Using 90,000 on AA to Europe in Business Class
 

Can anyone suggest the best way for me to fly from Florida to Barcelona. I have 90,000 miles with American and I would like to use it, but only in Business Class.

I'm thinking that flying with Iberia would be the best way because there is no First Class in Iberia, so in Business Class, I would be top dog?

I also don't want a lot of announcements during the night when I am trying to sleep. Any comments?

American's nonstop from MIA to MAD is a 767-300 that also has only two cabins, economy and business. AA is refitting its 763 fleet with "next generation business class" seats, and the odds will be growing over time that you'd get one of those planes if the award was on AA metal.

That said, the Iberia business class seats are very very nice, and the service on MIA-MAD is quite good. I took the flight in August and don't recall any announcements or bothersome issues during the flight. Which is not to say the AA service would be inferior - because there's no First Class on the 763s, the crew tend to treat the business class pax as if they were in FC, i.e., pretty nicely.

Maybe AA can arrange AA going and IB coming, since IB's in flight entertainment is very good and would be more useful in a daytime flight than on the sleeper.

Do NOT let AA try to book you on a London connection.

Thanks Gardyloo, I'm glad you are on the Internet today. There are no rewards showing Miami to Madrid direct. All the rewards are showing JFK to Barcelona on a 767. Is this a new flight AA has started? or an Iberia. I asked my friend the AA pilot yesterday and he said AA doesn't fly to Barcelona.

www.aa.com is showing Flight 152 leaving JFK at 7:05 p.m. and arriving in BCN at 9:10 a.m. on a 763 aircraft.

Returning on Flight 152 from BCN at 11:30 a.m., arriving at JFK at 2:05 p.m.

There is no row one in Business Class according to the seat assignments.

I just found it on the www.aa.com website.

"New Flights to Barcelona and Milan, Additional Flight to London Stansted."

So how is the AA Lounge at JFK. Anyone with experience with this?

For awards on partner airlines (Iberia in this case) you have to phone the Aadvantage number - can't book online.

Right, I forgot - AA has a new service starting straight to BCN. Although Madrid is a good if huge airport, the direct flight would be far superior.

Wally, the Admirals Club at JFK is very big quite nice.

I called the AA number and have a two week hold on a flight from Orlando to JFK and on to BCN. Returning the same route.

I encourage anyone who is thinking of flying to Italy with AA miles to check into the new AA flight to Milan soon.

I read that the AA lounge in LA gives you one ticket for one drink. I hope the lounge at JFK is not like that.

Wally why not fly your favourite airline?

MIA-YYZ AA
YYZ-LHR BA
LHR-BCN BA

Maybe because his bags would go
MIA-YYZ-LHR-LHR-LHR-LHR-Auction

:-D

I do like the idea of getting into Barcelona at 9:10 a.m. with AA. British Airways wants me to sit at Heathrow for seven hours and will get me into Barcelona around 5:30 p.m.

When I called AA, they could get me out of Miami on Iberia on 6/9/08 instead of 6/11/08, but could not get me back to Miami on Iberia.

Also, when I checked the BA.com website, Miami to BCN in Business Class was $4,128.00. If I purchase an Economy Plus ticket, and use 30,000 miles to upgrade to Business Class, the ticket price was $3,970.00. In short, 30,000 miles was only worth $158.00.

Thanks to all the hurricanes and break-ins at my house, I should have 100,000 miles with BA by next year (credit card)