I don’t have all of the details, since I can’t find anything published on the Iberia website, but you should receive a 50% discount when redeeming Avios this weekend on Iberia reward flights. (the cash amount will remain unchanged)

• Booking Period – May 6-7, 2023
• Travel Period – May 8 – June 30, 2023 and September 1 – December 15, 2023

I believe that you will only see the discount on Iberia flights (including Iberia Express, Air Nostrum and Iberia Regional). You will NOT receive a discount on any partner reward flights – no Oneworld partners, British Airways or even Vueling or LEVEL.

All cabins, including Business Class and Premium Economy, are included in this promotion, so you can potentially fly Business Class to Madrid for 17,000 Avios each way!

Bottom Line

Time to get booking!

Since Iberia Plus has a reasonable 25 euro (or $40 if you book in US dollars) award cancellation fee, there’s no excuse for not making a speculative booking or two this weekend.  There is no disadvantage to booking one-way flights (apart from the extra cancellation fees) if you want to maintain maximum flexibility.

Let us know in the comments section if you manage to book something fantastic…

The post Two Days Only! 50% Discount on Iberia Award Flights appeared first on InsideFlyer.

It has been nearly a year since Book with Confidence was ended. Nonetheless, there are undoubtedly many eVouchers that haven’t been redeemed yet.

(even though the BA website still refers to Future Travel Vouchers, I believe that most, if not all, of these have already been converted into eVouchers…)

Lost Track of Your Vouchers?

Luckily, British Airways has implemented a functionality that will help. You simply must visit this British Airways webpage.

You then enter your email address and, within seconds, you should receive an email from British Airways detailing your outstanding eVouchers.

Bottom Line

This extension was always likely; British Airways wouldn’t want to risk the wrath of the British press by making vouchers expire worthless. However, I’m a bit surprised that this announcement has come so soon, rather than hope that some voucher holders will feel pressured to spend them ASAP.

Do you have any outstanding British Airways vouchers? Or have you spent them already? Let us know in the comments section…

The post British Airways Extends the Life of “Book with Confidence” Pandemic Vouchers appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Going forward, Flying Club members must pay:

• Economy return flight (Europe & Central/Eastern USA to Tokyo) – 65,000 Virgin points
• Economy return flight (Australia & Western USA to Tokyo) – 60,000 Virgin points
• Business return flight (Europe & Central/Eastern USA to Tokyo) – 95,000 Virgin points
• Business return flight (Australia & Western USA to Tokyo) – 90,000 Virgin points
• First Class return flight (Europe & Central/Eastern USA to Tokyo) – 170,000 Virgin points
• First Class return flight (Australia & Western USA to Tokyo) – 145,000 Virgin points

This Could Have Been Worse…

With Virgin Atlantic joining Skyteam, this redemption option could easily have disappeared overnight, instead of merely being devalued. It appears, therefore, that the Business Class sweetspot will remain for awhile longer – 45k – 47.5k points each way is still an incredible bargain!

And since Flying Club partners with all of the major transferable points currencies, you can still pick up 170,000 Virgin points quite easily – your main problem will still be finding that elusive award space…

The post Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has Devalued its Number One Sweetspot! appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Only the points element is discounted – you will still pay the full amount of taxes and fees. (which are substantial) But you can book any cabin, including Upper Class. You can also use any 2-for-1 certificates you might have.

Not every Virgin Atlantic route is included. The U.S. destinations on offer are:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• New York (to both London and Manchester)
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Tampa
• Washington DC

You also travel between London and Antigua, Islamabad, Lahore, Mumbai and Tel Aviv.

Award space is usually decent because Virgin Atlantic guarantees 12 award seats on every flight – 2 in Upper Class, 2 in Premium Economy and 8 in Economy Classic. But much of the Upper Class award space might already be gone – these flights have been available for booking for months now…

How to Top-up Your Virgin Points Balance

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are available by converting from the major transferable currencies –  American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, etc.  You can also convert Marriott Bonvoy points, although that isn’t necessarily the best use of those…

How to Reduce Taxes & Fees Slightly

Reward flights departing from the United Kingdom have lower fuel surcharges than those departing from the United States.  So, you can save a substantial amount by booking your itinerary as one-way flights, instead of a return trip from the U.S.

