I love international first class. Living on the East Coast, for trips to Europe, business class is ‘good enough’ but often the mileage premium when redeeming an award ticket isn’t very much between business and first class. Miles provide me with an opportunity to travel in a manner that I could never otherwise afford to pay for, and they’ve allowed the travel itself to become part of the experience and not just a ‘way to get there’.
I’ve certainly become spoiled over the years since I started redeeming for international first class awards, such that on longer trips I really don’t want to fly ‘just’ business class. I’ve accumulated enough miles, know about about the partner airlines, that most of the time when I’m flying more than 10 hours I do not need to. Sure, my next transatlantic trip is going to be in Air France business, not even one of the better business class offerings. But the flight isn’t that long and it’s convenient.
On the other hand over the past six years I’ve flown first class on Qantas, Singapore, ANA, Thai, Lufthansa, United, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Asiana, and Air Tahiti Nui to name just a few. For anything crossing the Pacific that’s the goal, and crossing the Atlantic I consider one of the better first class offerings to be worthwhile for the extra miles.
Take United’s awards to Asia, it’s 120,000 miles roundtrip for business class or 140,000 miles roundtrip for first class. That’s just an extra 10,000 miles each way for a bigger and more comfortable seat, better food, service, and amenities, and an overall more spacious and uncrowded flight experience. On the ground, service may also be substantially better, such as having an hour-long Thai massage in the Bangkok airport or being driven across the tarmac to the plane in a Mercedes or Porsche from Lufthansa’s first class terminal in Frankfurt (or from their first class lounge in Munich if taking a flight which departs from a non-gate position).
The problem is that in many cases it’s gotten much harder to secure first class awards than it was in the past, in part because fewer airlines offer a true first class product and those that do have fewer seats in their cabin (as business classes have gotten better and companies have been less willing to pay for the upgraded amenities of first) and partly because airlines have gone to great lengths to ‘protect’ their cabin for revenue sale rather than offering seats as awards.
I’ve been an advocate of American Airlines miles for obtaining first class award seats, not that I’m a huge fan of flying American’s first class (exceptionally available from Miami to South America) but because there’s excellent availability on the whole flying their partners British Airways (albeit with fuel surcharges), Cathay Pacific, and Etihad.
It’s gotten much harder of late using miles in Star Alliance programs, with the exception to miles in Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer since Singapore offers more award space to their own members than they do to members of partner frequent flyer programs.
If you are using United and US Airways miles, it’s downright tough to get first class awards anymore. Unless you know where to look.
Give up flying first class transatlantic.
Lufthansa used to offer amazing first class availability but no longer does. Outside of seats for their own members, and especially for their own elites, it’s very rare to see a first class award seat more than two weeks in advance.
The United website will sometimes show availability, but almost always it’s a mirage — phantom availability, an IT error — and the tickets won’t be able to be issued.
If you can wait until the last minute to make travel plans, or can change your flights close-in to departure, then Lufthansa’s availability is still good. But that’s not how most folks book travel.
Swiss also no longer offers first class awards to partner airlines, and often doesn’t even offer the awards within a couple days of travel either.
US Airways generally can’t book Lufthansa first class award seats even when they are being offered to partner airlines by Lufthansa, at least on transatlantic routes. And when Swiss makes award seats available (rarely!) US Airways seems to see one fewer seat than is actually being offered. I used to consider that a major drawback of US Airways miles, but since neither product is commonly available it’s not a huge differentiator with United. (Other things are — like one-way awards and the ability to make changes at lower cost, but then US Airways has its pluses like agents who don’t know geography and will allow routings they probably shouldn’t and sometimes for lower miles than ought to be required.)
With the disappearance of Lufthansa and Swiss first class space, and since airlines like Austrian, Scandinavian, Brussels, LOT Polish and US Airways don’t have first class cabins — that leaves United as the only Star Alliance airline consistently offering first class awards. But I don’t really want to spend extra for United first class, it’s a solid business class product but hardly ‘special’.
All Nippon First Class Can Still Be Booked
Back when ANA had 12 first class seats in their 777s, the old ‘SuperStyle’ first class flat recliners, getting a couple of first class award seats was doable most of the year. But those seats were pretty much gone by mid-2006. Once they started flying ‘New First Class’ availability dried up, both because they believed it was a better product (it was) and also because the 777 had only 8 seats, so a full one-third fewer on each aircraft. Award inventory opened up in early 2008 and was made available only in the Winter months predominantly January through March, and most easily on the Chicago followed by Washington Dulles routes.
