Plus the secret routes with low-cost availability now in First and Business Class that remain on its partners too: Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan, and Qatar.
Business Class award flights on: In December we did a deep dive on
when award costs skyrocketed. But we also found stacks of low-cost opportunities on its partner airlines.
After that: KAPOW, United partner costs have started to inch up.
And now it’s American Airlines. Its own award pricing is following suit, straight up and into the clouds like a Harrier jet.
But the partners? Ah, that’s where the golden opportunity lies, for the moment. Those award prices have stayed put, and while availability isn’t as strong as with United’s partners, there are pockets of fresh opportunity for First and Business Class travelers looking for extremely good value.
That said, I wouldn’t wait too long. Because just as American followed United’s lead in raising award costs on its own flights, costs for its partners will surely rise too. It’s just a matter of time–and its dynamic pricing technology maturing.
After diving into 22 First Class and 86 Business Class routes on American and five partner airlines, here’s the good American AAdvantage miles award availability we found:
First Class award flights on:
- American to Europe and India
- Japan to Asia
Business Class award flights on: In December we did a deep dive on
- American to Asia, India, and South America
- Cathay Pacific to Asia
- Finnair to Europe
- Iberia to Europe
- Japan to Asia
- Qatar to the Middle East
American First Class to Europe
Previously, the lowest pricing hovered around 170,000 miles round-trip to Europe in First Class. Now those seats are drying up and we’re seeing pricing typically in the range of 266,000 to 620,000.
For Dallas and New York to London, some dates can still be intermittently found in the 170,000 to 194,000 range. Here’s your FCF cheat sheet to when and where the discount awards are on international flight segments:
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American First Class to India
Generally, most dates on this newly introduced route run up to 400,000 miles. The lowest free award seat rates that we occasionally found in First Class range from 156,000 to 208,000 miles. As this is a relatively new route, I wouldn’t say inflation is occurring, but here are where the cheap seats are:
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American First Class to South America
We found zero low-cost award rates to South America in First Class. Previous rates were 170,000 round-trip. Currently, routes such as Miami (and many connecting cities from around the U.S.) to Buenos Aires start at 286,000 to 380,000 round-trip, which FCF doesn’t recommend. Save your miles for a high-fare trip. Also, recall that Business Class fares to South America are often relatively low, and very low when there are flash deals. Those deals happen with good frequency too, as you can see in the examples here, here, here, and here. First Class is often available for as low as $2,566, which you can see in the examples here and here.
American Business Class to Asia
Previously, the lowest pricing was typically around 120,000 miles round-trip to Asia in Business Class. Now those seats are drying up and we’re seeing pricing usually at 224,000 to 476,000.
For Dallas-Seoul and Los Angeles-Tokyo routes, some dates are still available in the 120,000 to 138,000 range, round-trip. Here’s your FCF cheat sheet to when and where the discount awards are on international flight segments:
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American Business Class to Europe Inflation
Overall, we noticed on some routes booking award flights to Europe within 45 days of travel is when you’ll typically find the cheapest awards. So, book your flight as a placeholder, then cancel and change the closer you get to your travel date if your ideal flights become available at a lower price. Canceling or changing is free of charge, more on that here.
Other inflation insights we found to Europe in Business Class…
Good: A couple of routes are only slightly inflated. The lowest pricing to Europe used to be 115,000 round-trip but is now 120,000 depending on the month, on
- New York-London: Now 120,000-130,000 round-trip with the exception of Mondays through Wednesdays in August and the entire month of October, which ranges from a bad 270,000 to 360,000 round-trip
- Dallas-Frankfurt: Now 120,000-136,000 round-trip with the exception of June to August, October, and November, which ranges from a not good 163,000 to 360,000
- Chicago-London: 120,000-136,000 round-trip with the exception of June, September, and October, which ranges from a bad 270,000 to 448,000
- Philadelphia-London: 120,000-130,000 round-trip in March and April, however from May to November most days range from bad 178,000 to 500,000
Ugly: American is merciless on other routes, with the lowest pricing suffering 30% to 85%+ inflation. For example, expect to see typical pricing over 250,000 round-trip on
- Miami-London: 190,000 to 360,000+ round-trip all months except for July, which offers travel on Mondays for 120,00 round-trip.
