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Via Thrifty Traveler Premium, we’ve just learned about a fantastic sale on British Airways business class flights between the U.S. and the U.K. Using Google Flights, It’s easy to find round-trip business class flights for around $1,500. Tack on discounts from AARP or Amex Platinum Travel to make it even cheaper.
The Deal
Thrifty Traveler reports round trip fares for around $1,500 (and as low as $1,324) from many cities around the U.S. Valid destinations include: London (LHR), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), Inverness (INV), and Manchester (MAN).
- AARP members can save $200 by clicking through the British Airways link found here. If you’re not an AARP member, it only costs about $12 to sign up and you do not have to be old to do so.
- British Airways cardholders can save an additional 10% by using code CHASEBA10
- Amex Platinum cardholders can save around $200 by booking through Amex Travel
Thrifty Traveler reports that these fares are valid through September, but I also saw some great fares (but not quite as great) later in the fall and then dirt cheap fares again showed up in the winter.
My Take
There’s definitely some risk to booking this since we don’t know when unrestricted travel will be allowed. You can cancel these tickets at any time for a British Airways voucher, but that’s obviously not nearly as good as cash unless you fly British Airways often. On the other hand, these prices are incredible. Plus, you can credit your flight to Alaska Airlines to earn oodles (yes, oodles) of valuable miles.
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“…you do not have to be old to do so.” How do I make a laughing crying emoji here? 😀
Looks like it’s been fixed.
The Chase code doesn’t work if you have a connecting flight on AA. At least, not for me.
Greg, I’m trying to understand what “oodles” of Alaska miles means.
I looked at a sample flight from Chicago to London and it was booking class I. Using wheretocredit.com, that showed as 250% on Alaska for RDM. (I have no idea what RDM is vs tier 1, 2, 3, etc….I’m guessing status?) The round trip flight is a bit under 8,000 miles. Does that mean I’d get a littler under 20K Alaska miles for the trip?
Provided that Alaska doesn’t change the RDM (Redeemable Miles) earn rate by the time you fly, you would earn 20k alaska miles if you don’t have any Alaska status. Tier 1 -3 are their status level.
I wasn’t exactly planning to go to UK this winter but I just booked it to think about it for next 24 hours. SEA-INV x 3 adult and 1 children came out to be $4563 all in via Amex Platinum. I would earn 22817 MR points just for purchasing this. if valued at 1.5c per point conservatively, deducting that from the ticket price, that’s just $1055 per person. and I would earn 20k alaska miles per person and if valued at 1.5c per mile (many values it at 1.8 at least), that’s just $755 per ticket. and I get to try the new BA business suite on 787-10 on the way out. This is crazy.
actually SEA-INV is even longer at 10487 miles so I would earn 26217 alaska miles. That will make my net ticket price of just $661, a bargain for economy class ticket, let alone premium economy one.
What’s ridiculous is the fares are actually about 50% ticket cost & 50% taxes & fees. Looking at a BA fare that’s $810 RT in business class from Phoenix to LHR, but another +$729 in taxes and fees… Gotta love BA.
The AARP discount seems to only be taking off $65 for the routes/dates I checked, but I still couldn’t resist booking SFO-LHR for $1225 in December, when combined w/ the Chase discount 🙂