Don’t wait! Airlines are adapting to The Lockdown in a hurry, so jump on these deals while you can, as the Lockdown Landscape is shifting under our feet as I write.
FCF’s team has noted a significant change in the last few weeks. Some of the unprecedented mileage travel opportunities we’ve found with Delta have been quietly disappearing. Not all of them (as we’ll discuss), but the Lockdown Landscape is definitely changing fast for Delta fliers. In April, for example, the airline had 25 routes with good mileage availability out of 45 we checked, and now only has 7 out 34 routes.
As airlines are learning to adapt to The Lockdown just like the rest of us, big winners and big losers will emerge at the end of the day.
The specific losers right now are Delta (Amex partner) fans, where international award availability seems to be approaching Pre-Lockdown (not good) levels.
Delta’s Lockdown Grace is running on fumes, in other words.
Survey of Delta Business Class Mileage Availability in April vs. Now
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POUNCE NOW, THINK LATER WHEN A Lockdown SUPER DEAL GETS DEALT
As we’ve said often, now is not the time for procrastination. When you see a great opportunity, particularly with miles, play ‘snap’: slam your hand down and claim the prize when it’s right there in front of you.
To review, here’s our recent advice on opportunities on the big three U.S. carriers:
Discount availability on United. Grabbing opportunities on Delta. Discount miles on American. And… A Lockdown thought piece on future travel.
Hate to say it, but we did warn that deals like these may not be around for long. And now, it seems, some are drifting away. The reasons for this are more streamlined services (fewer flights) and fuller flights—especially with socially distanced seating in Business and domestic First Class on Delta. The upshot is less low-cost mileage-award availability when you’re ready to book travel later this year.
That’s exactly what’s happening now with Delta. FCF’s research team surveyed 34 international nonstop routes on Delta and found that only 7 currently have a volume of low-cost award space.
On the other hand, United has a stack of routes with award space. In fact, it’s out-award spacing both American and Delta, as you’ll see below.
[aside headline="Grab a Deal Now for Revenge " alignment="aligncenter" width="big" headline_size="default"]A recent Washington Post article highlights the phenomenon of “revenge travel,” where a pent-up need to get out of one’s home or home city will lead to a travel explosion once it becomes possible. Like Yellowstone’s Old Faithful, it’s a natural build-up that needs release—travel is simply in our DNA.[/aside]
FULL HOUSE: GREAT INTERNATIONAL DEALS NOW FOR TRAVEL LATER
Since American, Delta, and United have zone-based mileage programs, you can get free connecting flights from your non-hub home airport based on availability in the U.S./Canada with onward connections in their hub cities. More on this in a minute.
Unprecedented low-cost mileage award opportunities available now with American on 5 routes:
New York to Sao Paulo, Rome, and London.
Miami to São Paulo and Charlotte to Munich.
Unprecedented low-cost mileage award opportunities available now with Delta on 7 routes:
Atlanta to London, Santiago, and São Paulo.
New York to Zurich and São Paulo.
Minneapolis to Paris and Los Angeles to Shanghai.
Unprecedented low-cost mileage award opportunities available now with United on 19 routes:
United still has many routes with award space. FCF’s research team checked 78 international nonstop routes and found that 19 routes currently have low-cost award availability.
Chicago to Brussels, London, and São Paulo.
Houston to Santiago and São Paulo.
Newark to Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Dublin, London, Madrid, Geneva, and São Paulo.
Washington, DC to Paris, London, Amsterdam, Zurich, Brussels, and São Paulo.
For more information on using hubs to your advantage, see “Don’t See Your Origin and/or Destination in an FCF Headline?” or “This Report Was Made For You and The Art of Skipping Stones.”
BRIDGE ROUTE CONNECTING FLIGHTS
Remember, when using the available discounted long-haul flight as a “bridge,” the connecting flight from the U.S. and/or international hub can be either booked in Business Class or economy, based on availability.
If only economy is available on the short connecting flights, don’t let that deter your travel plans. The most important part is getting the long-haul flight in the class you want first.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND?
American, Delta, and United are currently offering a “travel fee waiver,” including for award flights. That means it won’t cost you anything to cancel or change your ticket for international travel for the remainder of 2020.
DREAM. BOOK. SAVE.
We’ve said it before but it bears repeating: you’ve probably been at home dreaming about that getaway. Don’t leave it at that. Snap up the deals now while they’re still here and you’re thinking about it. They won’t be around forever and you’ll undoubtedly kick yourself when they’re gone (and be stuck playing 52 pick up in a huff).
The risk is low or nil if you end up changing your mind, and we really believe the positives far outweigh the negatives right now. Whether you’re dreaming of bringing your golf clubs to Edinburgh, finding diamonds in South Africa, calling a spade a spade in Spain or leaving your heart in San Francisco, now’s the time to book flights to make it happen later this year or through the middle of next year.
More FCF SPECIAL REPORTS TO Help YOU Book
the Best Miles and Points Tickets
Mining for Miles Availability: 10 Common Mistakes Most Travelers Make
How to Choose Between a Flash Low-Cash Fare and a Discount Mileage Deal.