What's the best way to book?

[deusconsilio]

Need some advice please on which option you more experienced travelers would recommend:

Option A: MLE - HKG Business on Cathay, then pay out of pocket or use BA points for economy shuttle from HKG - CNX? (I've read that I can add HKG-CNX as part of a single reward booking, but when I talk to AA they try to route be through BKK?)

Option B: MLE - SIN Business on Singapore, then SIN - CNX Business on Tiger Air? Please note will pay out of pocket purchase of ~10K KrisFlyer + $402 in Taxes/Fees

Option A is clearly cheaper, but happy to pay more for a better experience or shorter flight. Also, I'm seeing that availability is easier to find on Option B. Just don't have time to check both that often and want to pick a path and stick to it.

[Chapshnell]

Need some advice please on which option you more experienced travelers would recommend:

Option A: MLE - HKG Business on Cathay, then pay out of pocket or use BA points for economy shuttle from HKG - CNX? (I've read that I can add HKG-CNX as part of a single reward booking, but when I talk to AA they try to route be through BKK?)

Option B: MLE - SIN Business on Singapore, then SIN - CNX Business on Tiger Air? Please note will pay out of pocket purchase of ~10K KrisFlyer + $402 in Taxes/Fees

Option A is clearly cheaper, but happy to pay more for a better experience or shorter flight. Also, I'm seeing that availability is easier to find on Option B. Just don't have time to check both that often and want to pick a path and stick to it.

why not A?

[Marco Polo]

Need some advice please on which option you more experienced travelers would recommend:

Option A: MLE - HKG Business on Cathay, then pay out of pocket or use BA points for economy shuttle from HKG - CNX? (I've read that I can add HKG-CNX as part of a single reward booking, but when I talk to AA they try to route be through BKK?)

Option B: MLE - SIN Business on Singapore, then SIN - CNX Business on Tiger Air? Please note will pay out of pocket purchase of ~10K KrisFlyer + $402 in Taxes/Fees

Option A is clearly cheaper, but happy to pay more for a better experience or shorter flight. Also, I'm seeing that availability is easier to find on Option B. Just don't have time to check both that often and want to pick a path and stick to it.

Does a layover in either city account for anything?

[yitzyul]

1) NYC-LHR J class
British and AA show tons of availability. What the best way to book using the least miles
(I have amex, BA, UR, or can transfer from SPG)

2) Best way to book NYC-TLV with a stop on LHR for overnight J class?
TY

[zow]

I know there's not much love for LY around here, but they are the only nonstop BOS-TLV, so it might make sense for us.
I understand from Dan's Israel post that I can transfer MR to Matmid and that I would need 40,000 for one-way in Y (wow).

But how do I check LY award availability? Do I need to join Matmid first? And do they really charge $25 to join their "club"?

Thanks.

[Marco Polo]

1) NYC-LHR J class
British and AA show tons of availability. What the best way to book using the least miles
(I have amex, BA, UR, or can transfer from SPG)

2) Best way to book NYC-TLV with a stop on LHR for overnight J class?
TY

BA solid option, but lot of fees.

[zow]

1) NYC-LHR J class
British and AA show tons of availability. What the best way to book using the least miles
(I have amex, BA, UR, or can transfer from SPG)

2) Best way to book NYC-TLV with a stop on LHR for overnight J class?
TY

I bet you're seeing lots of BA availability. That's because they'll nail you with huge YQ (fuel surcharge).  Another way to do it would be to fly overnight in J on Aer Lingus to DUB, but you can't get DUB-TLV directly. 

[Chapshnell]

1) NYC-LHR J class
British and AA show tons of availability. What the best way to book using the least miles
(I have amex, BA, UR, or can transfer from SPG)

2) Best way to book NYC-TLV with a stop on LHR for overnight J class?
TY

best way is 45k Amex MR into AC for UA metal & from there take a BA flight with avios or an easy jet flight depending on the price

[yitzyul]

I bet you're seeing lots of BA availability. That's because they'll nail you with huge YQ (fuel surcharge).  Another way to do it would be to fly overnight in J on Aer Lingus to DUB, but you can't get DUB-TLV directly.

If I purchase it on AA (BA airlines) there are no fees but its a whopping 100K

[Chapshnell]

If I purchase it on AA (BA airlines) there are no fees but its a whopping 100K

if booking RT, book via LAN if you're intent on BA. No YQ that way.. unless you have a companion pass you want to redeem.

[yitzyul]

if booking RT, book via LAN if you're intent on BA. No YQ that way.. unless you have a companion pass you want to redeem.

UA has horrible availability that why I was sticking with BA

[deusconsilio]

why not A?

Wasn't sure if Singapore Airlines offered better flight experience or something. I'm just trying to avoid mistakes by asking.

Does a layover in either city account for anything?

Layover would be under 3 hours in both cases

[Chapshnell]

UA has horrible availability that why I was sticking with BA

they open up late these days ime

[D93]

I know there's not much love for LY around here, but they are the only nonstop BOS-TLV, so it might make sense for us.
I understand from Dan's Israel post that I can transfer MR to Matmid and that I would need 40,000 for one-way in Y (wow).

But how do I check LY award availability? Do I need to join Matmid first? And do they really charge $25 to join their "club"?

Thanks.

You can search on EF, or make a free matmid account (there's a thread on it somewhere here)

[zow]

You can search on EF, or make a free matmid account (there's a thread on it somewhere here)

Thanks, D93. I'll look for it.

[Denverite]

Need some advice please on which option you more experienced travelers would recommend:

Option A: MLE - HKG Business on Cathay, then pay out of pocket or use BA points for economy shuttle from HKG - CNX? (I've read that I can add HKG-CNX as part of a single reward booking, but when I talk to AA they try to route be through BKK?)

Option B: MLE - SIN Business on Singapore, then SIN - CNX Business on Tiger Air? Please note will pay out of pocket purchase of ~10K KrisFlyer + $402 in Taxes/Fees

Option A is clearly cheaper, but happy to pay more for a better experience or shorter flight. Also, I'm seeing that availability is easier to find on Option B. Just don't have time to check both that often and want to pick a path and stick to it.

I'm not sure where your final destination is but can you do your whole return on Sin with MLE-SIN as one leg and then the return leg SIN-CNX-Wherever with CNX as your free stopover?  Their stopover policy is so good I just feel like some parts of this should be done as stopovers.  They are very helpful if you call them...

[bznt]

Best way to book NYC to CUN in J ?

[Joe4007]

Best way to book NYC to CUN in J ?

Book with Avios on AA for 20k.

[bznt]

Book with Avios on AA for 20k.

You mean in economy round trip ? Or is it 20k avios each way in business?

[CS91]

You mean in economy round trip ? Or is it 20k avios each way in business?

Both are right. 20k RT in Y, and 20k OW in J. Full award chart can be found in this DDMS post: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/59617