How would you like to save more than 50 percent on first class flights from New York to Los Angeles and a wide variety of other golf vacation destinations?
As I learned in this month’s issue of the First Class Flyer newsletter, it is shockingly easy. All you need to know is how to use frequent-flier miles and special airline offers to play the upgrade game, and that is where First Class Flyer comes in.
Here’s the secret that First Class Flyer revealed. By taking advantage of a special offer to purchase frequent flyer miles in conjunction with a regular discounted coach ticket, you can snag a first class upgrade for less than half the price of buying the first-class seat outright.
Let me explain: A domestic, round-trip upgrade on American Airlines requires 25,000 miles, plus a $100 surcharge. This month, American Airlines is running a mileage promotion where you can earn 1,500 bonus miles for every 5,000 miles you purchase, so for $625, you can purchase 32,500 miles, more than enough for the upgrade.
An economy ticket from Los Angeles to New York will set you back $268, bringing the total cost to $993 ($625 for the miles + $100 for the surcharge + $268 for the economy seat). But the regular first class fare for this flight is $2,108. Using this little trick would save you $1,115 — a full 53 percent!
In addition to the better seat, meals, priority boarding, baggage handling, etc., those on golf vacations will also avoid the annoying checked baggage surcharge (American charges coach flyers for every checked bag).
And here’s the icing on the cake: you will end up with at least 12,500 additional miles in your American Airlines account (more if you charge your flight on a credit card that accrues mileage), so you will be halfway toward another free upgrade.
This is but one of the many insider secrets to flying or upgrading to first class flights contained in First Class Flyer, written by Matthew Bennett, known in travel circles as “Mr. Upgrade.”
Matt’s sole mission is to help his readers get first class flights for less. Like our own flagship publication, Golf Odyssey, the advice in First Class Flyer can save you thousands of dollars by exposing the secrets and loopholes of the air travel industry.
I’m sure you’ve stood in front of your share of airline ticket counters while the attendant seems to go on forever pecking on the keyboard to find the right fare (like that memorable scene in the movie Meet the Parents)
Well, Matt and his staff essentially do that every day to uncover hidden bargains and anomalies in fare structures, code-sharing programs and the like. They also know all the ins and outs of all the frequent flyer programs so readers know when to use miles, and from which program.
First Class Flyer is one of the secret weapons that I rely on for finding first class flights at discount prices. If you fly a lot, too, and want access to Mr. Upgrade’s insider advice, you can get the current issue of First Class Flyer absolutely free.
Did you know? Golf Vacation Insider and Golf Odyssey are the world’s only golf publications that do not accept any advertising from golf courses, resorts, or restaurants and regularly travel anonymously in order to provide you with expert, unbiased, and trusted advice.
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