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Economy Sweet Spots Within United States
Welcome to my first blog! The number one thing people ask me on how to use miles is how they can travel to see family within the United States. This guide will be specifically for economy, to get from point A to point B the cheapest. I am specifically avoiding including dynamic award programs (United, Delta, Air Canada, and American Airlines) because their value will fluctuate with cash prices. So although they could provide good value, they would never provide great value.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan
The best sweet spot hands down within short to medium distances is Alaska Airlines
Mileage Plan. Mileage plan has the best short distance award chart PERIOD.
Between 0-1400 miles, Alaska Airlines clock in at or less than 7,500 miles. For
their own metal, their taxes and fees comes in at the $5.60 the TSA charges per
passenger. If miles are set equal to 1 cent per point, this means that for flights
up to 700 miles, they cost $55.60 one way. Between 701 and 1400 miles, it will be
$80.60 one way. In a lot of cases, this will represent fantastic value, even comparable
to budget airline flights. What's more, Alaska Airlines doesn't charge a change fees
when changing or cancelling award tickets on their own metal.
Now, you might be thinking, "Hey, I don't live on the west coast so I don't fly on
Alaska Airlines." The good news is that Alaska Airlines is a part of the Oneworld Alliance,
meaning that they are able to book American Airline flights.
This is a fantastic deal, even with the partner award fee for American Airlines coming in at $12.50. Doing the same calculations, the flights under 700 miles comes to $57.50 and flights between 701 and 1400 miles cost $87.50. There is no change fee if you change flights with the same operating carrier. Unfortunately, the partner booking fee is nonrefundable if you do decide to change your ticket.
Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles
The next up is a Star Alliance power house, Turkish Airlines. Despite devaluations, the award chart
within the United States still pose a great value.
Any award within the United States cost 10,000 miles plus $5.60 in TSA fees. By in the United
States, I mean IN the United States. This means from East coast to Hawaii and Alaska
all for the cost of 10,000 miles and $5.60. Now, again, you might be thinking, well Turkish
Airlines doesn't fly within the United States. Fortunately, United Airlines do. These awards
apply to Star Alliance partners, which United Airlines is a part of. When calculating total cost
with 1 cent equal to 1 mile, this comes up to $105.6 one way. Name a time you could fly from
New York to Hawaii nonstop for this price. I can't think of one.
*Now, a note of caution. United is rather real stingy with award availability to partners
recently
so availability may not be the easiest to find. Turkish Airlines also doesn't have the best
award change policies or customer service so proceed with caution.
Other Options
The above 2 programs represent the absolute best ways to get good value on domestic redemptions.
However, Alaska is not a transfer partner to the major bank currrencies and Turkish Airlines is
only a transfer partner of Citi Thank You Points and Capital Miles. Furthermore, sometimes a route
is only served by one of the big 3 airlines, like Delta, which neither programs cover. I will list
some alternative programs below that still allow you to use points on domestic redemptions.
Delta: Air France Flying Blue can be used as an alternative for Delta redemptions.
United: Avianca doesn't publish an award chart but flying within one of their "zones"
(US is broken up into East coast, Central and West Coast) rings up 10,000 miles. Otherwise, for
longer distances, Singapore Airlines Kris Flyer will cost 14,000 one way to anywhere within
North America except Hawaii.
American, Alaska, JetBlue: Qatar Airways Avios (able to be transferred 1 to 1 from any avios
program). Ok for short distance flights.