Unfortunately this promotion won’t work on partner airlines such as Delta, ANA etc. that have lower or non-existent fuel surcharges…

Bottom Line

Because of the high surcharges, you will definitely want to compare any reward ticket pricing with a standard revenue ticket.  The savings might not be substantial.

Nonetheless, it’s better to spend 30% fewer points on your reward flight(s) if you are planning to fly to London this spring…

The post Save 30% on Virgin Atlantic Reward Flights appeared first on InsideFlyer.

In general, members are being offered the opportunity to buy one additional level of status from the one you are currently on track to earn / retain.

For example, if you are currently on track to becoming a Gold member in 2023-2024, then you would be offered the chance to buy Platinum status…

It is worth highlighting that I am currently a Platinum Pro member. I have received an offer for Platinum status, which is actually a downgrade.  As a result, these offers are based on your expected status for next year, not to maintain or upgrade your current status.

Why These Offers are Terrible

Everybody’s offer is individualized.  Moreover, it changes over time – the cost typically decreases as you get closer to the number of Loyalty Points needed for the next level of elite status.

It is obvious, however, that your typical InsideFlyer reader is NOT the target market for these offers.  It doesn’t really matter whether your target is $1,449 for Platinum status or $4,100 for Executive Platinum status. The only people who should be considering these offers are people who spend roughly 5 minutes a month thinking about their level of elite status.

Everybody else can read this article about acquiring Loyalty Points cheaply – click here.

Taking my personal offer, I need 42,000 Loyalty Points to reach Platinum status for next year.  This would cost me just over $1,000 by booking no-show hotel stays via Rocketmiles.

AND, and this is a big AND…  I would also add 42,000 miles to my balance of redeemable miles by booking those no-show hotel stays.  So, not only would I earn Platinum status more cheaply, but I would pick up enough miles for a free flight or two…

Bottom Line

If you receive an email from American Airlines offering you the chance to “lock in your 2023 status”, ignore it…  (or read it and enjoy a quick laugh)  It isn’t for you… you can buy your preferred level of 2023 status far more cost-efficiently.  (click here to read how)

The post Why American’s Buy-Up Status Offers are Terrible appeared first on InsideFlyer.

One of the major attractions of the airline alliance system is that you can earn your status with one airline, yet enjoy the benefits while flying another. So, you might be a regular traveller on United or Lufthansa or Avianca, but decide to credit your flights to Miles + Bonus for the easiest route to Star Alliance Gold…

The standard benefits for Star Alliance Gold members are:

• Airport lounge access
• Priority boarding
• Priority check-in at Business Class desks
• Fast track security
• Extra baggage allowance
• Priority baggage handling

Qualification

Reaching Gold status with Miles + Bonus – equivalent to Star Alliance Gold – is a two-stage process.

First, you must earn Silver status. Silver status can be reached via two different methods:

• Earn 24,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• Earn 12,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown TWICE on Aegean or Olympic Air

You have a rolling 12-months to collect the required number of miles.

Once you reach Silver status, a new 12-month period will immediately begin. To upgrade your status to Gold, you must:

• Earn 48,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• Earn 24,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown FOUR times on Aegean or Olympic Air

Renewal

Once you reach Gold status, your 12-month renewal period begins immediately. To retain your Gold status, you are required to complete:

• 24,000 Tier miles on ANY Star Alliance airline
• 12,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline AS LONG AS you have flown FOUR times on Aegean or Olympic Air

What is Changing?

Starting on June 1, 2023, the mileage needed will change – but only for those who do NOT fly 2/4 times on Aegean or Olympic Air.

• Silver will require 35,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline – both for earning and for renewing
• Gold will require 70,000 Tier miles on any Star Alliance airline – both for earning and renewing

Bottom Line

The easiest way of earning and retaining Star Alliance Gold status has essentially involved an annual trip to Greece. For Europeans (and especially Greek residents), this is relatively easy to organize.

But if you are based in North America and have held Gold status since the early days of easy qualification, you are now likely to lose your elite status unless you can plan an annual trip to Greece. which would allow you to continue re-qualifying with only 12,000 Tier miles per year.