This past year has been tougher. And as ANA has rolled out their ‘First Square’ even newer first class product, inventory except at the very last minute has been rare indeed.
However, the airline has added a second daily New York JFK flight. And that second flight (NH1009/1010, on top of NH9/10) has pretty good award space, at least for one passenger in first class. The flight operates a mix of New First (on the 777) and First Square (on the 77W) through mid-February. But beginning February 20 it appears to be operated daily by aircraft with the newest First Square first class product.
I’d say on average most of my award booking clients are coming to me six months or so out from travel, which also happens to be a good time to book awards overall.
So I had a look, with the help of Award Nexus (a great pay website for doing lots of award searches across many days at once), at award space for one person in first class on ANA’s non-stop JFK-Tokyo flights in April. And here’s what I found for April 1 – 29.
Asiana Brings Their New First Class Cabin to Chicago – to the Delight of Award Seekers Everywhere
Another outstanding product, though I haven’t had the opportunity to sample it yet, is Asiana’s new first class. I flew their old lie-flat recliner seats back in 2007, and then only their ‘new’ first after that — but they’ve just introduced an even better offering.
For a long time first class was gone from the Chicago – Seoul route, leaving only New York JFK (hard to get seats) and Los Angeles (leaving too early to connect from the East Coast same-day) as options. But first class is back for the Chicago flight, and availability is excellent. Here is April 1-29 again, this time for two passengers.
The Los Angeles flights are no slouch either. And since the 12:20am flight from LA to Seoul is now operated with an aircraft that has a first class cabin, it can be more easily used for trips starting from the East Coast as well.(Update: there were a couple of days that were showing phantom availability in first class on that flight, but the charge below is showing availability only for the afternoon flight.)
Air China Isn’t Singapore or ANA — But it’s Better Than United!
United of course flies several routes to Asia with a first class cabin, but as I say I don’t really consider the product to be aspirational. Whenever I mention Air China I get puzzled looks. But their new first class looks really quite nice and the airline has taken great strides towards offering a true first class inflight experience. Would I take Singapore or Asiana or ANA before taking Air China to most destinations (other than wanting a non-stop to Beijing)? Absolutely Would I take Air China over United, and be glad for it? Unquestionably.
While it can be tough to get award space on their JFK – Beijing flight, awards from their West Coast gateways are an easier proposition. Searching for 2 first class awards from San Francisco to Beijing yields the following options in April:
Finding two seats out of Los Angeles isn’t so easy. But if it’s only 1 person traveling, it’s an amazing sight to behold:
Yes, that is every day in the range I searched where a first class award seat is offered. Every. Day.
So it is still possible to get first class awards using United, US Airways, and other Star Alliance miles. You just need to know where to look. And of course this post is only looking at long haul routes departing from the US. There are options from Europe to Asia and intra-Asia as well.
Now, fair question: Do you find it worth spending the extra miles for first class?
I definitely think it’s worth it esp for Thai Ground Service. I just love the fact they pick u up in those golf carts. Food is so so. I think it’s worth the $75 change fee (for non-elites like me) to upgrade from a business to 1st class ticket on Lufthansa. I usually start looking for 1st class to open up 13 days in and check constantly on united and ANA. It’s a rush when you get it.
Talking about Singapore Airlines, I recently searched United’s Award space and it is impossible to find any business class availability on Singapore for flying to MLE or India for entire 2013 (up until Sept). How ridiculous is that?
Just booked LAX-ICN(OZ F)-SYD(OZ C), 80k miles + $38.10.
Was hoping to go ORD-ICN-SYD, but it pushed the miles required to 120k.
I’ve flew OZ F LAX-ICN last Sept, and thoroughly enjoyed it (plus get access to F lounge on the layover in ICN)
I pay the premium (miles) for F; I like the isolation when traveling alone.
Ref: post # 3 – using United miles, sorry.
Absolutely. Period!
Very interesting analysis Gary. I used to agree that AA and UA’s miles were the most valuable because they both allowed one-way tickets at half the round trip mileage required. However, it’s recently that I value AA’s miles over UA’s simply because obtaining first class award seats on Star Alliance is almost impossible, except for ANA whereas obtaining first class on CX and even EY with AA is a breeze. Would you agree that AA’s miles are more ‘valuable’ than UA’s since it’s easier to obtain first class partner award seats? You also mentioned that ‘untrained’ US Airways reps allow lower mileage than ought to be required. If such an award is issued, will US Airways honor the ticket even if the entire itinerary is already confirmed with the partner airlines?
I believe that OZ is switching the new first plane off the ORD route early-mid next year, right?
