For a long time American AAdvantage has offered status ‘challenges’ that do not require you to already have status with another airline and that you pay for. These allow you to earn elite status more quickly with travel over a compressed period of time.
Now that American has introduced a revenue requirement for earning elite status in 2017, they’ve apparently revamped their elite status challenges.
British Airways is offering triple points on your first 8 flights taken by March 31. There are no fare restrictions. This is valid for new itineraries booked and flown starting January 5.
You’ll earn triple points on all British Airways flights and on British Airways codeshares for transatlantic travel on American Airlines, Finnair and Iberia (BA’s revenue-sharing joint venture partners).
Since he didn’t pay for a ticket, he earns no miles in United’s revenue-based program despite the 322 mile journey from Charlotte.
Perhaps he just wanted a preview of what United’s Basic Economy is going to be like.
When Delta started testing ‘Basic Economy’ fares in 2012 the idea was to compete with the ultra low cost carriers — they already had to match price, so they wanted to be able to offer a product that was closer to the limited service Spirit provided, in hopes that customers would buy up to more expensive fares for more services like pre-assigned seats.
Basic Economy fares are no longer just about competing with the ultra low cost carriers like Spirit, Allegiant, and Frontier though. At its recent investor day event we learned that Delta’s Basic Economy fares have spread to 38% of its markets — and growing.
The fare is available with minimum 28 day advance purchase for outbound travel by April 6 or again starting October 30. There’s a 7 day minimum stay and $300 change fee.
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A couple of months ago I wrote that the update American is doing to its booking classes in order to accommodate the sale of their new international premium economy product (which needs its own classes) for travel starting January 11 would mean the end of confirmed upgrade space as we know it.
That seems to be what’s happened.
Earlier I wrote about a $289 roundtrip fare to Europe in economy. It turns out that the same airline — SkyTeam member Aeroflot — has amazing business class fares right now as well.
Aeroflot departures from New York, Los Angeles, and Miami are showing business class fares from $710 roundtrip for travel all over Europe.
Via Fly4Free SkyTeam member Aeroflot is selling New York and Los Angeles itineraries from as little as $289 roundtrip to Moscow, Dubai, or Baku (Azerbaijan).
Fares are also available to St. Petersburg or even Chelyabinsk, Vladivostok, and Novosibirsk.
The Southwest Companion Pass is the best deal in travel for many. But with the New Year there’s a change in what points count towards earning one.
With the major airlines devaluing their programs, I’m finding Southwest more attractive. And of course checked bags are free.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
