How to save up to 48% to Europe in a Comfy Business Class Seat
“If you’ll hold my hand we’ll chase your dream across the sky. For we can fly, we can fly up, up and away”
The Fifth Dimension, 1967
To be fair, the Fifth Dimension were singing about flying in a “beautiful balloon,” but that song became an earworm while preparing this report and I just can’t shake it. That’s for two reasons: this opportunity gets you up, up, and away using your precious miles and points AND the song is by the Fifth Dimension, which is apt considering we’re talking about a unique quirk of international travel, “Fifth Freedom Flights.”
Fifth Freedom Flights
Towards the end of World War II, countries began working out agreements for international air travel. They called them “Freedoms of the Air,” of which there are now nine. Today we’re talking about Freedom No. 7: a flight between two countries on an airline that belongs to neither of those countries.
Two examples (and the focus of this special report) are New York-Frankfurt and Houston-Manchester, both on Singapore Airlines – a points partner with Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi. Our first thoughts for the Frankfurt trip would be Lufthansa or a U.S. carrier; and opting for British Airways or a U.S. airline for the Manchester journey, not Singapore Airlines. And there lies the opportunity: a Fifth Freedom flight, not the obvious option, can often have better availability of discount premium award tickets. On top of that, to sell premium seats, the “Fifth Freedom” airline often discounts the prices as they tend to have a greater surplus of seats.
This speaks to two things I’m hearing so often right now: “Bennett, I can’t use my %$#@ miles or points!” and “Bennett, Europe is %$#@ expensive to get to!” Well here’s a golden opportunity to dissolve that angst. Let’s get up, up, and away.
Although Singapore Airlines has increased mileage costs from 144,000 to 162,000 round-trip for both of these routes, United usually charges 310,000 miles round-trip.
Take the Fifth: Your Right to Remain Informed About This Play
There’s unusually good availability of discount awards on Singapore’s New York/JFK-Frankfurt and Houston-Manchester routes, otherwise a secret. Both give you a bridge route to 70+ European destinations – via connections with Singapore’s European Star Alliance partners – for travel through May/June 2023. Remember, you can travel beyond Frankfurt and Manchester on Star Alliance partner airlines for free. The table below shows Star Alliance connection cities and flight times from Frankfurt and Manchester.
Star Alliance Airlines Connection Times From Frankfurt and Manchester:
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What Availability Looks Like
The table tells the story. There’s lots of free award seat availability there, particularly to and from Frankfurt, even if you’re looking for four seats. Take your husband, take your best friend, and your mother-in-law.
Singapore Airlines Business Class Free Award Seat Availability
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