If you've tried to redeem American AAdvantage miles for travel over summer between the US and Europe you've probably noticed the lack of good options. American is releasing virtually no premium cabin award space, while British Airways has some space, though imposes huge fuel surcharges regardless of which airline you book through.
Continue reading: Air Berlin Business Class Award Availability Wide Open!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Hi Ben, if you book these using Avios can you have the stopover like using AA miles?
Thanks
@ Steve -- British Airways charges for awards on a per segment basis based on distance, so you pay for each segment separately (which means you can have as many stopovers as you'd like, but you'll pay for each of them).
Have you verified that the award space is actually there? I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the AA award calendar showed some availability on Air Berlin from USA to Germany but each time I clicked on a itinerary I got the error that basically it was no longer available, try again. None of the choices that included Air Berlin were actually there and I tried ones from Chicago to Berlin and also Miami to Berlin; many different itineraries.
@ Buddy M. -- In this case it shows as available through both American and British Airways, so should actually be available. In my experience when it was phantom space it only showed on one or the other.
I'm in coach Chicago to Berlin in August. What will it take to upgrade 2 tickets to business class? More miles and a fee? Thanks!
This is not only great news for now but especially in the future as most award travel availability from airlines seem to be goingthe opposite way (like AA). This imo makes my Avios points more valuable. I would love to go AA but (1) availability and (2)accumulating AA award miles seem definately hard for me (especially as I don't fly for work). Is there any other way to accumulte AA awards or it it better to stick with the avios route? Thanks.
I actually just booked my first business seat on Air Berlin last night! I hope you are right on the lie flat beds - when I went to choose a seat on the air berlin website it was showing 2-4-2 configuration, but with the seats that are blank on your picture as occupied. I guess that's how they prevent people from booking seats that don't exist!
Lucky,
Just want you to know that you really do put out a good product everyday. I am relatively new to the game, only a year, but i have gravitated to this blog because the content, your demeanor, and responsiveness is high quality. Your insights allowed me to travel to Europe recently first class in Lufthansa and Business class in Aer lingus on the way back for a small number of miles. Not to mention that i would never have figured that out without your posts. So again, thanks. You deserve every dollar you make on this blog.
Disclaimer- I am not Lucky's mom or dad.
I tested a few dates and found that all that I tested (random saturdays in summer) have phantom availability. I need that DUS > LAX flight but I can't seem to pin down the Milesaaver award. Am I correct to assume that Experflyer's award alerts won't work for the non-stop AB flight?
Quick logistical question: I was looking for AB business award seats for any random date, from DUS-JFK, one way. On aa.com, I found availability in business (and economy) for a particular date. But on britishairways.com, it said there was no availability at all for the same date. Does that mean that I just have to call BA to book on the phone because their website is inadequate, or does that mean BA doesn't allow that booking on AB, period? If AA says the award seats are available, should BA's actual availability always match, or is that not the case? Thank you for your help.
@ Raist -- You're far too nice, thanks for the kind words. That's the most rewarding thing I can hear about my "job." 🙂
Here's to many more trips!
@ Eric N -- Correct, unfortunately ExpertFlyer availability alerts won't work for Air Berlin.
@ TS -- It could be that it's phantom award space, or it could be that BA's website is incorrectly not displaying it. The only way to know for sure is to call.
Lucky, a ton of this space is phantom, at least in Sept. when I was trying to book. When you go through to actually book the space AA will come back with "space is no longer available" or something to that affect. Also confirmed with phone rep. Had to double check with BA website which seems more accurate and there was very little space available. Also, confirmed with a phone rep from AA. Hope this gets fixed.
Lucky read you everyday and learn
I just booked 2 tickets in biz class JFK- BERLIN for end of Aug. total 80k and $5.00 fee -TKS!!
Now that I am booked --how is Air BERLIN ?? -- as good as UA ?
Lucky，I'm trying booking the return flight from Germany back to US next Oct. But there is no flight at all from Avios for Air Berlin. Will the space be opened later?
@ Stan -- Awesome, happy to hear you were able to book! Looks like a good product to me, I'll be reviewing it in the next month, so stay tuned for that.
@ JUN CHEN -- While there's no guarantee, I'd say there's a good chance of space opening up between now and then.
Lucky -- where did those seating charts you pulled up for air berlin business come from? When I go to check on the ab web site, it shows a more confusing configuration.
@Larry, I actually was curious about the same thing a few weeks back. See my FT post where it's explained:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/airberlin-topbonus/1511893-airberlin-seating-confusion.html
You forgot Miami. The Miami-Berlin route is also being upped to a daily service starting in May.
Hi everyone, unless you are sure that you will book yourself in the NEW Business Class I would not fly on Air Berlin in Business. Their seats are only angled and do not offer much room. I know that they refitted the C Class on all flights to Abu Dhabi because Etihad wanted them to since they offer Code Shared flights.
Please put DATE at the top..,first...obvious
I tend to read you at 1:00 2:00 AM
Minor. but groggy brains need all the help we can get
With love
Hi Ben, Lucky? Sorry
I am taking my adopted daughter and wife on a very special trip. Long story. We are flying from Miami to Dusseldorf on March 1. I have 50k avios miles and about 100k chase miles. I have some other scattered miles as well. It would be special if we could upgrade the tix from coach for the flight as we have never flown that way. I signed up for an AB frequent flier account....for what thats worth. How do I surprise them with this luxury? Can i transfer some miles into my new AB account and pull it off. Is it worth it? Any help would be greatly appreciated? I would even pay you for the advice. I hope thats not an insult?! Anyway, I hope you read this and cheers sir. I just found your site and dig. Cheers my man. [email protected]
@ Richard -- You can outright redeem Avios for business class tickets on airberlin, though there's no way to upgrade an airberlin flight using British Airways Avios. So if you haven't yet ticketed the reservation, I would see if there's availability for a reward ticket using Avios. Only way you can upgrade. Enjoy the trip!
Ben, long time reader of the blog. I'm planning a trip to Europe for 3 sometime between April 20 and may 22 of 2016 for about 9 or 10 days
I'm looking to us AA miles since I'd prefer non stopstop flights and I'm based in Miami. However, all the airberlin space that I use to see from Miami to DUS is not there now. Is there a time period during which AB releases space, like LH and their release of first class space 14 days before departure?
My back up is Brussels airlines out of JFK which has a ton of availability to BRU in April but that requires more connections.
Any advice is appreciated.
Forgot to mention, I also have about 200k points that I can transfer to Kris flyer from my prestige card and my ink card.