Award availability alert: Fly in premium cabins on British Airways from the West Coast to Europe

14.06.2024 - 15:05 / thepointsguy.com

If you want to fly from the West Coast to Europe in British Airways premium economy or business class this year, now is a good time to book your flights.

TPG Director of Travel Content Eric Rosen noticed this award availability when searching for flights. But, as with many British Airways-operated transatlantic flights, you may need to pay significant taxes and fees.

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 European destinations

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

Travel dates: Availability from late June into winter

The cost of your award flight will depend on certain factors, such as the program you book through, your specific itinerary and your class of travel. I've included award pricing for booking through American Airlines AAdvantage, British Airways Executive Club and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan throughout this post, but you could book some of these award flights through other Oneworld alliance partners.

You can earn AAdvantage miles by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards (keep in mind that transfers from Bilt to AAdvantage will end June 24). You can also earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards. It's much easier to earn British Airways Avios, as you have the ability to transfer between Avios programs and from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.

Start by searching for award flights through the program you plan to use to book. Or, if you have more flexibility in your schedule, you may want to use Seats.aero to find a transatlantic award flight before booking through your program of choice.

Related: Your ultimate guide on how to search award availability for the major airlines

If you want to travel from San Francisco to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Nov. 23, you have several options for a nonstop British Airways flight. If you redeem American miles, you will 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.

If you redeem Alaska miles to fly from San Francisco to London, you will pay 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 redeem British Airways Avios to fly from San Francisco to London, you will pay 57,500 Avios plus $196.30 in taxes and fees for premium economy or