Book American Airlines’ lowest economy fares and an upgrade to Business Class will cost 50,000 AAdvantage miles, plus a $600 "upgrade surcharge.”
Book a ‘B’ fare (more expensive coach fare, with fewer restrictions), however, and the airline charges 20,000 miles – and no surcharge.
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EXAMPLE: If you book American Airlines’ lowest economy class Dallas-Lima fare for about $925, an upgrade will cost 50,000 miles plus the $600 surcharge. But, book a B fare for $1,570 round-trip, and American will charge you only 20,000 miles – and no cash surcharge!
THE MATH: The B fare really only costs $45 more, since the $600 surcharge doesn’t apply. You’ll also save 30,000 miles -- just enough for a domestic round-trip upgrade, easily worth $1,000 or more depending on the routing.
This discount Business Class travel upgrade strategy works better on some routes than others. It works best when you are booking less than 50 days in advance or your route doesn’t offer discount Business Class fares at all, and when the lowest economy fares are sold out (always check both ways).
In these two (fairly common) instances, you might only be paying a little more in order to save both 30,000 miles!
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Or you may be paying US 625- more if, as usual, you don't get your upgrade. So, instead of flying coach for 925, you fly coach for 1.570- It can cost you money for nothing.
this strategy works for London routes, too. It helps if you're platinum or higher, and so the B fare only puts you behind: Executive Platinum B fares or higher Other Platinum B fares who wait-listed before you The difference for my trip is about $1000 round-trip (booked through to Copenhagen) over the "discount" fare, so I'm paying $400 over the upgrade fee and saving 30K miles. redeeming my miles at about 11.8 cents per mile, even at the inflated 30K miles (instead of 20K) round trip upgrade. It helps to look at the available seating, and if your schedule allows, pick a less-popular flight. I've found that if they have 24+ seats in Business about 3 weeks out, you're in pretty good shape. I also get 1.5 points per mile towards elite status.
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