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Do you subscribe to the Top 20 from Travelzoo? I recommend it because each week there are a few truly incredible deals. Let’s take a look at a few from this week.
1) Fly nonstop from LAX-Puerto Vallarta for $313 r/t or Cabo for $333 r/t. Flights from SFO are slightly more. I have no doubt this is a good cash price, and the page says these prices are $200 off the normal price. But for me, this deal just highlights how valuable Avios are. Cabo can be reached from LAX on AA or Alaska metal with Avios for 15,000 Avios + $81 r/t (+ $25 more for Alaska because you have to call BA and incur a phone ticketing fee) all year. And Puerto Vallarta is similar taxes and fees plus 20,000 Avios r/t. Great Avios Deal.
2) $1499 — Turkey 11-Night Escorted Vacation w/Air. Close to a mindbogglingly good deal since airfare usually costs around $1000+ r/t to Turkey, and the description says it includes hotel stays in 4/5 star hotels, 19 meals, all transportation, and the services of a tour guide. It’s only $107 extra from LA. I don’t think you would earn any miles for flights because it’s probably booked into a fare class that earns no miles, but if it earns miles, it would be over 10,000 which further defrays the cost by a few hundred dollars. I just got back from Turkey, and it is a beautiful world away from America. Great cash deal.
3) Nonstop r/t flights to Paris in Premium Economy (Premium Voyageur) for $1708+ all in. From LA, it’s $1803 and 11,340 miles roundtrip. Travel in Premium Voyageur class earns a 25% redeemable mile bonus and a 50% medallion qualifying mile bonus according to delta.com. So for $1803, I’d earn 14,175 SkyMiles and 17,010 MQM, putting me about 2/3 of the way to Silver Status. Premium Voyageur offers a seat that is basically what you would find in a legacy domestic first cabin as well as a host of amenities. If you want to fly to France on a direct flight and you want more space, this could be a good deal, but since I can find flights for $1000 or less, I don’t value a little extra space in a recliner seat at $800 extra. Good deal for some people.
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Wonder if you would consider adding this type of eval of the Travel Zoo site weekly? It’s hard for us infrequent travelers to recognize a truly great deal sometimes…