American AAdvantage is renowned for being tight-fisted with premium cabin availability to Europe on its own flights, something that really exacerbated with the introduction of their new lie flat business class. And since their primary transatlantic partner is British Airways, that’s where most of the availability is, but that comes with hefty fuel surcharges. (Iberia is also a significant partner and their availability through Spain is often quite good.)
So it’s notable when American offers up business class award space to Europe, and appears to do so systematically — especially when it’s for more than just a seat or two per flight.
There’s really good availability right now in business class on American’s Dallas – London Heathrow flight — that’s an aircraft with American’s new business class onboard the Boeing 777-300ER.
In fact, for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays you’ll find four seats in business starting in mid-September and through end of schedule including around Christmas and Thanksgiving!
We see a similar pattern for Los Angeles – London Heathrow.
Also Miami – London Heathrow as well.
You can of course connect beyond Heathrow with American’s partner British Airways — and fuel surcharges aren’t stoppers for intra-Europe flights the way they are for long haul. Plus returning from a country other than the UK means you don’t pay the ‘airline passenger duty’ which is also commonly referred to as the premium cabin departure tax so it can be a cost savings. (Starting in May, kids under 12 flying economy do not pay this tax at all.)
(HT: Traveling Better)
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Gary, thanks for the tip. I booked DFW-LHR roundtrip Nov 23-30. But note that on these dates flights numbers 50/51 are in the new “77W” lie flat seats but flights 78/79 are the old “777” configuration.