Nostalgic Award Redemptions Worth Remembering

If there’s one thing people love doing, it’s waxing lyrical about the “good old days.” Whether it’s reminiscing about flying when people actually dressed up for the occasion or pining for the days when sky-high service didn’t involve a 30-minute battle for overhead bin space. But let’s keep it real, folks—flying back then was a luxury, a far cry from the bus-like affair it’s often compared to today. With lower prices, flying is now as accessible as a sneeze in flu season. Sure, there are fewer marbled lavatories, but hey, these days you can even take a shower on some flights.

Aeroplan First-Class Awards: US to Asia for 120,000 Miles

Let’s kick things off with Air Canada’s Aeroplan, which used to be the darling of frequent flyers. Back in the day, you could jet from the US to Asia with two stopovers for a mere 120,000 miles—no fuel surcharges, mind you. You could even weave Europe into your journey.

Picture this: San Francisco to Munich to Zurich to Bangkok to Hong Kong to Seoul to Frankfurt to Seattle. All in first class for 120,000 miles. Alas, the dream ended when Aeroplan decided enough was enough and changed its award chart. The program’s been revamped since then, but those halcyon days sure were sweet.

Lufthansa: The Generous Giant

Lufthansa once ruled the first-class award space with an iron-but-generous fist. Remember when the 747-400s had 16 first-class seats, meaning you could snag up to eight seats in advance for a sky-high adventure? Those days are long gone, my friends. The cabin shrunk, first-class seats became rare, and Lufthansa started playing hard to get with partner programs.

Earning British Midland Diamond Club Miles

British Midland, or bmi, was the airline I loved—despite barely flying them. Their frequent flyer program was like a golden goose, and I’m still bitter that British Airways gobbled it up. Earning Star Alliance Gold was a breeze, and get this: they’d even credit miles for award flights. How about that for generous?

Oneworld Explorer Awards: A Wild Ride

American AAdvantage offered oneworld Explorer awards, charged by distance rather than zones. Traveler-friendly? Absolutely. At one point, if you flew Tampa to Miami after an odyssey that included Chicago, Hong Kong, and Sydney, you’d only pay for the short trip from Tampa to Miami. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t last. The plug was pulled in 2014, without so much as a goodbye.

The SWISS First-Class Dream

SWISS made it too easy to snag first-class seats with partner miles; it was almost suspicious. But this short-lived paradise ended when SWISS restricted first-class redemptions to Miles & More elitists. Unless glitches arise, most of us will have to stick to wistful longing.

United’s 70,000-Mile Sweet Spot

United MileagePlus in 2014 let you fly first-class from the US to Asia via Europe for a cool 70,000 miles. Think Los Angeles to Bangkok with a pit stop in Frankfurt—all in first class. The axle broke when United devalued its award chart, leaving us relegated to faded memories.

US Airways’ 90,000 Mile Miracle

US Airways, ah, what a treat! Their Dividend Miles program was a boondoggle of benefit, letting you fly business class from the US to North Asia for just 90,000 miles. Want to route through Europe? Knock yourself out. Turns out, the agents were better at missing geography cues than cherishing rules.

Lufthansa’s Domestic Twist

Back when ingenuity met absurdity, LifeMiles allowed domestic US first-class bookings on Lufthansa. No, you didn’t misread—Lufthansa doesn’t fly domestic US. You could fly from Los Angeles to Frankfurt to San Francisco for a pittance. Don’t bother looking for this gem now, unless you fancy a wild goose chase.

Transatlantic Treats with British Airways Avios

Remember when you could fly Boston to Dublin in business class for just 25,000 Avios? Those were the days when distance-based award charts weren’t like your heartbreak ex. That dreamy ride ended in 2015, morphing into a costly endeavor for the mere 3,000-mile jaunt.

How About Emirates for a Ride?

Time-travel to 2012, when Alaska Airlines and Emirates teamed up, letting you savor first-class Emirates flights for a song. You could pivot your journey in Dubai and still not pay extra. Route savvily, squeezing a morsel of Mauritius in under 24 hours? Well, then you hacked the system. By 2016, Alaska decided enough tomfoolery was enough.

Cathay Pacific’s Comeback Tale

Ah, Cathay Pacific, where first-class flights for 67,500 American miles were once yours for the taking. Notably, Cathay was generous enough to release two first-class award seats in advance, a perk for even the most discerning couples. Now, scarcity is the new norm, leaving solo travelers in the lurch.

Bottom Line

Let’s face it, the airline award chart of yore has undergone a makeover—and not the good kind. But earning miles is easier, and like arcade tickets, there are still sweet spots if you know where to look. So, let’s cherish those bygone deals and reminisce about the experiences we once shared.

Have fond memories or heard of any deals that take the cake? Let’s keep the conversation rolling! And while we’re at it, check out the Val Seny ski resort for your next adventure!