Announcement:Affordable Business Class Flights to Germany Now Available Starting at 55,000 Miles Per Passenger
When planning a trip to Germany, savvy travelers often turn to airline miles to make their journey more affordable. Two popular programs, Alaska Mileage Plan and Air Canada Aeroplan, offer attractive options for booking flights on Condor, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa. Here's a breakdown of how to best utilize these miles for economy and business class travel.
Using Alaska Mileage Plan
Alaska Mileage Plan is a versatile program that allows you to transfer points from various partners, including Bilt Rewards (1:1) and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1), as well as earn miles via Alaska co-branded credit cards.
Economy Class Awards
Economy class awards to Germany start at a reasonable 27,500 Alaska miles. This pricing applies broadly, including some routes on Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. Longer trips may require more miles, but you can expect awards to start at 60,000 Alaska miles plus around $57 in taxes and fees for Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa.
Business Class Awards
Business class awards start at 55,000 Alaska miles. This makes Alaska Mileage Plan a great choice for those seeking a comfortable journey to Germany.
Partner Availability
Alaska Mileage Plan is part of the oneworld alliance and partners with Singapore Airlines, but Lufthansa is a Star Alliance member. As a result, availability for Lufthansa with Alaska miles may be partner-specific or indirect.
Using Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada Aeroplan employs a distance-based award chart, offering a different approach to mile redemption.
Economy Class Awards
Business class flights to Europe (including Germany) on partner airlines can be booked for 60,000 Aeroplan points for itineraries up to 4,000 miles.
Business Class Awards with Stopovers
Aeroplan allows a stopover for just 5,000 extra points, which can add flexibility to your itinerary. However, be cautious of mixed-cabin itineraries where the long-haul segment may be in economy despite bookings showing business class.
Partner Availability
Lufthansa is a Star Alliance partner, and Aeroplan points can be used to book flights on the airline. However, Condor is not explicitly mentioned as an Aeroplan partner, so booking Condor flights with these points may not be possible or may require other routing strategies.
Specifics for Each Airline
Condor
Condor does not seem directly bookable via Aeroplan or Alaska Mileage Plan based on the current information. Condor is mostly a leisure carrier with its own loyalty schemes.
Singapore Airlines
Alaska Mileage Plan is a direct partner, making Alaska miles valuable for Singapore Airlines flights to Europe including Germany.
Lufthansa
Best booked with Air Canada Aeroplan because it’s a Star Alliance carrier; Alaska miles may have limited or no direct Lufthansa availability.
Additional Tips
- Alaska’s current promotions include up to $50 flight discount when joining Mileage Plan, which may add value if you are a new member.
- Award availability is good over the next year, offering flexibility in date selection.
- To book with Aeroplan, use their website to find Star Alliance flights to Germany, including Lufthansa, and to add stopovers.
- For Alaska miles, booking Singapore Airlines or Alaska partners is straightforward; for Lufthansa, look for Alaska partners or consider Aeroplan instead.
In summary, for the best value and flexibility:
- Use Alaska Mileage Plan miles for Singapore Airlines flights to Germany and economy/business class flights starting from 27,500 and 55,000 miles respectively.
- Use Air Canada Aeroplan points for Lufthansa business class flights to Germany at a fixed 60,000 points for itineraries up to 4,000 miles, with options to add stopovers.
- Booking Condor with these miles is not clearly supported.
This combined approach maximizes the strengths of both programs when aiming for economy or business class travel to Germany on these airlines. Many dates are available over the next year across various airlines, reducing the need for flexibility in travel dates compared to other award alerts. If you have Alaska miles or Aeroplan points and want to visit Germany, this is a great opportunity to do so more comfortably and affordably.
[1] Source: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Air Canada Aeroplan [4] Source: Condor and OneWorld and Star Alliance
Sports fanatics planning a trip to Germany for a major football match might consider using their Alaska Mileage Plan miles to book flights on oneworld alliance members, such as British Airways or Cathay Pacific, which have strong partnerships with clubs like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
On the other hand, those interested in sightseeing and exploring Germany's rich travel destinations can utilize Air Canada Aeroplan points to book flights on Star Alliance member Lufthansa, offering a wider coverage of cities and attractions across the country.
