O QUE É TARIFA AWARD? E COMERCIAL? Explicação completa

Summary

In this video, Careca nas Praias explains the concept of award fares, highlighting their benefits and how they differ from commercial tickets. He shares insights on how award fares work within airline alliances and through bilateral agreements, showing viewers how to use frequent flyer miles effectively. The video includes practical examples with airlines like Turkish Airlines, Gol, and Iberia, demonstrating how to find the best value for booking award tickets. Viewers are cautioned to pay attention to taxes and mileage programs, ensuring they book the most cost-effective flights for both economy and business class travel.

Takeaways

• 😀 Award fares are special ticket options that can be booked using frequent flyer miles, offering lower mileage requirements and often fewer additional fees compared to commercial tickets.
• 😀 Award fares are generally limited in availability and are typically made possible through partnerships or alliances between airlines (e.g., Star Alliance).
• 😀 These fares are often more valuable when booked in business class due to reduced mileage costs, especially for international travel.
• 😀 Award fares may include benefits like checked baggage, which can make them more attractive than standard commercial fares.
• 😀 Airlines release award fares based on bilateral agreements or as part of an alliance, offering limited quantities to passengers seeking to redeem miles.
• 😀 Understanding the value of miles in different programs is crucial; for example, even if an award ticket requires more miles in one program, the cost can be lower due to the program’s lower mile value.
• 😀 A practical example is a flight from Istanbul to Bali, where award tickets can be booked through multiple Star Alliance programs like Copa Airlines, Air Canada, or United Airlines.
• 😀 Some airlines, like Azul, are not part of major alliances but still offer award tickets via bilateral agreements with other airlines, such as Turkish Airlines.
• 😀 Always check the specific airline’s program before booking award fares, as different programs have different mile values, which can impact the overall cost of your ticket.
• 😀 While award fares generally offer significant savings for business class travel, they may not always provide the best value in economy class. It's important to carefully calculate and compare the costs before booking.
• 😀 Be cautious of hidden fees that may arise with certain award tickets, as some programs may have unexpected charges that could affect the value of the fare.

Q & A

What are 'award tickets' and how do they differ from regular tickets?

Award tickets are special fares offered by airlines for frequent flyer programs, typically involving the redemption of miles. Unlike regular tickets, award tickets are not available every day and often offer lower mileage requirements, fewer fees, and sometimes include benefits like checked baggage. They are typically made available through bilateral agreements between airlines or within airline alliances.

Why are award tickets considered more valuable than regular tickets?

Award tickets are often more valuable because they can be redeemed for fewer miles compared to regular ticket purchases. They are typically part of special offers, available in limited quantities, and often come with added benefits like lower taxes and included checked baggage. In some cases, they are only available to members of certain loyalty programs or airline alliances.

How can you identify and book an award ticket?

You can identify an award ticket by using loyalty programs or searching through airline websites or third-party tools that aggregate award availability across different airlines. Tools like CS Aero, which search across multiple frequent flyer programs, can help you find available award tickets. Additionally, you should understand the value of the miles in different programs to choose the best deal.

What are the benefits of booking an award ticket in business class?

Booking an award ticket in business class is often more cost-effective than booking with cash. Business class award tickets offer luxury and comfort, such as fully reclining seats, better meal options, and access to airport lounges. Award bookings typically require fewer miles in business class than purchasing a cash ticket, making it an attractive option for those with miles to redeem.

What should you consider when choosing the program to redeem award miles?

When choosing a program to redeem award miles, consider the mileage cost for the same flight across different programs. Some programs have higher or lower mileage rates based on the airline and its partner agreements. For example, a flight might cost fewer miles with one program, but the miles in that program might be valued at a higher rate, making the redemption less economical.

Can award tickets be issued for flights on airlines outside of alliances?

Yes, award tickets can be issued for flights on airlines outside of alliances if there is a bilateral agreement between the airlines. For example, the partnership between Azul and Turkish Airlines allows for award ticket bookings even though they are not part of the same alliance. These bilateral agreements enable airlines to offer award tickets to their partners at discounted mileage rates.

What is the advantage of booking award tickets with a partnership program?

The advantage of booking award tickets through a partnership program is the ability to access flights on multiple airlines within the same alliance, often at a lower mileage cost. For instance, airlines like Turkish Airlines and Copa Airlines, both part of the Star Alliance, may offer lower mileage requirements for the same flight route, allowing for more affordable and flexible travel options.

What makes it possible to book a flight for a very low number of miles, like 52,000 miles for a round-trip?

Booking a flight for a very low number of miles, such as 52,000 miles for a round-trip, is possible when utilizing partnerships between airlines and during promotions where miles can be bought at discounted rates. For example, booking a flight between São Paulo and Mexico City on Gol Airlines can cost very few miles due to a partnership with Aeromexico, where miles can also be purchased cheaply.

Why is it important to check the taxes when booking an award ticket?

It is important to check the taxes when booking an award ticket because sometimes, even though the number of miles required is low, the taxes and fees can make the flight less economical. Some programs may charge additional fees or high taxes that can increase the overall cost of the award ticket, so it's important to calculate the total cost before booking.

What role do tools like 'CS Aero' play in booking award tickets?

Tools like 'CS Aero' play an important role by aggregating award ticket availability from multiple frequent flyer programs. This allows travelers to compare different options and find the best mileage redemption values across various airlines, helping to save time and money in the booking process.