The new ANA flights out of JFK are NH1009/1010 and the existing ones are NH9/10. The NH7/8 flights are out of SFO.
Because I put quite a bit of spend on my credit card for business purchases, I never really feel the pinch on miles and always try to book first class over business. Having said that, even if I was struggling to get miles, I’d still try for first.
Living a solidly middle class existence, it’s rare that you get $14,000 value of anything, the fact that you can do it for $200 in taxes makes it very rewarding. e.g. On my last LAX-HKG flight, I calculated that I drank $1200 worth of Chateau Lynch Bages and Krug champagne.
Gary — I thought that some (most?) of Air China’s 3-cabin F seats were slanted flats. Is that not true?
Not worth it to me to spend for either first or business in almost all cases. Especially East Coast to Europe – e.g., for my 6.5 hours flight to London, coach is just fine – not much more than a transcon. All the way to SYD in QF coach was fine. Just get me to the destination! Maybe someday when I’m older and not in as great of shape I may prefer to fork over the extra for J or F.
I dont think I have seen Asiana or Air China availability ever show up on United. I have been searching pretty frequently for a ticket from LAX-BOM in Biz on any Star Alliance carrier for December and there is zero availability. For Air China and Asiana, do you have to call in to book assuming you find availability through a third party service (ie Award Nexus)
@Sandeep Award Nexus was searching the ANA website for me, if it shows on ANA that’s a good indication it’ll be available to United if you call
Now that I’ve tried CX F, I love first class. Thanks for including the LA departures; was the LAX – ICN information for two passengers?
@Gary: Thanks Gary! Good to know! Helpful as always!
@Gene – have a look, here’s their 777-300 which I believe flies LAX-PEK:
Gary–the answer to your question is…ABSOLUTELY!….the F experience is by bar unbeatable—and thankfully, as Americans, we are able to fly these F routes using miles, which outside of the U.S., is really hard to acquire (unless you are super duper rich)
@Beachfan – yes for 2 passengers
@seth you are correct I have fixed that 🙂
I don’t think the 12:20am flight on OZ 203 from LAX to ICN has an F cabin.
Well, I’ll be dam***…
@Goosh that’s correct, it looked like with the aircraft swaps that happen a few times in April that it was getting a first class cabin but they aren’t selling first (or offering first class awards) on that flight).
While the hard product on Air China certainly looks good, the soft product is usually pretty much average. In fact, I’d say it’s slightly below United.
I’ve flown business and even first regionally on Air China and the concept of service on mainland carriers is years behind those of other Asian carriers.
I plan to do this soon so I very much appreciate this blog post. Thanks Gary!
AA miles are way less valuable than UA mainly because AA’s routing rules suck. With UA, I can fly SFO-FRA-BKK-AKL if I were so inclined…or ORD-MUC-JNB-SIN with a stop on either of those along the way as one award. Try doing that with AA, who not only follows a MPM allowance, they won’t let you use a partner routing that’s not published. Plus, OW to Europe is non existent…fuel surcharges and APD on BA totally kill the value of any redemption!
if you don’t mind a detour, I find that TG offers good F space too. Only downside is that you have to do US-Europe-TG-Asia. Plus side is that from US East Coast it’s only barely longer routing.
@Whitney I did reference good availability Europe-Asia. The Thai Los Angeles flight (and I was focused on US departures) doesn’t have good availability in first
I’d love to fly the new OZ F…32″ monitor! And they have air nozzles. Too bad availability for 2 people isn’t as generous for ICN-ORD.
THAI? good availibility, and while in air service is not great, graet BKK service and suites on many routes.
@Gary I’ve flown longhaul TG, LH (748 to IAD since I’m DC based as well), UA, AA, CX, JL, BA, LA, and QR in J but never flown in F before. I do a lot of research before booking (frequently asking you, ben, and others about configurations on specific routes) in order to try and get the best seat possible. I care a lot more about the hard product than the soft product, therefore so long as I have a decent lie-flat I can’t imagine an F seat being that much better. Now, that being said I have the good problem of having way too many miles so maybe I’ll book a couple longhaul flights in F just to see what the difference is.
Also, I think it’d be really helpful if you had a similar post for longhaul flights in J!
Do you help your customers that you book awards for to search for andmake the close-in changes if Lufthansa F opens?
I read in the UA mileaga award rules that I can make a stopover and have 2 open jaws on a roundtrip award ticket. When I tried to do so, after 3 1/2 hours with the (very nice guy in the Phillipines), I was told you can do one or the other, but not both. Is this true???
