Great AA Business-Class Award Availability for JFK/ORD/PHL to UK
American Airlines currently offers the lowest business-class award rates to Europe of any of the major US carriers, but that doesn't do you any good when there isn't any availability. Well, right now there is! Currently, AA is offering at least two business-class award seats on many of its flights to Manchester, including nonstop options from New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.
Award seats are available from February through the end of the schedule in November 2016. Better yet, there's plenty of availability during the peak summer season, making this a great option for award flights to Europe. AA's business-class awards to Europe currently require 50,000 miles each way, and unlike flights on BA, American doesn't apply surcharges to its own award seats. You will need to pay the rather hefty UK Air Passenger Duty on flights departing the UK, however, which will bring total taxes and fees to more than $250 per person. Still, that's far less than you'd pay for flights operated by British Airways.
While Manchester might not top your list of must-see European destinations, the city does have a major international airport, making it easy to connect to Europe and beyond.
Here's summer availability for two passengers from JFK:
And from Chicago:
And Philadelphia:
Note that some of the above dates may require a connection in either New York, Chicago or Philadelphia, but nonstop flights are available on most dates. Flights from Philadelphia probably offer the most comfortable ride, since they're operated by US Airways' A330. JFK flights are the next best option, assuming you land one of AA's reconfigured 767s.
Availability will probably disappear pretty quickly, so if you think you might want to book, call AA right away at 800-882-8880 to put your dates on hold. If there's a long wait, try an international call center, instead.
H/T: FrequentMiler
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