Are you a Miles + Bonus elite status member? Let us know your thoughts of this change in the comments section…

The post Aegean Miles + Bonus Makes it Harder to Earn Elite Status (for Some) appeared first on InsideFlyer.

As always, it is your cumulative spend that matters. If you choose to chase these spend targets by booking hotels, the date of booking is what matters, not the actual travel date…

American Airlines AAdvantage

American AAdvantage eShopping is offering a bonus of up to 1,000 miles for purchases made by January 19, 2023. You can earn:

• 500 bonus miles when you spend $200
• 1,000 bonus miles when you spend $400

United Airlines Mileage Plus

United MileagePlus Shopping is offering a bonus of up to 1,000 miles for purchases made by January 18, 2023. You can earn:

• 500 bonus miles when you spend $150
• 1,000 bonus miles when you spend $300

How to Reach Spending Targets Easily

You might not be an avid online shopper. But if you regularly read InsideFlyer, you surely love to travel. And one of the benefits of these shopping portals is that you can earn miles from booking hotel stays at major chains. The exact hotel chains and / or Online Travel Agencies might vary from portal to portal, but you can usually find one that works for you.

Of course, you might be able to get a higher rebate by using a cashback website – such as Topcashback – instead of earning miles from an airline. But these bonus miles might just make it worthwhile to use an airline’s online shopping portal this January…

The post Earn 2,000 Easy Bonus Miles from American and United appeared first on InsideFlyer.

To avoid losing your status – retaining it until December 2023 – you are required to earn the following number of base miles between January 13 and April 13, 2023:

• MVP members — 5,000 miles
• MVP Gold members — 10,000 miles
• MVP Gold 75K members — 20,000 miles

Of course, there are a few terms to be aware of:

• You must have had MVP, MVP Gold, or MVP Gold 75K status, on January 1, 2022
• If you were in the middle of a status challenge on January 1st, you must have successfully retained it
• You need to earn BASE miles on Alaska and its partner airlines – status and cabin bonuses do NOT count
• A minimum of two segments must be flown on Alaska marketed AND operated flights
• Award travel does not count
• Members who retain MVP Gold 75K status as part of this offer aren’t eligible for the bonus miles or American SWUs ordinarily earned from qualifying for MVP Gold 75K
• You cannot retain MVP Gold 100K

Bottom Line

With this offer, you can maintain your current status by earning roughly 25% of the normal requirement in 25% of a year.  However, because you will be flying in 2023, those same miles will also be counting for your (re)qualification for 2024.  Click here for more details.

Therefore, any Alaska elites about to lose their current level of status should definitely sign up for this promotion…

The post Alaska is Offering an Elite Status Retention Promotion appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Beginning on March 1, 2023, AAdvantage will add 11 additional tiers of rewards. These Loyalty Point Rewards will offer additional benefits and perks.

As before, you will accumulate Loyalty Points between March 1 and February 28 (of the following year). Unlike previously, there is no requirement to fly a minimum number of segments.

15,000 Loyalty Points

Group 5 boarding for the membership year, with the choice of the following:

• Priority check-in, security, and Group 4 boarding for one trip
• Five preferred seat coupons

40,000 Loyalty Points

AAdvantage Gold status.  (this is an increase from 30,000 Loyalty Points)

60,000 Loyalty Points

Receive Avis Preferred Plus status and get a 20% Loyalty Point bonus on spending with the following partners:

• American Airlines Vacations
• American Airlines Hotels
• AAdvantage eShopping portal
• AAdvantage Dining portal
• SimplyMiles

(This will be brilliant for those of us who earn Loyalty Points from online shopping and hotel booking…)

75,000 Loyalty Points

AAdvantage Platinum status.  (no change from the current threshold)

100,000 Loyalty Points

Receive Avis Presidents Club status and get a 30% Loyalty Point bonus on spending with the following partners:

• American Airlines Vacations
• American Airlines Hotels
• AAdvantage eShopping portal
• AAdvantage Dining portal
• SimplyMiles

(This will be brilliant for those of us who earn Loyalty Points from online shopping and hotel booking. Retaining status is looking easier and easier…)

