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re: International Flights - Premium Economy vs. Economy
Posted on 1/8/20 at 9:44 am to DukeSilver
Posted on 1/8/20 at 9:44 am to DukeSilver
quote:
Anyone have any insight on if the premium economy is worth it? I’m flying to Thailand and for 2 tickets round trip on economy it’s $1,500ish and for premium it’s $2,500ish.
This completely depends on your trip budget. If you are spending $4000 all in, I wouldn't say an extra $1000 for premium seats is worth it. But if you are spending $8-10k, I think different story. As said a lot of depends on your height and ability to sit for a long period.
You still are going to want to prep for the trip by getting some exercise before you fly, headphones, etc.
1
Posted on 1/8/20 at 10:28 am to DukeSilver
quote:
$1,500ish and for premium it’s $2,500ish.
It's nice to have, but not personally worth an extra $1k (assuming this is for 2 seats). I could do a lot more with that extra k, especially in Thailand.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 10:46 am to baldona
quote:Good point. I don't really have a set budget so wasn't even considering that as part of it, just a general "worth" to the upgrade on seats from people with experience, since I have none.
This completely depends on your trip budget. If you are spending $4000 all in, I wouldn't say an extra $1000 for premium seats is worth it. But if you are spending $8-10k, I think different story. As said a lot of depends on your height and ability to sit for a long period.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 10:47 am to speckledawg
quote:
It's nice to have, but not personally worth an extra $1k (assuming this is for 2 seats). I could do a lot more with that extra k, especially in Thailand.
I'm leaning this way. I should add that either way the flights will be booked fully with points, but I can still use the 100,000 points on a few nice nights somewhere in Thailand.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 12:04 pm to DukeSilver
quote:
I'm leaning this way. I should add that either way the flights will be booked fully with points, but I can still use the 100,000 points on a few nice nights somewhere in Thailand.
What points are you using BTW? It sounds like you're redeeming them for cash and you may have a better option, though I understand if you don't want to deal with that.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 12:08 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:They are AMEX points. I'm using them through the AMEX.com site directly which gives me a 1 to 1 value.
What points are you using BTW? It sounds like you're redeeming them for cash and you may have a better option, though I understand if you don't want to deal with that.
If there is a better way let me know. I know you can get a slightly better rate with some of their direct partners but I didn't find it was worth setting up a flyer account and transferring and doing all of that.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 12:47 pm to DukeSilver
quote:
I didn't find it was worth setting up a flyer account and transferring and doing all of that.
Only if you want to possibly get two or three times as much value for your points. Seriously. For example, I am flying roundtrip next month to Argentina in business class on Copa Airlines, by using 88,000 Amex points to transfer to ANA and booking the award through them. Those 88k points bought me a $2364 flight, but they would only buy $880 worth of flights booking your way
But award travel isn't the easiest thing to understand, because the rules are different for every award program, and there are often different rules for partner airlines, etc. Sometimes, with some airlines programs, you can end up paying substantial fees in addition to the points.
I'll do you a favor if you like. If you post your preferred travel dates, I'll do a little searching for you and see what's available.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 12:52 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:Thanks, that's much appreciated.
I'll do you a favor if you like. If you post your preferred travel dates, I'll do a little searching for you and see what's available.
We'll be leaving Feb 9th evening from IAH and flying in to BKK, and returning Feb 24th. The return date is somewhat flexible by a day or 2 if it's a substantial savings.
I have 285,000ish AMEX points.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 2:17 pm to GOP_Tiger
Nice, I booked two in ANA business Seattle - HND - IAH for 170k MR.
Of course I have to attach the end segments so it isn't perfect by any means but that's fine with me.
Of course I have to attach the end segments so it isn't perfect by any means but that's fine with me.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 2:19 pm to DukeSilver
Yeah, the prices for those flights are low enough that you aren't going to do any better on an economy flight that what you're already doing.
Here's a longer explanation, if you want it. IAH and BKK are both Star Alliance hubs, so that's where I searched for award availability.
I wanted to get you one direction in business class. The problem is that you don't have enough points for a roundtrip that way, though you are very close. The one program that's a Amex transfer partner that would make the most sense to use would be ANA, a Japanese airline that is part of the Star Alliance that partners with United, Thai, EVA, and others such as Ethiopian, Turkish, Egyptair, etc.
There is award availability in business class on United's PEK-SFO flight on the 24th, and there are connecting flights available in economy, so you could fly BKK-PEK-SFO-IAH and get that long transpacific flight in United Polaris, which is pretty nice.
