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5 Airlines, 5 Amazing ways to fly flat for 15,000 Points

a stuffed animal on a chair
American Airlines Business Class 777-200

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Get your Selfie Stick ready and your best Humblebrag caption primed. It’s time to pimp your Instagram out!

#blessed #Wanderlust #travel Your hashtag game is tight, but you need a few pics that really say – I’m killin’ it. Sure you could fly in a normal seat, with your back straight and your legs bent, but who’s going to double tap that pic? What you need is that first to board, turn left, lie-flat flair that you can only get from premium cabins. But, how are you going to do that without a grip of cash or points? You came to the right place. I’m going to show you how you can do it on various airlines, around the world, for less 15,000 points.

Yep, you can do it on Cathay Pacific. Keep reading.

a teddy bear sitting on a desk in an airplane

British Airways is an outstanding program if you know how to work it. Lets take a look at a few best uses of Avios.

British Airways Avios can be redeemed using a distance based chart. We’ll focus on the following zones.

  • Zone 1 is 1-650 miles
    • 4500 for economy, 2x for Business, 3x for First
  • Zone 2 is 651-1,151 miles
    • 7500 for economy, 2x for Business, 3x for First

This means you can redeem just 15,000 Avios to fly up to 1,151 miles in business class. Ahhhhhh – yes!

How do we get Avios, Miles?

Amex is offering a 40% transfer bonus. This means business class for less than 11,000 Membership Rewards. 

American Express currently has an amazing transfer bonus running until September 17th, 2017.  You’ll receive a 40% transfer bonus to British Airways. This opens up an entire world of opportunity to get yourself flying flat.  When you look at routes under 1,151 miles you begin to see a lot of potential options around the world that will set you back just 10,750 American Express Membership Rewards.a screenshot of a computer screen

If you’re short on Amex, you can transfer 1:1 from Chase

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5 Airlines, 5 Amazing ways to fly flat < 15,000 Points 

1) Cathay Pacific Business Class is one of the best in the air. Enjoy it intra-Asia for just 15,000 Avios. Here’s a look at what you’d have from Hong Kong to Bangkok

a stuffed animal on a seat

You want to make sure you’re flying on a 77W ( 777-300ER), and it has a first class as well. If it  has that…you’re good to go.

2) You can lie-flat domestically. American Airlines flies a 772 from Dallas to Miami

Miles enjoyed this cabin from London to Chicago last year, but you can kick back and relax on a domestic flight. It operates consistently between Dallas and Miami

a stuffed animal on a seat
American Airlines Business Class 777-200

Make sure your flight is a Boeing 777

3) Fly Flat intra Europe from Madrid to London Heathrow on Iberia’s A340

Why would you want to end your romantic holiday to Spain any other way? Get flat on your back!

Iberia Business Class
courtesy of Iberia.com

You want to make sure the route that you select is operated by the A340. You’ll pay a bit in added taxes, but you’ll enjoy one of the best ways to fly within Europe.

4) Japan Airlines will put you on your back Intra Asia.

I found this route from Tokyo to Shanghai which is serviced by a 787.  Cabins can vary as JAL has a few business class offerings. I flew one of them last year from Bangkok to Tokyo pictured in the middle. I recommend making sure your flight is outfitted with the Jal Sky Suite on the left

 

 

5) Qantas offers a great Business Class on the A330. Just 9000 Avios will put you flat from Melbourne to Sydney. 

Woah, 9000 Avios. That’s only 6500 Membership Rewards. a screenshot of a computer screen

a close-up of a seat
courtesy of Qantas.com

Granted this is only an hour and a half flight, but how can you beat it for so few points?

Unsure how to search and redeem Avios? Check out our Avios tutorial.

https://youtu.be/J97Ts_S44lE

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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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5 Comments

  • […] going? This route is currently serviced by an A340 and was listed by Miles himself as one of the 5 ways to fly flat for 15k points. Starting in June, the route will either feature an additional crew training flight, or will take […]

  • Jim August 2, 2017

    Good luck with Melbourne to Sydney, most flights are operated by 737s which have recliners, not flat beds or even angle flat. Only occasional flights are operated by the A330, and they can be swapped out anyway.

  • Tyler August 2, 2017

    Great post. Does Miles own his own selfie stick? 😛

    • Miles August 2, 2017

      Thanks homie! And yes he does…his name is Zach

      • Tyler August 2, 2017

        Hahaha

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