Remember that Delta limits the number of
award seats per flight, though, so you may want to book early for peak season.
During the recession they would consistently release two first class
award seats per flight.
Lufthansa regularly releases two to four business class
award seats per flight between Washington and Frankfurt.
Availability is still very good, though typically there are two first and two to four business class
award seats per flight.
Airlines release a limited number of
award seats per flight, so if you have a large family and all want to travel together, it may not be possible to find enough award availability.
Airlines typically only offer a certain number of
award seats per flight, so your itinerary options will be more limited than if you were paying cash for your ticket.
Typically Cathay Pacific, for example, releases only ONE First Class
award seat per flight until a few days before the flight.
Not exact matches
Considering the currently -
awarded amount to the two main Commercial Crew partners stands at $ 7.964 billion — and that's before a single astronaut takes flight — plus $ 58 million
per seat thereafter, it's hard to make any argument that Commercial Crew was ever about saving money.
Most airlines just release 1 to 2 premium cabin
seats per route so even if you're incredibly aggressive with searching for
award seats, you may never have a chance.
Virgin's Elevate program is based on a «points
per dollar» system, so the number of points needed to redeem for
award travel vary based on price and
seat availability.
Those include free upgrades confirmed up to 48 hours before departure; free access to extra-legroom Economy Plus
seating; equivalent Gold status in United's Star Alliance, with lounge access on international trips; two free checked bags; Preferred Access priority treatment for security and boarding; and eight
award miles
per dollar spent on United air fares.
Under the expanded Qantas - American Airlines arrangement customers will be able to fly Qantas» reconfigured B747 - 400 six times
per week on the San Francisco - Sydney route; featuring the same product found on the airline's A380s, including Marc Newson's fully - flat Skybed in Business,
award winning Economy cabin and large
seat - back screens with over 1500 entertainment options.
These
awards are very difficult to obtain if you are using miles with a partner like United Airlines because there are only 8
seats per plane, and Lufthansa opens
award space just two weeks before departure.
Or you could get a United first - class
award seat, which is going to cost you 160,000 miles
per roundtrip but has better availability.
Tickets on Delta Airines are pricey; a business class
award seat to Europe, for example, will cost you 125,000 miles
per roundtrip.
If all programs did is increasingly bonus higher revenue fares (United already did this with changes to their program for 2012) and provide the option to book any
seat desired with points at a fixed - value
per point based on fare (in parallel to the
award chart) this would be no big deal.
Meanwhile Cathay Pacific is really generous with business class
award space in advance, often releasing up to five
seats per flight when the schedule opens.
For $ 25
per flight (on select, but most, airlines I'll monitor the
award space in either economy, business or first class, or a specific
seat assignment or fare code.