South African Airways Business Class: South African Airways business class is a little outdated, b

Today is January 31 and that means tomorrow is the day we ve all been dreading for months now: the day that United will devalue its award chart and drive the cost of mileage awards up 90% in some instances.
Before you panic, remember, you ve got the rest of today to book whatever awards you can before these changes go into effect. With that in mind, I wanted to put together a comprehensive post reminding you about the changes, with suggestions of what awards you should book while you still can before their award requirements go up astronomically, and how you can top up your United account from other sources at the last minute if you need to score a few extra miles in a hurry.
Now the really bad news is that while awards on United itself will be going up, those on its partner airlines like Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines will be going up even more! Here s a quick chart I drew up outlining the old award levels versus the new ones on both United and its partners for awards originating in North America at the saver level in Economy, Business and First Class each way. I ve bolded award levels that will change
As you can see, some redemptions on United itself aren't changing and many of the devaluations occurring are on business and first class redemptions. Domestic redemptions on United will remain 25/50/70 for economy, business and first.
However, a lot of other popular redemptions will change. Awards to Hawaii will now cost 45,000 miles in coach instead of 40,000 miles roundtrip. 5,000 miles isn't much, but that's still a 12.5% increase.
For Southern South America , you'll now be paying 10,000 more miles roundtrip in business class and 5,000 more miles roundtrip in first; and business crystal cruise lines and first class redemptions from North America to Europe are going up dramatically. They are currently 50,000 miles each way in business and 67,500 miles each way in first. After the devaluation, they will be 57,500 miles in business (115,000 miles roundtrip) and 80,000 miles in first (160,000). That represents a 15% increase for business class redemptions and an 18.5% increase in first class.
crystal cruise lines Using United miles to Asia has been a great option since the airline has its own extensive list of routes to major destinations there. Here's how much it'll currently cost you to fly to various parts using United miles roundtrip.
The jump from 135,000 miles to 160,000 miles for first class to Japan and the fact that all these business class awards are now going to cost 140,000 miles roundtrip is going to make redeeming miles a much more expensive proposition for a lot of flyers.
To get to either N orthern or Southern Africa , you'll be paying 80/160/260, instead of 80/120/150 for economy, business and first. That's crystal cruise lines right – a first class ticket will now be 110,000 miles more expensive – that's a 73% jump.
Finally, getting to Oceania and Australia/New crystal cruise lines Zealand is also getting a lot more expensive. Though economy award remain the same for both, to get to Oceania , you'll crystal cruise lines be paying 150,000 miles instead of 120,000 miles in business, and a whopping 220,000 miles instead of 150,000 miles in first class – an increase of 70,000 miles. While getting to Australia/New Zealand in business class on a partner will be will be up 25,000 miles to 160,000, and first class awards will require 260,000 miles roundtrip – an increase of 100,000 miles .
Overall, it s a lot of disappointing news and we ll all be using a lot more miles come February to book awards, whether it s on United or one of its partners. That s why it s imperative that if you have awards in mind, or even think you might want to go somewhere, you book them today!
Last week, I posted a list of the Top 12 Awards to Book Before the United Devaluation . While I don t usually suggest speculatively booking awards, given some of these mileage increases and the fact that United does not re-price awards if you keep the same routing and just change dates so that you can change the dates on awards for free and maintain the pre-devaluation award levels , if you have the miles and an idea of routes you want to fly, you might want to get some things booked even if you ll change them later .
Lufthansa First Class: This has to be one of the nicest commercial first class products in the sky. Right now, it'll cost you just 67,500 miles each way from the US to Europe, but after February 1, each way will cost you 110,000 miles!
South African Airways Business Class:   South African Airways business class is a little outdated, but it s still the best way to get from the US to South Africa, in my opinion with flights from JFK and IAD to Johannesburg. This redemption is 60,000 miles each way currently, but come February 1, it'll cost you 80,000 miles – that's 40,000 more miles roundtrip.
EVA Royal Laurel Class to Taipei crystal cruise lines and Beyond:   I really loved my experience in EVA s Royal Laurel business class. You can still book an award to North Asia in business class for just 60,000 miles each way, but toorrow this partner award will require 80,000 miles each way – a 33% jump!
