One of the very best values on any airlines award chart is US Airways pricing between the US and North Asia, which costs just 90,000 miles roundtrip in business class. Best of all they let you route via Europe and even have a stopover there if youd like. Its funny because they charge 100,000 miles…
Continue reading: Vienna to Istanbul via Tokyo: Introduction
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Since Tokyo was your destination, don't understand why you treated it like a connection?
@Carl, he wrote that he's doing a direct turn in Tokyo so it's like a connection. Pretty sure it's meant as a joke.
A little off-topic - Is Virtuoso the (only) alternative to AmEx FHR for people who do not qualify because of their passports color?
There is also the luxury collection, offered by Chase.
https://explorelhrcollection.com/
It's a wannabe FHR.
I usually scour all 4 options before making my end choice, but it's usually virtuoso that comes out ahead.
I'm surprised you're a dividend miles gold member. Doesn't sound like you fly them that often.
@Romsdeals - I see LAX-IST availability quite often, but they go quick.
A lot of travel for 24 hour stays. I fly NRT VIE. Week in VIE and on to YYZ for a week both on new fab OS biz and then AC biz YYZ-NRT. Great for 90,000!
Off-topic, but I hate the new format of email daily digests. They are very confusing to me and loved the old format much better.
Totally off-topic, but FYI that the daily email digest (of which this is the first post) now only shows the first few lines of the post. I like the new style, but it looks like between yesterday and today someone tweaked something. I know the reason is to drive traffic to the site, but the "old way" was much more reader friendly.
How did you go about booking this itinerary? I got curious and started searching on US, but their site says there isn't a route JFK-NRT when searching from the award travel page. Did you have to call or did you construct as a multi-city and then book through an agent?
@ Carl -- Well because time was limited and I don't like trekking into Tokyo for a day. It's too far/expensive, and I'd much rather stay there for longer if I do go. I far prefer European cities for a one night overnight.
@ Chris -- There are some other programs, though none as rewarding. Those are the two best options.
@ RomsdeAls -- Yep, they have seven across seating in business class. Rarely does it open up between Los Angeles and Istanbul, though I see it once in a while.
@ Travel Summary -- I was gifted the status by a friend who's a Chairman's Preferred.
@ TheBeerHunter -- Every day!
@ M @ Steve W -- I wasn't aware of the change, so will look into it right away. Sorry about that!
@ Ed -- In this post I outline how to book a similar award:
https://onemileatatime.com/reward-programs/airline-rewards/aadvantage/
You can't use the US Airways site to search space since they only display US Airways award space.
@ jack -- You're allowed one stopover for as long as you'd like. Any other layovers enroute must be less than 24 hours.
Zach, John K - I guess you didn't understand the irony of the "different color passport" 🙂 These options are only available for US folks.
Not all of the readers here are US based. I guess Virtuoso is the only option and as Lucky said not as rewarding.
Thank you.
Just booked Bristol for June weekend (The KL deal!). Virtuoso rate for most basic room is $165 per night with upgrade upon avail., breakfast and one way airport transfer. While $130 is much better, the Virtoso rate is not that bad.
@ Chris -- Vienna is generally a pretty depressed hotel market, so that sounds about right. Just wish their amenity was more useful than a one way airport transfer.