125,000 Loyalty Points

AAdvantage Platinum Pro status. (no change from the current threshold)

175,000 Loyalty Points

You will be able to choose one of the following:

• Two systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 bonus miles (25,000 for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• Six Admirals Club day passes
• $200 Trip Credit ($250 for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• Carbon offset
• $250 donation to one of 10 partner charities
• 15% one-time award rebate
• Gift of Gold status (gift to two people)
• 35,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience

200,000 Loyalty Points

AAdvantage Executive Platinum status. (no change from the current threshold)

250,000 Loyalty Points

You will be able to choose two of the following:

• Two systemwide upgrades
• 20,000 bonus miles (30,000 for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• Six Admirals Club day passes
• Admirals Club individual membership (requires both choices)
• $200 Trip Credit ($250 for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• Carbon offset
• $250 donation to one of 10 partner charities
• Gift of Gold status
• Bang & Olufsen products (requires both choices)
• One Flagship Lounge single-visit pass (Two passes for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• 35,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience

400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Points

When you cross the 400,000, 550,000 and 750,000 Loyalty Point thresholds, you’ll be able to make two choices from the following menu:

• One systemwide upgrade
• 25,000 bonus miles
• Admirals Club individual membership (requires two choices)
• $200 Trip Credit ($250 for AAdvantage credit card holders)
• Carbon offset
• Gift of Platinum status
• Bang & Olufsen products (requires both choices).
• Two Flagship Lounge single-visit passes
• One Flagship First Dining visit pass
• 40,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience

1 million Loyalty Points

You will be able to choose one of the following:

• Four systemwide upgrades
• Gift of Platinum Pro status
• 100,000 mileage rebate
• 150,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience
• Carbon offset

3 million Loyalty Points

You will be able to choose one of the following:

• Six systemwide upgrades
• Gift of Executive Platinum status
• 300,000 mileage rebate
• 350,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience
• Carbon offset

5 million Loyalty Points

You will be able to choose one of the following:

• Ten systemwide upgrades
• Gift of Executive Platinum status
• 500,000 mileage rebate
• 550,000 miles off a Mastercard Priceless experience
• Carbon offset

Bottom Line

With United and Delta announcing increases in their thresholds for earning elite status, it is nice to see American stick with the current thresholds. (except for an increase in the requirements for Gold status, which hopefully isn’t an issue for most readers)

I’m most excited about the 20/30% bonuses on AA Hotels and AA e-shopping – that should make re-qualification even easier in 2024 and beyond…

What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments section…

The post American Airlines AAdvantage Adds “Loyalty Point Rewards” appeared first on InsideFlyer.

• Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) only  OR
• Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) AND PQPs

For the uninitiated, ONE PQP is essentially $1 spent on airfare.

Status Head Start

If you already hold elite status with United, you will start the year with some complimentary PQPs…

For the avoidance of doubt, doing a status trial with United does NOT get you these extra PQPs.

Award Travel Counts

As of 2023, award tickets will help you earn elite status:

• When redeeming United MileagePlus miles ONLY for travel on United and United Express ONLY
• You will receive one PQP for every 100 United miles redeemed
• You will receive one PQF for every United or United Express award flight
• If an award includes travel on both United and one or more partners, the number of PQPs earned will be calculated as a percentage of the total distance flown (i.e. only the % flown on United as a % of the total miles redeemed for the award)

Award flights will NOT, however, count for lifetime status purposes.

Credit Card Spend

You will also be able to earn PQPs from credit card spend.

• United Quest Cardholders can earn up to 6,000 PQPs
• United Club Infinite Cardholders can earn up to 8,000 PQPs
• United MileagePlus Chase Cardholders will continue to earn 500 PQPs per $12,000 spent
• The maximum number of PQPs you can earn across cards each calendar year is 15,000 PQPs

Bottom Line

Unlike American Airlines and Delta Airlines, you cannot earn United’s top tier status solely through credit card spend. You can, however, get much of the way to 1K status through credit card spend, assuming that you manage to fly 54 times in 2023!

The post What are the Changes to United’s 2023 Elite Status Requirements? appeared first on InsideFlyer.