American will start non-stop service between DFW and Seoul, Korea May 10, and to promote the new route they’re offering up to 50,000 AAdvantage Miles:

Start planning your next trip to the bustling city of Seoul. Rich with history and culture, this new destination offers you even more opportunities to earn and redeem miles as you travel the world on our growing global network.

Exclusive Offer: Did you know that when you fly roundtrip between Dallas/Fort Worth and Seoul, South Korea, you could earn enough miles to claim a variety of travel awards, including a domestic roundtrip Business Class MileSAAver flight award?

Offer Dates: May 9, 2013, through August 15, 2013

Promotion Code:  AAICN

American plans to launch service with a 3 class configured 777-200. Round-trip coach fares are available for around $1,300 and Business Class can be had for about $3,800.

To earn the bonus miles, you’ll need to register before you travel. Go here to sign up using promotion code AAICN and go here for complete details.

American is offering AAdvantage members a chance to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy, and to earn some extra miles, by supporting relief efforts with a donation to the American Red Cross:

“With the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, help is urgently needed,” said Bernie Willett, American’s Director – Community Programs.  “We invite our customers to join us in supporting the American Red Cross to provide much-needed assistance to the victims of this superstorm.”

Through Nov. 30, 2012, AAdvantage members will earn a one-time award of 250 AAdvantage miles for a minimum donation of $50, or 500 AAdvantage miles for a donation of $100 or more to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

For more information or to make a donation, you can visit the American Red Cross page at AA.com/JoinUs.

Photo: Hurricane Sandy: Construction Site’s Wall Collapses
Credit: Paul Lowry on Flickr

Wow, this is the biggest AAdvantage Bonus offer of the year:

The More You Fly. The More You Earn. Fly round trip between the U.S. or Canada and Europe on First Class, Business Class or select Economy Class fares and start accumulating American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles. You will earn the bonus miles whether you fly on American Airlines, British Airways or Iberia.

On your third trip and on any subsequent trip, you will earn 50,000 bonus miles. There’s no limit to how many bonus miles you can earn. With all three airlines participating in this promotion, you’ll have three times the opportunity to earn bonus miles.

Offer Dates: September 25, 2012 through January 31, 2013

Promotion Code: AAEUR

Not all fares qualify for the bonus. To earn the extra miles you’ll need to purchase a ticket with one of these fare codes:

• First Class and Business Class fares booked in F, A, J, R, D or I
• Economy Class fares booked in Y, B or H on American Airlines operated flights
• First Class or Club World fares booked in F, A, J, R, C, D or I on British Airways operated flights
• World Traveller Plus or full-fare World Traveller booked in W, E, T, Y, B or H on British Airways operated flights
• Business Class fares booked in J, C, D, R or I; Economy Class fares booked in Y on Iberia operated flights.

I was curious about qualifying fares. The JFK to London route is one of the more competitive (if not the most competitive) transatlantic routes.

Here’s a look at qualifying economy class fares:

Here’s a look at the cheapest qualifying business class fares:

For mileage runners this is probably not a deal they’ll jump on, but if you’re planning a few transatlantic trips for business, this is a great incentive to book a flexible or business class ticket rather than look for the cheapest fare.

AA.com will show you the cheapest fares but not neciesarrly fares that book into a specific fare code. Using the ITA Software Matrix is a great to price out qualifying fares.

Copy and paste this text in the Advanced Routing Codes form field for qualifying First and Business Class fares:

AA+ / f bc=F|bc=A|bc=J|bc=R|bc=D|bc=I

To find a qualifying economy class fare, copy and these routing codes:

AA+ / f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H

Once you find the fare and flights that you like, go to AA.com and place a reservation for the cheapest fare on the same flights, then call AA reservations and have them change your fare class and keep your ticket on hold.  Complete the purchase online to avoid the $25 ticketing fee.

Registration is required before you travel using promotion code AAEUR.  Go here for full details.

Note: Earlier today there was a problem with the promo code. It’s working now so register away!! This offer is related to the new AAdvantage Bourne Legacy Sweepstakes but I thought I’d mention it separately so that it didn’t get missed:

Earn up to 30,000 bonus miles when you travel the world like an operative.

To participate in this promotion, follow the steps below:
Acquire operative training and enter for a chance to win at AA.com/BourneLegacy
Register prior to travel and before September 15, 2012
Book an eligible round-trip on American Airlines now through September 15, 2012
Complete travel between September 4 and November 15, 2012

Fly more. Earn more.