ANA First Class Square Suites: Some of ANA's 777-300′s feature its new first class suites, which are spacious square pods with large entertainment monitors, plenty of storage crystal cruise lines and all the plugs you could want. Right now an award from New York to Tokyo will require 67,500 miles each way, but after February 1, it'll be 110,000 miles nearly double!
US Airways Awards: crystal cruise lines If you want to book US Airways awards using your United miles, you better do so now because on March 31st they leave Star Alliance and will no longer be bookable. Business class awards to Europe in US Airways' flagship Envoy seats is a good use of miles since there is availability from non-United hubs to plenty of destinations throughout Europe. Now that award will cost you 50,000 miles each way, but next month, it'll shoot up to 70,000 miles each way!
There are plenty of others to choose from as well, especially if there is an airline like Singapore or Turkish or a region, like the Middle East or Australia that you want to get to using your miles, so get your plans in order and start booking.
So your head is probably crystal cruise lines spinning with possible award bookings, and chances are you don t have all the miles in your account to book them all. Don t panic there are still a couple ways to top up your account quickly.  If you are a Chase credit cardholder of one of the products that accrues Ultimate Rewards points like the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Bold and Ink Plus , you can make instant transfers crystal cruise lines into United MileagePlus accounts at a 1:1 ratio, so that s the best, cheapest way to top up your account for last-minute bookings.
You can also just buy United miles for about 3.7 cents each up to 150,000 miles, or you can transfer up to 25,000 crystal cruise lines miles per recipient s account per calendar year at a cost of 1.5 cents per  mile plus a $30 processing charge. Both are expensive options, but might do in a pinch if you just need a little top-off for your account.
Hopefully many of you have already booked your awards, but if not, then make today count! There are bound to be long hold times on the phone with United MileagePlus agents, so book what you can online, and report back on the awards you re able to score in the comments below. Good luck!
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Opinions expressed here are author.s alone, not those of the credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved crystal cruise lines or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through the credit card issuer Affiliate Program.
Meh. Just book more economy tickets on United, outside of south asia those are not changing much. First class is awesome, but don t see the benefit beyond the Gotta do it at least once thing. I could be in the minority, I travel for the experience of the destination and don t really care how I get there.
Booked 2 one way tickets to Paris for 30k each. Than the return flight was 55k each way in coach. Instead if I fly AerLingus through Dublin its 50k in Business! Thanks for the heads up and can t wait to experience crystal cruise lines business crystal cruise lines class for the first time Now trying to stock pile Chase points to transfer crystal cruise lines to Hyatt to stay at the Vendome.
Hi. United is still saying crystal cruise lines that if you change dates after feb 1st that you ll have to pay a change fee and the difference in points. Can you please confirm where you got the info that says there will be no charge. TIA!
thank you. this post had me all worried.. i dont see the point in flying first class to a vacation on points. if you cant survive 8 hours in economy/coach while headed to europe give me a break. first world problems much? everytime i fly to europe from IAH the plane is half empty and i can usually snag a whole row of seats to myself anyway.
Europe on partners crystal cruise lines to me is the biggest kick in my tail since we ve been flying crystal cruise lines over there more in Biz/First but we have enough options other than SA to Europe. We re booked one way on a SA Envoy saver to Glasgow in August and I m more concerned about what happens after US leaves than about this devaluation if I need to make changes.
Clearly you don t travel with children. The experience crystal cruise lines of business class is better when you re traveling alone, but a godsend when traveling with two kids under six, or a lap infant, or the whole array of four kids. United has made that so, so much harder with this devaluation which is why yesterday I booked six business class seats in US Envoy LAX-PHL-MAD for August.
Does the following make any value sense? IAD-PEK Global First PEK-BKK crystal cruise lines Thai First Class stopover then BKK-SYD Thai First Class SYD-AKL Air New Zealand Business then AKL-NRT crystal cruise lines Air New Zealand Business NRT-HNL Global First then add HNL-BWI in US Airways First Class for 160k each person? Thanks
Eric FWIW, I was there over new years for a week. it was a glorious property. if there is any way (if you are not already) see about becoming diamond for their included breakfast. it is 50 euro pp. excel