Using Frequent Flyer Miles to Fly Business Class
Today is a day I've been anxiously waiting for for just over four months ... I booked our flight to Vietnam.
In business class.
Using airline miles.
That I accumulated without flying on an airplane.
In October, I joined the Travel Hacking Cartel with the goal of flying to Southeast Asia in business class without paying for it. My husband does not enjoy long flights, and this trip would include multiple long flights. So, I followed the instructions I learned from the Cartel, including signing up for credit cards with high-value mileage bonuses, filling out online surveys, and accumulating miles any way I could without actually flying.
My most recent credit card signup bonus hit my United account last weekend, so I was ready to book our flight. Unfortunately, I needed to wait for my husband to arrange his PTO schedule, so our sought-after flight disappeared right before our eyes. However, we were able to find another flight that will be suitable (and might allow us to see some international friends for a few hours during a layover). AND, United is having a mileage award sale this month, so we saved 10,000 miles each on the price of our tickets.
I can't get over how great a deal this was. While making the reservation, I was offered the chance to buy the business class ticket outright—for over $11,000! What was my actual cost to book the flight? 140,000 frequent flier miles (which we accumulated mostly through credit card bonuses and spending) and $107.60. I paid 1% of the cash value of the ticket.
We'll fly from Chicago to London on United BusinessFirst, then from London to Bangkok on Thai Airways Royal Silk, and then on to Hanoi on Thai Airways business class. We land in the morning, so we'll have a full day at our leisure in Hanoi before joining up with the Uniworld pre-trip extension to Ha Long Bay. Hopefully, we'll be well-rested thanks to the lay-flat business seats on our first two flights and the lounge access we'll enjoy in London.
In a few weeks, I'll receive my last credit card signup bonus, and we'll have enough miles to book an economy class ticket home. I'm sure we'll be spoiled after three weeks full of business class and Uniworld service, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
It just hit me today when I put the flight in TripIt that with the flights and the pre-trip extension, this will be a three week vacation. I have never been on vacation this long, and I am already looking forward to it, even though it's 10 months away. I'm so thankful that we are able to make trips like this happen while we're young!
In business class.
Using airline miles.
That I accumulated without flying on an airplane.
In October, I joined the Travel Hacking Cartel with the goal of flying to Southeast Asia in business class without paying for it. My husband does not enjoy long flights, and this trip would include multiple long flights. So, I followed the instructions I learned from the Cartel, including signing up for credit cards with high-value mileage bonuses, filling out online surveys, and accumulating miles any way I could without actually flying.
My most recent credit card signup bonus hit my United account last weekend, so I was ready to book our flight. Unfortunately, I needed to wait for my husband to arrange his PTO schedule, so our sought-after flight disappeared right before our eyes. However, we were able to find another flight that will be suitable (and might allow us to see some international friends for a few hours during a layover). AND, United is having a mileage award sale this month, so we saved 10,000 miles each on the price of our tickets.
I can't get over how great a deal this was. While making the reservation, I was offered the chance to buy the business class ticket outright—for over $11,000! What was my actual cost to book the flight? 140,000 frequent flier miles (which we accumulated mostly through credit card bonuses and spending) and $107.60. I paid 1% of the cash value of the ticket.
We'll fly from Chicago to London on United BusinessFirst, then from London to Bangkok on Thai Airways Royal Silk, and then on to Hanoi on Thai Airways business class. We land in the morning, so we'll have a full day at our leisure in Hanoi before joining up with the Uniworld pre-trip extension to Ha Long Bay. Hopefully, we'll be well-rested thanks to the lay-flat business seats on our first two flights and the lounge access we'll enjoy in London.
In a few weeks, I'll receive my last credit card signup bonus, and we'll have enough miles to book an economy class ticket home. I'm sure we'll be spoiled after three weeks full of business class and Uniworld service, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.
It just hit me today when I put the flight in TripIt that with the flights and the pre-trip extension, this will be a three week vacation. I have never been on vacation this long, and I am already looking forward to it, even though it's 10 months away. I'm so thankful that we are able to make trips like this happen while we're young!
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