LifeMiles Adjusts Award Rates To Australia & New Zealand

@Lucky:

If you read the footnote at the bottom of the new chart, under footnote 2, it says "2 The changes in redemption mileage are unidirectional (from the region others)". Also if you read the wording carefully, it says "FROM Australia, NZ and Oceania" and the chart says "TO Europe, Asia....etc".

Does that suggest this change only applies if you originate from Australia/NZ, but not from other regions? So traveling TO Australia NZ remains unchanged?

Does Avianca let you fly LH via Europe to US? They do for Asia to US

@lucky

Would love to see a post summarizing how you view the current sweetspots of the major programs (both the transferable currencies and a few of the individual airlines). I understand it wouldnt be reasonable to do a comprehensive post of all programs to all regions, but maybe "I find myself most often tranfering Citi points to XYZ airline for redemptions in Asia and ABC airline for European flights, while for Amex/Chase I prefer XYZ".

Might be helpful to do seperate analysis by cabin since I imagine your readers fall into buckets (use redemptions Biz). What 1st class redemptions offer reasonable premiums anymore?

Love the blog though, just my $0.02.

Lucky, I can go to Europe with LifeMiles on Lufthansa or Austrian Airlines metal. Both in business, which would you opt for? I know you love Lufthansa, but I've heard great things about Austrian Airlines.

"there’s not a Star Alliance airline offering a first class product between the US and Australia anymore "

OK, but what about via connections on, say, ANA? Can't those be booked with LifeMiles?

@CJ - for biz class, I would go with Austrian, especially if you are traveling solo. They have the 1-2-1 layout and you can get the "window-window" seats for a decent amount of privacy and direct aisle access. Lufthansa First is exceptional, but I think their biz class is behind the times, at least when it comes to the hard product. I may be wrong, but felt soft product was pretty similar between the two, at least in my experience.

I've been waiting for another life Miles promotion for this very reason. Getting my parents in law to Europe and the us from Australia. I think Thai first class to Europe then pay to Usa. Then maybe Ana home.

This seems like a long lull between promotions or do you think its going to precede an offer?

And Lufthansa business is pretty average in my opinion. Lots of footsie!!!

Disappointing news. This will make alternatives more worthwhile.

Also, a minor correction: the largest one-way increase is 15,000, not 12,500.