I don’t usually spend miles for First or Biz if “Saver” coach is available. But, occasionally, Saver First or Biz opens up when only “Standard” (2x miles) coach is available. That’s when I feel I’m getting the amenities of First or Biz almost for free. (One way awards work very well with this strategy – for example BA First SFO-Europe; UA Biz Europe-SFO>)
I consider TPACs in business or first to add two days to my vacation. Arrive well rested and stress free. Get off the plane first and through passport control and go! No checked luggage hassles either.
Air China Forbidden Pavilion First is better (soft and hard) than UA Global First or AA First Suite though both are fine. I have my SFO/PEK seats booked for June 2013 when the 747 combi should be replaced with a new 777-300ER.
In business class, the new UA seats are “fair” if you’re a couple, but soft product is truly AWFUL! New CX J is great hard and soft. But my new hands down favorite is ANA’s new Business Staggered 777-300ER. GREAT seat, and the service and food is better than UA or AA first!
Europe, who cares! Not long enough to get a decent nights sleep anyway.
Wait wait… @Simon said he booked “booked LAX-ICN(OZ F)-SYD(OZ C), 80k miles + $38.10”
Not sure how this is possible with US miles, since it contradicts the partner award redemption chart.
Unless I’m missing something.
@viguera – I used UA miles. See post #4.
@viguera That sounds like United miles to me
I live in DC and would like to fly IAD to MUM or DEL (India) business (w/120k) or first (w/140k) in Jan-Feb 2013.
A good business class product would be great else would consider first. I have UR (and some United) and MR. Since star alliance award space is impossible to find, any suggestions would be appreciated.
Your best trip report anecdote was Mrs Leff doing yoga in the ANA F cabin. F is totally worth the extra miles.
@TJ In the time it took you to compose that post, you could have gone to the UA website and found that there is Star Alliance availability almost every day in January and February (literally every day in the case of BOM).
Gary, how are you getting the F availability ORD-ICN on Sundays? My ANA search is showing the F cabin only flies M/W/F.
@Arcanum – you’re correct and just revealed something interesting about AwardNexus, since there’s no first class cabin Award Nexus was showing the highest available cabin on the flight as available when I specified first. Should have dug deeper into the results rather than posting the graphic so quickly.
My wife and I flew Air China’s Forbidden Pavilion LAX-PEK on our way to Bali in September using UA miles. On our way back we flew in United F class from PVG-LAX. Air China’s F class is much better. So many United flight attendants clearly dislike their jobs. On our way to Bali next year we’re flying Asiana’s Quadra Smartium class to ICN (2 class plane). It looks nice on paper for business class miles.
Hm, based on my own experiences, I’m slightly baffled by the AA miles being more valuable than UA for first comments. I tried on several occasions to look for 2 seats on CX first from LAX-HKG (6-9 months in advance) and they never have it. Am I looking too early/late or missing a trick?
@Rita the LA flight is good for business tough for (more than 1 seat in) first. Try SFO
@Arcanum
I did – I am not able to get complete business or first – it’s a mixed bag with economy thrown in as well @160k miles. Sorry I am new and learning.
Yes, I would totally spend the extra miles for first class. The first time that we were first class was when there were no business class seats so I put in first just as a lark. Turns out there were some of those and not many more points. Loved it!
If you are on the United web site, how do you know if the Lufthansa seats are “phantom”? We are looking for 2 seats in September; there appears to be first seats on Lufthansa as well as Swiss. Would I have to call to confirm any seats?
simple question – obviously I’m a newby but I’ve done pretty good. BKK-FRA-LAX biz on Lufthansa was awesome, LAX-NRT-HND-BKK on ANA coach was unbelievable when compared to the crusty union folks on United. BKK to FRA on Thai coach was truly a disappointment. United to NRT in coach was pretty much a prison sentence but Asiana from NRT to BKK in coach was nice. BA from LAX to LHR and back on biz not up to the Asian product. Anyway, my simple question is what does soft / hard product mean?
All trips taken in the past year with United miles.
hard product = seat, soft product = service
ahhh…with that said the soft and hard on Lufthansa biz from FRA to LAX is fantastic (booked through United), the biz hard on BA (booked direct) to/from LAX – LHR has much to be desired when compared their Asian counterparts, it’s just an oversized seat, soft was very attentive. Next trip in June 13, will be on ANA biz class booked through United from LAX to BKK returning on Thai coach booked through the United also. I can’t wait to experience ANA, my past coach experience on ANA exceeded all expectation.
Gary,
Finding two F awards on ANA from NRT is proving impossible. In your experience do they open up an additional seat on the NRT-ORD route closer to the departure date? Thanks!