- Dallas-Paris: 220,000 to 600,000+ round-trip all months. May, June, and July are the highest cost months.
- Philadelphia-Rome: 220,000 to an eye-popping (and even more than Delta!) 800,000 miles round-trip all months. Talk about Venezuelan bolívar!
If you can bear to look at these one-way rates…
Might want to close your eyes for this one too…
American Business Class to India
Generally, most dates can be found on this newly introduced New York/JFK-Delhi route for 250,00 to 360,000 miles round-trip. That said, while currently there is no availability over the course of the last month preparing this report, we’ve seen availability occasionally for 122,000 miles for March and April travel, but not enough to really speak of.
American Business Class to the Middle East
For Dallas, Miami, and New York to Tel Aviv, most dates can be found on these newly introduced routes at 236,000 to 360,000 miles round-trip. The lowest free award seat rates that we found in Business Class are occasionally available from 136,000 to 140,000 round-trip.
American Business Class to South America:
A Mixed Bag of Inflation & Deflation
Previous free award seat rates were 115,000, round-trip. The lowest current rates to South America in Business Class are
- Reduced on the Dallas-Santiago route to 90,000
- Reduced on the New York-Santiago route to 100,000
- Reduced on the New York-Sao Paulo route to 104,000
- Increased on routes such as Dallas-Buenos Aires with award seats ranging from 172,000 to 666,000, round-trip.
- Increased on other routes such as Dallas- and Miami-Sao Paulo, and Miami-Santiago with award seats now ranging from 220,000 to 300,000, round-trip.
Where the cheap seats are:
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What About American’s Partner Availability?
Japan Airlines First Class to Asia
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, Japan Airlines’ lowest First Class awards are still 160,000 miles round-trip. That’s an incredible deal given these seats normally go for $18,200 to $22,000. Here’s how to save $16,373, or 81%, by buying miles, and here’s where to find cheap award availability:
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Cathay Pacific Business Class
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, the lowest Cathay Pacific Business Class awards are still 120,000 from the West Coast and 140,000 from the East Coast round-trip. A good deal because the fares can easily cost $5,869 to $9,667. Here’s where to find cheap award availability:
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Japan Airlines Business Class to Asia
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, Japan Airlines Business Class lowest award rates are still 120,000 round-trip. A good deal because the fares can easily cost $4,840 to $10,256 when not on sale. Here’s where to find cheap award availability:
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Finnair Business Class to Europe
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, Finnair’s lowest Business Class award rates are still 115,000 round-trip, and available on four routes to Europe. Here’s where to find the cheap award availability:
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Iberia Business Class to Europe
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, Iberia’s lowest Business Class award rates are still 115,000 round-trip and are available on five routes to Europe. Here’s where to find the cheap award availability:
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Qatar Business Class to the Middle East
UNCHANGED: When you can find them, Qatar’s lowest Business Class award rates are still 140,000 round-trip and are available on four routes to the Middle East. A good deal because the fares can easily cost $6,577 to $9,607. Here’s where to find the cheap award availability:
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Don’t See Your Preferred Origin or Destination?
KNOW How to Add Connecting Flights for Free
Free or low-cost connecting flights in the U.S. to major hubs are often available, or, at worst, you can use that transatlantic flight as a “bridge route.” When using the discount-rate long-haul flight as a bridge, the connecting flight from the U.S. and/or international hub can be booked in either Business Class or economy, based on availability, often for free. If only economy is available on the short connecting flights, don’t let it “harsh your mellow,” since the important part is getting the long-haul flight in the class you want.
Change Your Tune?
American is currently offering a “travel fee waiver” that includes award flights. That means it won’t cost anything to cancel or change your ticket. More here.
SOME RELATED Don’ts and Dos
DON’T book “backwards.” Instead of choosing your dates first, choose the miles ticket opportunity and plan your trip around that. There are some great opportunities to explore on our alert pages. Start there and you’re a long way towards winning the game.
DON’T fall for prey to traps. See 10 Common Mistakes Most Travelers Make
DO check out our latest American Sweet Redeems surveys here, when space is available.
DO be ready to act fast with the help of FCF’s fare alerts. Know when to pay with cash or miles. Find more on that here.
So don’t let inflation get you down. Take advantage of American’s favorable partner opportunities for the win and I’ll see you up front.