In part 2 of my sister-in law’s sponsored series of posts that she aggressively demanded; I would like to walk you through how I would search for business class flights to a destination on miles. I have always wanted to go to the Dolomites Mountains in Northeast Italy. Let’s pretend I want to book business flights there on the least possible points possible. Here are the steps I would take.
Choosing the Date
I am flexible here but do not ski, so I am looking more for a summer or fall opportunity. Summer travel is usually the craziest to Europe (and the most expensive) and December we are dealing with cold. Let’s target October, shoulder season!
Start with the destination airport
The Italian Dolomites are ironically closer to Innsbruck airport in Austria than any Italian airport. As backups, I could also fly into Venice or Verona.
Find Your Home Airport
My home airport is Boston Logan International airport. However, NYC is also less than 200 dollars away if I fly there first. Good to keep in the back of my mind if nothing from Boston pans out.
Let the Searching Begin!
Search 1: Boston to Innsbruck- October 10
Lowest Result: Air Canada 188,000 miles per person
Benefit: Cheapest direct way to the Dolomites, only 1 stop
Negative: Way too high. Matt and I are BOTH flying business to Bangkok for less than that.
Verdict: Absolutely not!
Search 2: Boston to Verona–October 10
Lowest Result: United Airlines for 88,000 a person
Benefit: More than half the amount of miles than Search 1 produced.
Negative: 2 stops, Verona is a 2-hour drive from the Dolomites, Verona is not really a town I need to see.
Verdict: Maybe
Search 3: Boston to Venice-October 10
Lowest Result: British Airways 61,000 a person
Benefit: Only one stop, Venice is a lovely place to visit
Negative: 2.5 hour drive to the dolomites.
Verdict: Sign me up! @matt can I book? JK!
Wait a minute…how do you have 61,000 miles on British Airways?
Well, I don’t. The good news is British Airways is a partner of Cathay Pacific and it is the same 61,000 pts if I book through them!
Wait a minute…how do you have 61,000 miles on Cathay Pacific?
Well, I don’t. The good news is Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) is a partner of Capital One, meaning I can transfer 61,000 points from Capital One to my Asia Miles account!
Wait a minute…how do you have an Asia Miles account if you never flown Cathay before?
Well, I haven’t. The good news is you don’t have to have previously flown with an airline to sign up for an account. Any airline with a rewards program will let you sign up on their website.
Overall,
This post may sound complicated but hear me out. By being flexible, strategic and a little patient I was able to avoid spending an obscene amount of miles and cut it by 2/3. Many people make the mistake of going with the two closest airports and just picking the cheapest price… which could be a lot! But what I do is open the search for anything in driving distance. 2.5 hours from Venice is pushing it, but now we get to spend several days in Venice before paying a few hundred dollars for either a private transfer or a rental car to get up to the Dolomites. This entire search took me 15-20 minutes. Anyone can do this 😊.
Bon Voyage,
Andrew
Out And Abroad 
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