I have been searching for an amazing chance to use miles and points ever since I started collecting them a few years ago. Over the past few years I’ve used miles for hotels nights, a few domestic flights, and to buy some merchandise (stupid)! Until this last-minute trip I had never used points for an “unforgettable” experience. The whole point of, eh, points, is to use them on flights or hotels you otherwise could not afford. At this point in my life there is no way I’d be able to pay for an international first class flight, but points make it possible. The ongoing issue with points is that they are notoriously difficult to use.
Issues Booking Award Travel
The main issue I have using points is the opportunity cost. If I use points to pay for a flights I don’t earn valuable EQD or EQM which helps me qualify for AAdvantage elite status. As a workaround I decided that I would use points to pay for a companion’s business class flight with miles and pay for my flight with cash. If done right we’d both end up in international business class for about half the price. This looks great on paper, but recently American’s award availability has been criminal and I’ve never been able to find flights that work.
The other issue I have when trying to use points is timing. Often award space only opens up in the last few days before the scheduled departure date. When traveling with others, especially abroad, most people want more than two weeks notice. From my experience most people want more than a month notice before taking an international flight… where’s the fun in that!?
Combined, these issues helped me collect a ton of miles and points over the past few years. While saving up points may sound like a great idea for future travels, it often leads to heartbreak when your airlines loyalty program devalues their award chart without notice. Suddenly that flight which costs 50,000 points is now with 75,000 points and you can’t afford it. It stinks and I wanted to use my points while they were still worth something.
Booking The Flights – Singapore Airlines Suites Class A380
It all started on Friday morning when I woke up and checked Singapore Airlines Suites saver space from New York to Frankfurt. I’ve wanted to fly Singapore Airlines since I first learned what their suites class was and have become obsessed looking for saver award space. When I learned how incredible Singapore Airlines is I transferred enough points from American Express and Citi to book two seats on the NYC-FRA route. My original plan was to book two suites on the route for my recent trip to Paris. Sadly space never opened up and Singapore Airlines recently devalued their award chart. The changes to the award chart weren’t terrible, but I no longer had enough miles to book two suites to Frankfurt.
Under the new award chart standard award space from New York to Frankfurt costs 130,000 miles. Standard award space is fairly easy to find, but saver space is much harder to come by. With Singapore Airlines’ new award chart saver award spaces costs just 76,000 miles and $23!
Singapore Airlines lets you waitlist award space, but I’ve wait listed a few dates in the past and the saver award space has never opened. Then, finally, on that Friday morning I found saver award space open from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) departing the following morning (Saturday). Without giving it much though I booked it!
Booking The Flights – Lufthansa First Class 747-8i
My excitement of booking a Singapore Airlines Suite from New York to Frankfurt quickly turned to panic when I realized I now had to both get to New York and get home by the end of the weekend. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t really think this plan through and after booking the Singapore Airlines flight I realized I had a meeting on Monday morning that I couldn’t miss. Singapore Airlines allows you to refund your points for a $30 fee, but I decided to press my luck and go for it.
At this point I started frantically searching American award flights and found nothing that would get me home in time. I then started searching award flights through the United app and found a Lufthansa First Class return flight which connected in New York. Typically Lufthansa has a ton of flights to choose from, but when I looked to book my return this was the only flight with first class space available.
After finding the return flight on Lufthansa I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to United and booked the return. In total my return flight cost me 110,000 Ultimate Reward points and approximately $180. I basically used my Chase Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus to pay for my flight home.
Booking The Flights – Delta Economy Class
Lastly I had to get from Chicago to New York to catch my Singapore Airlines flight. I booked a Delta flight because it was the most inexpensive next day flight available and because it contained a stop in Atlanta. I figured since this entire trip was ridiculous to begin with that I’d book a stop in Atlanta to visit the Terminal F Delta Sky Club. Looking back on the weekend I wish I would have booked a slightly more expensive American non-stop flight, but the stop in Atlanta was totally worth it.
The Execution And Trip Report
This should serve as a rough outline to the upcoming trip report. I left my house at 8am on Saturday morning to catch my first flight and returned home just after midnight on Sunday. I ended up spending just over three hours on the ground in Frankfurt. During the trip I ate more food and drank more alcohol than I thought possible in the time allowed. It was a fantastic experience and one that I look forward sharing over the next few days. With this trip report I will include the following:
Introduction
Review: Delta Sky Club Atlanta Terminal F
Review: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse New York (JFK)
Review: Singapore Airlines Suites Class A380 New York To Frankfurt
Review: Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt
Review: Lufthansa First Class 747-8i Frankfurt To New York
Review: United First Economy New York To Chicago
Final Thoughts
Ultimately this was one of the most fun weekends I’ve had in some time. I realize flying for 16 hours and sitting in airports doesn’t sound like fun to most people, but trust me it was! I am glad my years of opening credit cards and earning points/miles finally paid off with such an unforgettable trip. Overall I loved every moment of the trip and hope you enjoy this trip report.
The total cost of this trip was 76,000 Singapore KrisFlyer Miles + $23, 110,000 United Miles + $180, and $180 for my Delta flight to New York. Luckily United downgraded me from First to Economy on my flight home and I received a $200 travel voucher for my troubles.