• Members will earn 1,000 bonus miles after 1 round-trip

• 3,000 bonus miles after 2 round-trips for a total of 4,000 bonus miles

• 6,000 bonus miles after 3 round-trips for a total of 10,000 bonus miles

• 9,000 bonus miles after 4 round-trips for a total of 19,000 bonus miles

• 11,000 bonus miles after 5 round-trips for a total of 30,000 bonus miles

Offer applies to round-trip travel on American Airlines, American Eagle or the AmericanConnection carrier marketed and operated flights.

Book your reservation between July 18 and September 15, 2012 and complete travel between September 4 and November 15, 2012.

Not all fares are eligible. Fares booked in N, O and Q are excluded.

Registration required before you travel. Use promotion code AABRN. Go here to sign up for this offer and to read the terms and conditions.

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Note: Keep an eye on the American Airlines Facebook page. Not sure of the details yet, but they mentioned last night that they’re taking deliver of a new 737 today and that there will be some kind of scavenger hunt promotion with a chance to win some AAdvantage Miles. Update: It’s a Facebook scavenger hunt. You can play for a chance to win 50,000 AAdvantage Miles!!

Here’s a really big bonus offer for travel to Helsinki:

Earn up to 25,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles when you fly round-trip on American Airlines between Chicago and Helsinki, Finland.

Business Class (booked in J, D, R or I) earn 25,000 bonus miles
Full-Fare Economy (booked in Y, B or H) earn 20,000 bonus miles
Discount Economy (booked in K, L or M) earn 15,000 bonus miles

Offer Dates: June 26, 2012 through September 30, 2012

Promotion Code: AAHEL

AAdvantage bonus mileage offer is valid for round-trip travel on nonstop American Airlines operated flights between Chicago O’Hare and Helsinki, Finland from June 26, 2012 – September 30, 2012.

Includes travel on codeshare flights marketed by British Airways, Iberia or Finnair.

This promotion is only valid for AAdvantage members who purchase and fly on published fare tickets booked in J, D, I, R, Y, B, H, K, L or M.

The cheapest economy fare is about $958, but it books into O so it won’t earn you the bonus miles. The cheapest qualifying economy fare that will earn you the bonus is $1,750 (it books into H).

Business class travel (if it’s in your budget) is a better value. You can find qualifying business class fares (book into I).

You can search for fares using ITA Matrix by using these routing codes in the advance routing codes form fields:

Economy (copy and paste)
AA+ / f bc=Y|bc=B|bc=H

Business (copy and paste)
AA+ / f bc=J|bc=D|bc=R|bc=I

Registration is required before you travel. Go here for complete details.

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Just came across this Admirals Club new membership promotion:

Join Admirals Club and Earn 3,000 AAdvantage Miles
Register for offer and join by June 30.

You are invited to become an Admirals Club member. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you can enjoy an oasis of peace – away from all the airport hustle.

It’s easy to become a member, just register using promotion code QPM12. Then purchase your new annual Admirals Club membership by clicking on the Purchase Now button below by June 30, 2012 to earn 3,000 AAdvantage miles.

From the terms and conditions:

AAdvantage members must register for the promotion using promotion code QPM12 and become a new annual Admirals Club member between April 1, 2012 and June 30, 2012 to qualify for the 3,000 AAdvantage miles. Membership must be purchased online. Offer not valid for in-club purchase. This promotion is not valid for 30 Day Membership, renewal annual membership or adding a spouse to an existing Admirals Club membership.

Go here for complete terms and conditions or to sign up for this offer.

I’ve been looking for an active discount code.  No luck.  Let  me know of one that I missed.

Photo: Chicago/ORD Admirals Club
Credit: Michael Coté on Flickr

American Airlines is a big supporter of the men and women that serve in the military.

They do a lot of little things like offering soldiers in uniform priority boarding, preferred seating, and access to the Admirals Club; and also show it some pretty big ways though their support of the USO.

The USO does many good things, and one of the programs that they offer is the United Through Reading Service so that troops can record a DVD of themselves reading a book for their family to enjoy.  Take a look at this soldier reading a book to his 2 year old:

Ahhhh…..

From now through Independence Day you can support great programs like United Through Reading  and earn Bonus AAdvantage Miles with a $25 minimum donation:

Through July 4, as we Honor, Salute and Celebrate during the next “patriotic” six weeks, AAdvantage members will be awarded 15 AAdvantge miles – instead of 10 – for each dollar donated through American’s Miles In Support of All Who Serve campaign, which supports USO programs and services to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families.

