Candy Spot Sunday: Fly Qatar enterprise from the U.S. to South Africa for 75,000 miles and $16
My favourite solution to redeem American Airways miles is to fly Qatar Airways one-way between the U.S. and Africa.
Specifically, I take pleasure in stretching my redemption to southern Africa to go to Johannesburg or Cape City. The miles value of this one-way in enterprise class is simply 75,000 American Airways miles. And, for a one-way from Chicago to Cape City by way of Doha, the taxes and charges come out to simply $15.70.
At the moment I’ll inform you extra about this redemption and provides step-by-step directions for reserving.
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Why it’s particular
All of Qatar’s long-haul enterprise class merchandise are pleasant. I’ve all the time loved my Qatar Airways enterprise class flights, from the meals and drinks to the cabin service.
Better of all, you possibly can sometimes fly its premier Qatar Qsuite enterprise class product on flights between the U.S. and Doha (and on another routes too). Flying Qsuite is a memorable expertise, particularly in case you’re touring as a pair and might snag two of the middle seats that cabin attendants could make right into a double mattress.
You possibly can redeem 70,000 American Airways miles plus minimal taxes and charges to fly Qatar Qsuite one-way between the U.S. and the Center East or Indian Subcontinent.
Whereas that’s an effective way to redeem American Airways miles in itself, you possibly can add a flight between Doha and a number of other African cities served by Qatar for simply 5,000 extra miles.
This implies you possibly can fly one-way between the U.S. and Africa for simply 75,000 AAdvantage miles and minimal taxes and charges. And in case you do not reside close to a Qatar Airways gateway, you might be able to discover an itinerary that permits you to join domestically within the U.S. for a similar value.
The simplest solution to examine whether or not your flight has Qsuite seating is to check out the seat map. I take advantage of ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s mother or father firm, Pink Ventures) to take action. For instance, a Qsuite A350-900 flight from Philadelphia to Doha would seem like this:
In the meantime, a non-Qsuite A350-900 flight from Doha to Cape City would seem like this:
In fact, there are different methods to fly in enterprise class to Africa utilizing factors and miles too. Take a look at our submit on the most effective methods to get to South Africa on factors for more information.
Associated: Brian Kelly’s ideas on flying Qatar Qsuite as a bunch of 4
How one can ebook this award
Fortunately, reserving this award is easy. And now that you may cancel and redeposit AAdvantage awards till departure for no value, there’s no hurt in reserving an award even in case you aren’t certain you’ll have the ability to take the flight.
That stated, I don’t advocate transferring factors into AAdvantage to speculatively ebook awards. In spite of everything, it’s possible you’ll be left with devalued miles if you find yourself needing to cancel your award.
You’ll be able to seek for award availability even in case you don’t have the mandatory miles. In spite of everything, in case you comply with the steps beneath, you received’t be requested to check in till the fifth step. Right here’s the way to discover award availability and ebook this candy spot.
Step 1: Begin your search on American’s dwelling web page
On American Airways’ homepage, choose the “A technique” possibility (even if you wish to fly round-trip, looking out and reserving one-ways could also be simpler) and click on Redeem miles. Enter your origin, vacation spot and dates and choose the variety of tickets you need. Then, click on search.
The subsequent web page will hopefully present some outcomes. If not, contemplate looking for fewer passengers or alter your origin, vacation spot or dates.
Associated: Approaching perfection: A overview of Qatar Airways’ Qsuite enterprise class on the 777-300ER, Doha to JFK
Step 2: Restrict your search to pick airways
Subsequent, you’ll wish to restrict your search to particular airways. In case you are flying from a metropolis served by Qatar within the U.S., it’s your decision solely to pick Qatar when deciding on airways. However, if you need or want to attach inside the U.S., you also needs to select the airline you wish to join on.
By deciding on solely Qatar Airways (or Qatar Airways and your connecting airline), you’ll remove different pesky choices. And doing so will assist as you progress on to the following step and seek for availability on completely different dates.
Associated: How one can ebook Qatar Airways flights with factors and miles
Step 3: Use calendar search to examine alternate dates (if wanted)
Subsequent, click on on Calendar to see a calendar of award availability. Then, click on on the “Present all courses” drop-down and choose “Enterprise/First.” Doing so will pull up a calendar search that solely reveals dates with enterprise class awards operated by the airways you chose within the earlier step.
If this calendar search doesn’t present any itineraries you want, it’s possible you’ll wish to return to Step 1 and seek for a ticket from a distinct airport or one other vacation spot (corresponding to Johannesburg as a substitute of Cape City).
