Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is happening now! Follow us as Greg, Nick, and Stephen compete to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines before November 23rd. Who will complete the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
Thrifty Traveler Premium is reporting good availability to Zurich (from Montreal and NYC) and Geneva (from NYC) in Swiss Business Class for 2+ passengers through January. Summer flights from NYC to Geneva are wide open. There is also spotty availability from other US airport connecting through eithet YUL or NYC.
The Award prices vary by program from 60K to 73K one-way, although the lowest option would be to take advantage of the 20% transfer bonus to Avianca from Capital One that would effectively take the price down 52,500 Capital One miles.
The Deal
- Non-stop business class availability from NYC to Geneva and Zurich and Montreal to Zurich on Swiss Air, including Summer.
Availability is good from June through the Summer from NYC – Geneva with some spotty dates to Zurich as well. You can find flights from Montreal in the Summer, but availability is much better in the Fall. Here’s what I found in mid-Summer when searching for one-way business from NYC to GVA on United. Note that any day showing 73K has saver availability:
Although it’s easiest to search for availability on United, that’s not the cheapest option for booking (although it may be the best if you have a ton of UA miles). Aeroplan will have the same seats at 60K and is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt and Capital One).:
Avianca LifeMiles will price out at 63K and is also a transfer partner of most of the major transferable currencies.There is currently a 20% transfer bonus to Avianca from Capital One that would effectively mean you could book these seat for 52,500 Capital One miles. Transferable currencies transfer instantly to both LifeMiles and Aeroplan.
Quick Thoughts
This is an unusual amount of mid-Summer availability to Europe, so I would book ASAP if you’re interested. I haven’t flown Swiss Air personally, but the reviews on both hard and soft product are generally very good.
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
Always like the tips I find in Frequent Miler. However, many of the deals are limited to east coast airports. It would be helpful for me as a west coast reader to have the titles indicate when that is the case. For example, “Wide open business class from the East Coast..”
Thanks for the feedback Paul, we’ll certainly add that when we can.
Unless you exclisively redeem for non-stops (in which case disregard this), don’t completely ignore the East Coast sales. I’m a West-Coaster as well and have found many opportunities over the years connecting via East Coast sales, especially over the last couple of years as non-stop business availability from Seattle has become more and more rare to find. For instance, on this Swiss Air sale, I found availability from Seattle on Avianca through Montreal. If it’s an appealing destination for you, it might be worth giving a quick look at connecting options through your home airport.
Not unusual when there is a war in Europe
Problem with most flights is
1.they leave out of JFK
2.departure times are not great
3.connectivity beyond Switzerland is very spotty
Unless you live in NYC or Long Island and don’t mind a 4pm departure with destination Switzerland it’s great, otherwise fairly useless.
What’s wrong with all that?
Since United doesn’t really seve JFK you can’t make this work with any connecting itinerary.
As I said unless you live in NYC, it’s pretty useless to have PtP availability.
Um, most Europe departures from East Coast are around this same time or maybe a bit later. What is this issue?
If you like 4pm departures then go for it, but Swiss has an 9pm out of JFK and a 10pm out of EWR which I think are way better as they fit more the natural sleep rhythm.
I hate arriving in Europe at 6am.
Waaaaahhh!!!
Yes best ever No Jet Lag 2pm.I lost a day but a better trip your not playing catch up with sleep.