Mrs MJonTravel and I are heading to Italy next October to celebrate a certain major milestone of a birthday. Let’s call it her 29th birthday. We’ll be heading over in late October, spending a few days visiting Tuscany and then boarding the brand spanking new Celebrity Reflection for a 14 night repositioning cruise from Venice to Barcelona. I mentioned this on the blog recently.
In any event, as I was doing important work today, it donned on me to check and see if United had opened up award availability for the IAD to FCO nonstops next October. Sure enough, first class was available at the “saver” rate of 67,500 miles per person departing on her birthday. While Business is plenty acceptable for a flight to Europe, this is an important event and I wanted to travel in style.
I realize connecting in Frankfurt and visiting the Lufthansa First Class terminal would really be “in style,” but in this case, the ease of nonstop flight carries more weight for us. And all things being equal, one can do worse than United First Class….it could be United Coach. 🙂 So I nabbed 3E and 3F on the Boeing 777 nonstop to Rome. I’m happy. I don’t have to worry about shopping for the return for several days as we won’t be departing Barcelona until November 16th. Hoping for good award availability karma! For now, I’m quite pleased to have First Class seats to Rome. Who says you can’t use miles?!
Are seats in Row 2 or Row 1 available? Hopefully you’ll get a swap in the next 11 months to a new layout 777 which doesn’t have a row 3. I’d try and grab seats in one of the first two rows so that if/when that happens, you don’t get split up.
Thanks for the reminder on this! I switched to row 1 as row 2 is already taken.
Be sure to add a few days in Barcelona – what a fabulous city! We’ve just returned, and are posting blogs about our delightful days there http://musicandmarkets.blogspot.com/2011/11/barcelona-dance.html
Try to connect in FRA on the return, that way you can set up as much time as you want in the FCT
PS the 200k was 2x100k low level biz seats.
Well done. I just finished booking for my 83 year old mum and my cousin to come over from Sweden for the month of September next year to stay with us for 200k DELTA all biz class all perfect flights! I just hate the $500 tax from Sweden vs the $150 tax for same flights starting in USA! – Rene
Was it 67.5k round trip or one way? Sorry I am unfamiliar with united awards
67,500 one-way. I think you can sometimes get a round trip off peak Envoy award on US for about the same, but it is what it is.
I’m about to post a trip report for 9 days in Italy, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Rome for a friend who is honeymoonIng there. Hope you enjoy your trip, Tuscany is a fantastic area.
Happy 29 Birthday mrs Jackson!