That video and the bonus miles make me pull out my credit card every time.

Go here for complete details or to make a donation. 

Back in January, American and Iberia announced new routes and expanded service between Europe and Miami, and yesterday American launched their new non-stop service between MIA and Barcelona.  To promote the new route, they’re offering 5,000 to 20,000 bonus AAdvantage miles:

Airline: American Airlines

Award: Bonus Miles

Bonus Code: AABCN

Dates: Travel between April 3, 2012 and May 31, 2012.

Offer: Earn up to 20,000 AAdvantage bonus miles for every eligible round-trip (or half the bonus for one-way travel) you fly on our new nonstop service between Miami and Barcelona, Spain from April 3, 2012 through May 31, 2012. See the chart below for details:

Bonus Miles for Round-Trip Travel between Miami and Barcelona

Business Class – 20,000 Miles
(fares booked in J, D, I, or R)

Full-Fare Economy – 10,000 Miles
(fares booked in Y, B or H)

Discount Economy – 5,000 Miles
(fares booked in K, L, M, N, O, Q, S or V)

Note: Service operates five times a week until June 14 when it will operate daily.

Registration is required befor you travel.  Go here for complete details.

Reader Giveaway

Friday, I announced a reader giveaway with the winner receiving a pair of the slippers that American Airlines offers in international First and Business class. I had planned to share the results Monday, but completely forgot.

Anyway, congratulations to Mary Beth!

Photo: Bonus Time
Credit: Henry Faber on Flickr

Admirals Club 3,000 Bonus AAdvantage Miles Offer

If you’re thinking about purchasing a new Admirals Club membership, here’s an offer that was posted by LRD on FlyerTalk:

You are invited to become an Admirals Club member.  Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you can enjoy an oasis of peace – away from all the airport hustle. It’s easy to become a member, just register for the promotion…using with promotion code QPD11.   Then purchase your new annual Admirals Club membership by…by December 31, 2011 to earn 3,000 AAdvantage miles.

According to the offer page at AA.com:

This offer is valid only for the recipients of the AAdvantage November Quarterly Print Mailing Newsletter.

Last year I purchased a new Admirals Club membership using a similar bonus miles promotion code that was posted in the Admirals Club discounts master thread at FlyerTalk.   That offer, like this one, was a targeted promotion and even though I had never received the offer, I still received the bonus miles when I used the promo code.  Your results may vary, so be aware that you might not receive the miles if you didn’t receive this offer.

Go here for full details.

Qantas Club Bonus Qantas Frequent Flyer Points Offer

Here’s an offer I learned about from an article by John Walton at Australian Business Traveller:

Join Qantas Club and earn a bonus 40,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points

Treat yourself this Christmas with the ultimate travel perk- Qantas Club membership. Become a new member between now and 31 December 2011 and you will receive a bonus 40,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points!

By joining The Qantas Club, you’ll be welcome to relax, dine, freshen up or even catch up on work before you fly at more than 25 international and domestic departure lounges around Australia Plus enjoy instant access to our extensive Qantas lounge network around the world when travelling on an eligible flight#.

Enjoy exclusive membership privileges such as a chip enabled membership card allowing you to access Faster, Smarter Check-in at selected domestic airports, premium check-in and special luggage allowances.

From the terms and conditions:

The offer is open to Australian residents only (for tax purposes). You must be a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program to earn points.

Go here for full details.

I know that American Airlines does a lot to support members of our military, and that they have a long history of doing so, but something that I didn’t realize was that so many of their employees have a connection to one of the military services:

Today, more than 60 percent of American’s pilots and approximately 10 percent of all American Airlines and American Eagle employees are active military service members or veterans.

So it’s not surprising that American is the official airline partner to the USO or that through Veterans Day they’re offering bonus miles when you give to the organization:

In recognition of your generosity, and in honor of all those who serve, through Veterans Day, Nov. 11th, AAdvantage members will be rewarded 15 miles instead of 10 for each dollar donated through American’s Miles In Support of All Who Serve campaign, which supports USO programs and services to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families, free of charge.

With the holidays coming up, the USO will be soon be busy shipping thousands of care packages to troops stationed around the world.  

But they do more than ship care packages, they also do good work year round with programs like United Through Reading though which service men and women can record a DVD of themselves reading a book for their family.

So if the bonus miles don’t make you want to donate money, then maybe this video of a soldier reading a book to his 2 year old will:

Anyway, go here to learn more or take make a donation.