This report at a glance:
- How to win when using miles for ‘free’ award travel
- The Good—when using miles for First Class to Europe works—and how to save miles (47%) and money (28%)
- The Bad—the airlines that offer First Class availability, but infrequently
- The Ugly—when First Class to Europe with miles is wishful thinking and a waste of time
For many travelers, finding a coveted First Class mileage award ticket for travel to Europe can be as elusive as finding a proverbial needle in a haystack. A golden needle at that. For a couple reasons…
More ‘Travelers’ Nowadays
With an increasing number of bank hackers (those who get credit cards just for the sign-up bonus only to cancel afterwards) on every street corner nowadays, serious premium travelers are now competing with college kids and all kinds of otherwise non-travelers with new found means to get otherwise expensive seats by hacking banks.
Shrinking Supply of Seats
Add to that the decreasing number of First Class seats. American and United don’t even offer a First Class product on many aircraft to Europe, and United is in the process of phasing out First Class completely. Altogether it quickly becomes apparent that using miles for First Class travel to Europe might be wishful thinking. Or is it?
FCF’s Solution: How to Win in First Class when Using Miles
Actually, there are ways to snag First Class seats to Europe when using miles—by using a bit of know-how, know-where and know-when.
Be aware of opportunities: Despite the challenges, there are still airlines that have mileage award space, even though many others don’t.
Be flexible to get the seats: British Airways and Lufthansa often have First Class award availability for travel between the U.S. and Europe. Plus, both of these airlines may have as many as four seats available for First Class mileage awards.
The Good:
When Using Miles for First Class to Europe WORKS
Here are some recent opportunities FCF found:
First Class with Miles on British Airways from the West Coast to Europe
Lufthansa First Class to/from Europe with Miles
British Airways First Class to London from Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, DC
Lufthansa First Class to/from Europe with Miles from Chicago and New York
British Airways First Class to London—Up to Four Seats from New York, Washington, DC + More
How to Get British Airways at Lower Mileage Rates
In addition to taking advantage of award availability to Europe on British Airways, you can also use fewer miles. Because British Airways (BA) is a oneworld partner, just like American Airlines (AA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), you can use AA or JAL miles to book a First Class award ticket on British Airways—often at a lower cost than BA itself charges for miles. British Airways and its point-transfer partner, American Express Rewards, even offered a 40% transfer bonus back in November, details here.
Not only can you get lower partner rates, FCF has found that partner award availability is the same between BA and its AA and JAL partners.
Take, for example, the Denver-London route, departing August 19 and returning August 27, 2019. The cost in First Class using BA miles is 200,000 Avios points plus $1,312 in taxes (booked as two one-way award tickets, because taxes for BA are cheaper when booked as two one-way awards).
If you have AA miles you can book the same flight using AA miles at a cost of 170,000 miles plus $1,843 in taxes.
How to Save Miles (47%) & Money (28%)
Save even more if you have JAL miles because you can book the same BA flights and dates for 105,000 miles—95,000 (47%) fewer miles—plus $940 in taxes—$372 (28%) cheaper. (This is for a ticket that ranges from $6,500 to $11,000 in cash.)
Don’t have JAL miles? No problem. You can transfer what used to be 85,000 Starwood points, now 255,000 Marriott points.
All this can be booked online with each airline once you log in to your mileage account. Or, you can book by calling the airline.
How to get Lufthansa at Lower Rates
As with British Airways, you can also get lower mileage rates with Lufthansa. The airline is a Star Alliance partner, like United and Asiana. This means you can use United or Asiana miles to book a First Class award ticket flying Lufthansa, often at a lower cost than what Lufthansa itself charges.
FCF has found, however, that partner award availability for Lufthansa does not match its partners. Plus, Lufthansa’s First Class normally does not open up until you are within two weeks of departure when using partner miles. (More here on how to leverage short-notice availability even when you book way in advance.)
But take heart. Lufthansa’s First Class mileage cost is the same as Delta’s Business Class: 170,000 miles round-trip. One downside: Taxes can be as high as $1,600, although First Class fares often run to $11,000+ so it can still be worthwhile.
Take, for example, the New York-Munich route. The cost in First Class using Lufthansa miles is 170,000 plus $1,647 in taxes. You can transfer what used to amount to 140,000 Starwood points, now 420,000 Marriott points.
Have a ton of United miles? If you want to use United miles (maybe because you have a lot) and you are flexible and book within 14 days of your departure date, then the cost is actually more with United, at 220,000 miles.
Want to pay the least amount of miles? Asiana is a much better deal than United, as the cost is only 100,000 miles, and you can transfer what used to be just 80,000 Starwood points—now 240,000 Marriott points—to Asiana to get 100,000. But again, Lufthansa First Class partner space is only worthwhile if you are flexible and can book within 14 days or less of your departure date. Or, if you know about this strategy here.
How to pay only $85 for taxes on Lufthansa’s First Class: Want to pay the minimum for award taxes on Lufthansa? Then Lifemiles is your mileage program, as it only charges $85 for First Class award taxes for flights with Lufthansa and 174,000 miles.
The Bad:
Airlines that Offer First Class Availability, but Infrequently
FCF has found that airlines that seldom have mileage award space in First Class include American, Emirates, Singapore, and United (actually, United stopped selling First Class altogether as of Oct. 22!).
So, if you long for First Class using miles with any of these airlines, you have to be very flexible and check FCF’s daily alerts, which will keep you posted on availability. For example, we reported that Emirates had space back in March for travel in First Class to Milan and Athens. Stay tuned—and ready to pounce when these flash deals arrive.
The Ugly:
When Using Miles for First Class to Europe is Wishful thinking
There’s really no chance of ever getting First Class with miles on Air France (offered only to elites but only at the expensive flex cost) and SWISS (only for Miles & More Senator and Hon Circle elite members).
When to Use Miles to Upgrade a British Airways Business Class Fare to First
When Business Class fares are low, consider using British Airways (BA) Avios points to upgrade to First. Forget free mileage awards because they don’t earn miles, plus you’ll pay dearly in award taxes ($1,300+) for a First Class award ticket.
Related Reports
Retirees, Business Owners, and Other Flexible Travelers: Keep Your Bags Packed
Two Simple Strategic Ploys to Maximize Award Opportunity with Avail-ability
Miles are Dead For Inflexible Travelers
Six Plays to Consider When There’s Only One Mileage Seat Available
Nine Reasons Why FCF’s Discount Miles Detector is the Best Thing Since Pizza
Overtime Winner: Why the Upgrade Game Doesn’t End When You Book a Flight