Award Availability Update: Travel in Premium Cabins on British Airways from the West Coast to Europe

If you're looking to fly from the West Coast to Europe in British Airways' premium economy or business class this year, now is an ideal time to secure your flights.

TPG's Director of Travel Content Eric Rosen discovered this award availability while searching for flights. However, similar to many British Airways transatlantic flights, you may encounter considerable taxes and fees.

Deal Overview

Airline: British Airways

Routes: From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), San Diego International Airport (SAN), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to various destinations across Europe.

How to book: Utilize reward programs such as American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and other partners within the Oneworld alliance.

Travel dates: Availability extends from late June into the winter months.

The price of your award flight will vary based on factors like the program you use to book, your specific itinerary, and your travel class. I've included award pricing for bookings made through American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club, and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan in this post, but you can also book some of these flights through other Oneworld alliance partners.

You can earn AAdvantage miles by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards (note that transfers from Bilt to AAdvantage will end on June 24). Additionally, you can earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles through transfers from Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards. Earning British Airways Avios is simpler, as you can transfer between Avios programs and from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, Marriott Bonvoy, and Bilt Rewards.

Begin by looking for award flights through the program you intend to use for booking. Alternatively, if you have some flexibility in your schedule, consider using Seats.aero to locate a transatlantic award flight before finalizing your booking through your chosen program.

Example Award Flights

If you wish to travel from San Francisco to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) on November 23, you have multiple nonstop British Airways flight options. By redeeming American miles, you would pay 40,000 miles plus $482.30 in taxes and fees for premium economy, or 57,500 miles plus $732.30 in taxes and fees for business class.

When you redeem Alaska miles for a flight from San Francisco to London, it will cost you 45,000 miles plus $491 in taxes and fees for premium economy or 70,000 miles plus $996 in taxes and fees for business class.

When you redeem British Airways Avios for a flight from San Francisco to London, it will cost you 57,500 Avios plus $196.30 in taxes and fees for premium economy, or 90,000 Avios plus $406.30 in taxes and fees for business class. Keep in mind that you can use varying amounts of Avios and cash for award flights, so choose the mix that gives you the best value.

We're observing comparable pricing and award availability for nonstop British Airways flights from other West Coast cities. For instance, you could secure a British Airways-operated flight from Los Angeles to London for 40,000 miles plus $482.30 in taxes and fees for premium economy, or 57,500 miles plus $732.30 in taxes and fees for business class.

American AAdvantage employs dynamic award pricing for flights on this route. In this case, you would redeem more points but incur significantly lower taxes and fees for your premium economy or business-class award if you booked an American Airlines-operated flight with AAdvantage.

If you use Alaska miles for a flight from Los Angeles to London, it will cost you 45,000 miles plus $491 in taxes and fees for premium economy or 70,000 miles plus $996 in taxes and fees for business class.

If you choose to redeem British Airways Avios for a flight from Los Angeles to London, you'll pay 67,500 Avios along with $196.30 in taxes and fees for premium economy, or 100,000 Avios plus $406.30 in taxes and fees for business class.

You don’t have to fly directly to London to secure an award from the West Coast. You can include a flight from London in your award booking, although this might limit the award options available. For example, an American AAdvantage booking from San Diego to Prague via London would cost 57,500 miles and $749.80 in business class.

Booking the same British Airways-operated business-class award through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan would require 70,000 miles and $1,013.

If you opt to book this business-class award from San Diego to Prague via London with British Airways, it will cost you 116,250 Avios and $451 in taxes and fees.

It's important to note that you can significantly lower the taxes and fees on certain transatlantic award itineraries by flying on an American Airlines-operated flight over the Atlantic and connecting to a short-haul British Airways flight. For instance, with American AAdvantage, you could travel from Los Angeles to Manchester, England, via London for 40,000 miles in premium economy or 57,500 miles in business class, plus just $17.30 in taxes and fees.

This deal alert focuses on British Airways-operated transatlantic flights, but it's worth mentioning how you can incur much lower taxes and fees on certain Oneworld award flights to Europe.

Understanding taxes and fees

Since the taxes and fees on many of the award flights covered in this article can be quite high, it's advisable to use a credit card that offers bonus rewards for airline purchases when booking your award flight. I typically use my Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, but here are some other options to consider:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on the first $500,000 in charges each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn at least 3 points per dollar on travel (after the initial $300 spent on travel purchases each year)
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn at least 2 points per dollar on travel
• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 3 points per dollar on air travel

In summary

When flying British Airways in a premium cabin across the Atlantic, be prepared for high taxes and fees. While there’s excellent award availability for premium economy and business class on many routes between the U.S. West Coast and London this summer and fall, the associated costs can be substantial. It’s advisable to explore multiple programs — many of which can be accessed with transferable points — to secure the best rates if you choose to take advantage of this award availability.