The only problem is that the only business class avaiable on the 9th is going the other direction, flying on Egyptair or Ethiopian and connceting in CAI or ADD on your way to BKK. That would work with an ANA round-the-world award, but I believe that would cost 145k per person, and you are just short of that (plus, there would be some fees).
I am trying to do a mixed-class award on ANA where you fly over in economy and back in biz, and I can't make those flights work and I don't know why, but the total would be 216k + about $375 in fees.
Avianca's Lifemiles program isn't showing the availability, and Air Canada's Aeroplan website just isn't working. If I had more time, I would search more options for you, but the price that you are looking at in economy is good, so I'd advise you to go ahead and grab it.
Here's a longer explanation, if you want it. IAH and BKK are both Star Alliance hubs, so that's where I searched for award availability.
I wanted to get you one direction in business class. The problem is that you don't have enough points for a roundtrip that way, though you are very close. The one program that's a Amex transfer partner that would make the most sense to use would be ANA, a Japanese airline that is part of the Star Alliance that partners with United, Thai, EVA, and others such as Ethiopian, Turkish, Egyptair, etc.
There is award availability in business class on United's PEK-SFO flight on the 24th, and there are connecting flights available in economy, so you could fly BKK-PEK-SFO-IAH and get that long transpacific flight in United Polaris, which is pretty nice.
The only problem is that the only business class avaiable on the 9th is going the other direction, flying on Egyptair or Ethiopian and connceting in CAI or ADD on your way to BKK. That would work with an ANA round-the-world award, but I believe that would cost 145k per person, and you are just short of that (plus, there would be some fees).
I am trying to do a mixed-class award on ANA where you fly over in economy and back in biz, and I can't make those flights work and I don't know why, but the total would be 216k + about $375 in fees.
Avianca's Lifemiles program isn't showing the availability, and Air Canada's Aeroplan website just isn't working. If I had more time, I would search more options for you, but the price that you are looking at in economy is good, so I'd advise you to go ahead and grab it.
Posted on 1/8/20 at 3:07 pm to GOP_Tiger
quote:Geez, pretty eye opening how little I know about doing things like this for international flights and effectively using my points.
Yeah, the prices for those flights are low enough that you aren't going to do any better on an economy flight that what you're already doing.
Here's a longer explanation, if you want it. IAH and BKK are both Star Alliance hubs, so that's where I searched for award availability.
I wanted to get you one direction in business class. The problem is that you don't have enough points for a roundtrip that way, though you are very close. The one program that's a Amex transfer partner that would make the most sense to use would be ANA, a Japanese airline that is part of the Star Alliance that partners with United, Thai, EVA, and others such as Ethiopian, Turkish, Egyptair, etc.
There is award availability in business class on United's PEK-SFO flight on the 24th, and there are connecting flights available in economy, so you could fly BKK-PEK-SFO-IAH and get that long transpacific flight in United Polaris, which is pretty nice.
The only problem is that the only business class avaiable on the 9th is going the other direction, flying on Egyptair or Ethiopian and connceting in CAI or ADD on your way to BKK. That would work with an ANA round-the-world award, but I believe that would cost 145k per person, and you are just short of that (plus, there would be some fees).
I am trying to do a mixed-class award on ANA where you fly over in economy and back in biz, and I can't make those flights work and I don't know why, but the total would be 216k + about $375 in fees.
Avianca's Lifemiles program isn't showing the availability, and Air Canada's Aeroplan website just isn't working. If I had more time, I would search more options for you, but the price that you are looking at in economy is good, so I'd advise you to go ahead and grab it.
I really thank you taking the time to look in to that, very thoughtful and much appreciated.
I'll just book what I've got saved and then start doing some research in to all of this stuff to maybe be more prepared for my next international vacation.
Thanks again
Posted on 1/9/20 at 12:18 pm to DukeSilver
Here are a few links for you, if you want to start learning how to maximize value for those points:
Frequent Miler
The Points Guy
Million Mile Secrets
All three of these websites make money by getting you to sign up for credit cards, so keep that in mind.
The /r/awardtravel subreddit is also extremely useful.
Frequent Miler
The Points Guy
Million Mile Secrets
All three of these websites make money by getting you to sign up for credit cards, so keep that in mind.
The /r/awardtravel subreddit is also extremely useful.
Posted on 1/9/20 at 1:55 pm to tduecen
quote:
I've flown and just chosen a row with the escape door, always a couple more inches
To be fair most airlines are charging more for exit row seating.
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