I like to recommend looking out from a U.S. airport served straight by Qatar, together with:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL)
- Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS)
- Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD)
- Dallas-Ft. Value Worldwide Airport (DFW)
- Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX)
- Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA)
- New York John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK)
- Philadelphia Worldwide Airport (PHL)
- San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA)
- Washington-Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD)
Associated: Flying Qatar’s Qsuite enterprise class on the inaugural San Francisco flight
Step 4: Choose your award and examine the journey abstract
When you click on on a date on the calendar, you’ll see all of the awards obtainable for that day.
Click on on the award you wish to ebook and examine the journey abstract. Then click on “Log-in” and proceed.
Associated: What to do with 5,000 or fewer American Airways AAdvantage miles
Step 5: Log in, examine your passenger data and choose seats
You’ll must log in on the following display. Right here, you’ll need to enter the passenger info and journey contact info. Then click on proceed.
After your ticket is issued, I like to recommend calling American Airways to get the Qatar affirmation quantity. Then, you might be able to choose your seats on Qatar’s web site. In order for you particular seats that present up as blocked on the ExpertFlyer seat map, you’ll must name Qatar and ask them to unblock them. Qatar sometimes blocks the Qsuite quad seats for {couples} and bigger teams.
Associated: Candy Spot Sunday: How one can fly to Hawaii for simply 15,000 miles round-trip
Step 7: Evaluate your flight and pay
Lastly, you possibly can overview your itinerary one closing time and examine the associated fee in each miles and money.
You then’ll must pay for the taxes and charges in your award. I like to recommend utilizing a bank card that gives journey safety even once you solely use your card to pay for taxes and charges. My go-to alternative is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, however the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card can also be a good selection.
Associated: When to purchase journey insurance coverage versus when to depend on bank card protections
How one can earn miles for this award
Incomes sufficient American Airways miles might not be a difficulty for some American Airways loyalists. However for a lot of vacationers, essentially the most difficult a part of reserving this award could also be incomes sufficient American Airways miles. In spite of everything, the one main transferrable currencies that you may switch to American Airways are Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.
Transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors
You’ll be able to switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to American Airways AAdvantage at a 3:1 switch ratio. And Marriott provides you with a bonus 5,000 miles for each 60,000 factors you switch. However, even with the bonus miles, this switch ratio will be difficult to swallow.
After accounting for the 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors transferred, you’d must switch 180,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to ebook only one one-way award. To place this into perspective, you possibly can ebook every week at many mid-tier property with this quantity of factors.
Relying on what number of Marriott Bonvoy factors you may have and the way you sometimes redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors, transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors to American Airways could look like a horrible concept or an awesome concept.
If you wish to earn Marriott Bonvoy factors to switch and get Marriott-specific perks like elite night time credit and free night time certificates annually, it’s possible you’ll wish to apply for one of many following Marriott Bonvoy bank cards:
- Marriott Bonvoy Sensible™ American Specific® Card: Earn 150,000 bonus factors after you spend $5,000 in purchases inside the first three months of card membership. ($650 annual charge, see charges and charges)
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card: Earn 125,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 in purchases inside the first three months of card membership. ($250 annual charge, see charges and charges)
- Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Factors after you employ your new card to make $4,000 in purchases inside the first three months of card membership. ($125 annual charge, see charges and charges)
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card: Earn 100,000 bonus factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.($95 annual charge)
- Marriott Bonvoy Daring Credit score Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. (no annual charge)
Associated: Right here’s why you want each a private and enterprise Marriott Bonvoy bank card
Transferring Bilt Rewards factors
When you pay your hire with Bilt Rewards or spend on the Bilt Mastercard, you possibly can switch your factors 1:1 to AAdvantage. Factors switch from Bilt to AAdvantage immediately.
The knowledge for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Paying hire and mortgages with a bank card
Incomes with American Airways playing cards
In fact, you may as well use the cobranded American Airways bank cards to earn extra American Airways miles. You possibly can sign-up for a brand new card or spend on a card you have already got.
Right here’s a couple of American Airways cobrand playing cards to contemplate:
The knowledge for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Premium Choose Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: Maximizing redemptions with American Airways AAdvantage
Backside line
It’s comparatively simple to seek out Qatar Airways enterprise class awards. Positive, it’s possible you’ll have to be barely versatile together with your journey dates and U.S. gateway. However, even if you wish to journey with 4 or extra vacationers, it’s not not possible to seek out award availability.
Redeeming 70,000 American Airways miles for a one-way Qatar Qsuite flight between the U.S. and the Center East is a good deal, particularly contemplating you’ll must pay minimal taxes and charges on this award. And as you’ve got seen on this submit, it doesn’t value far more to go all the best way to South Africa from the U.S.
For charges and charges of the Amex Bonvoy Sensible, click on right here
For charges and charges of the Amex Bonvoy Bevy, click on right here
For charges and charges of the Amex Bonvoy Enterprise, click on right here
