Upgrade Strategy

06/25/2008

United and Lufthansa Announce Corporate Mileage Plan Merger

United Airlines and Lufthansa have combined their corporate mileage plans for small and medium-sized businesses. Operating under United’s existing PerksPlus brand, the joint program works in addition to both airlines’ frequent flyer programs (United’s Mileage Plus and Lufthansa’s Miles & More)... more >>
Tags: Airline Update, North America, US (49 States), Europe, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Domestic

06/24/2008

Free Elite Status with United, In the Mail

While this is sure to upset those who’ve earned it the hard way, United Airlines has mailed a promotion to receive free Premier Executive elite status membership for 90 days. It’s a good reason to keep an eye out in your mailbox because... more >>
Tags: Airline Update, North America, US (49 States), United Airlines, Domestic

03/29/2008

Pay Through the Nose with Delta/Amex "Pay with Miles" Program

Delta’s literature describes Pay with Miles as “a whole new way to use your miles, touting the benefits of innovative mileage-redemption options, but for consumers there's generally more cloud than silver lining ... more >>
Tags: Miles Availability, Delta Airlines, Domestic

03/13/2008

Getting an American Airlines upgrade without paying for an upgrade

This strategy works on American Airlines flights using 777s and 767-200s configured with three cabins (coach, Business Class, and First Class), on which the carrier only sells economy and First Class ... more >>
Tags: American Airlines, Domestic

03/05/2008

Credit Cards to Avoid When Booking Air Travel

One of the biggest mistakes you can make if you want to earn Business or First Class upgrades, is building your frequent flyer mileage account with credit cards that offer their own mileage programs ... more >>
Tags: Miles Availability, Domestic

03/05/2008

Redeem Miles Early to Get Cheap Business and First Class Airline Seats

When redeeming miles, it pays to book award tickets and upgrades as far in advance as possible, particularly when you’re after the coveted Business and First Class airline seats ... more >>
Tags: Miles Availability, Domestic

03/04/2008

Using Points to Get Your Next Air Travel Upgrade

Many frequent flyers fail to note the differences between one airline’s mileage award program and another that can yield valuable air travel upgrades. A credit card points strategy is key to getting Business and First Class upgrades ... more >>
Tags: Domestic

03/04/2008

Consider Premium Economy Seats

As an alternative to a Business or First Class upgrade, Premium Economy seats are the hot ticket. They’re certainly better than coach. You get more of the one thing that matters most on a long international flight: legroom ... more >>
Tags: Domestic

12/24/2007

Continental Airlines' OnePass and Budget Team for 9,999 Bonus Miles Promo

For a limited time, you can earn 9,999 bonus miles when you rent with Budget for five consecutive days or more. That’s a tempting offer¬—let’s look at the fine print... more >>
Tags: Continental Airlines, Domestic

10/31/2007

Discount Business Class Fare War Reaches Boiling Point

Last month we examined the holiday fare war started by Continental and immediately matched by American. Fares start at an amazingly low $900, round-trip, plus taxes. (This year's Thanksgiving fares to European cities are even lower than last.) Now, over eight more carriers have joined in, which works in your favor. Given the state of the dollar, that's something to be thankful for. With so many choices, the goal is getting the best Business Class seat. … more >>
Tags: Continental Airlines, Europe

10/29/2007

My Favorite Domestic Business Class Upgrade Strategy on American Airlines

It enables you to mysteriously get a free Business Class upgrade airfare on American Airlines’ routes on which the carrier uses Boeing 777s and 767-200s configured with three cabins… more >>
Tags: American Airlines, Domestic

10/23/2007

American Airlines "B Fares" Can Mean a Better Deal on Discount Business Class Travel to South America

There 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." But book a 'B' fare, and... more >>
Tags: American Airlines, South America

10/15/2007

Mileage Upgrades for Business Class travel to Europe Differ Widely

On flights to Europe, most airlines permit mileage upgrades to Business Class, but there are huge discrepancies between the actual value of one mileage upgrade versus another. Some carriers require that you pay inflated fares if you want to upgrade, while others do not. more >>
Tags: Europe

09/26/2007

For Discount Business Class Travel Upgrades, Check Award Charts For Discrepancies

The differences between one airline’s mileage award and another can yield little-known and lucrative values. The "formula" used to determine the number of miles it costs for a given award, such as discount Business Class travel for the price of coach, varies widely... more >>
Tags: Delta Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Europe

09/21/2007

How to get a free one-way upgrade to South America

Open an AAdvantage account by Nov. 30 and you can take advantage of bonus-miles offers tied to your card charges. Spend $750 within four months of becoming a member and you’ll get 20,000 bonus miles – almost enough miles for a one-way Business Class upgrade on American (25,000 miles). more >>
Tags: American Airlines, South America

09/19/2007

Fly Business Class to Australia on United With a Quick and Easy Upgrade Strategy

With 15,000 United frequent flyer miles, you can upgrade one of the airline’s heavily discounted domestic US flights one-way. With the same number of miles, you can upgrade a “B” economy fare to fly Business Class to Australia. more >>
Tags: United Airlines, Australia

09/14/2007

Anyone Can Reap Discount Business Class travel From the Alaska Airlines Mileage/Loyalty Program

Alaska Airlines leaves the door open for anyone to fly Business and First Class the world over via its mileage program, Mileage Plan. That’s because the carrier sells its miles -- and puts no limit (highly unusual) on the amount you can buy. more >>
Tags: Alaska Airlines, Middle East

09/04/2007

Getting Married in Jamaica? Check Air Jamaica for a Business Class Airline Ticket Upgrade Strategy on Flights to the Caribbean

Tie the knot in one of the Caribbean destinations served by Air Jamaica and you can get a free Business Class airline ticket. To qualify for the airline’s new Executive Business Class, the bride and groom must book a minimum of 22 seats (including themselves)... more >>
Tags: United Airlines, Caribbean

09/03/2007

Business Class Seat Upgrade Strategy: Change Your Return Flight and Increase Your Chances

Here’s a Business Class Seat upgrade strategy that works more often than not. If your elite upgrade hasn’t been confirmed in the permitted timeframe, get creative by calling the airline to see if there are flights on your date of departure with Business Class seat upgrades... more >>
Tags: Domestic

08/17/2007

Discount Business Class airfare opportunities for international travel are abundant with US Airways Dividend Miles

US Airways is one of the few carriers that have no restrictions on how many airline miles you can buy annually. There’s a 50,000 mile limit per purchase, but no limit to the number of purchases. more >>
Tags: US Airways, Middle East

08/08/2007

Try a United Airlines upgrade for First Class Travel to Hawaii

Upgrade strategies for First Class travel to Hawaii can be more expensive nowadays, owing to some recent changes. One of the best carriers on the mainland to Hawaii route, American Airlines, now imposes a $300 cash surcharge... more >>
Tags: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Hawaii