Every two months, Air France announces their “Promo Awards,” super good deals — 25 to 50% off — for redeeming rewards miles*.  There are usually specials for each of their “regions**,” but during May and June we (North America) had no deals.  For July and August, we scored!

About a week before the official announcement,  Air France posted a preview of their special deals.  The July-August preview was merely ok.

However, when the real chart went live, with active links to “Book Now,” things got a lot better.

Originally, Business Class availability was limited to Chicago, Montreal, and Washington, DC (the last two nearly impossible  connections from my airport — CVG).  AF added Business Class from Detroit, Minneapolis and New York City (not a screaming bargain at 46,875 miles, but still a good deal for Business Class at 25% off the Classic Award; or you can fly cheaply out of Boston, served quite well by AF and partners.  Houston and Washington, DC, are also on the chart but missed my screen shot.)

The Chicago to Europe Business Class award dropped from 46,875 (75% of the Classic Award 62,500) to 31,250 (a 50% bargain).

All the numbers here are one-way, and that’s a great thing about Flying Blue Awards — I like to sleep going over, which means Business Class.  Coming back home is usually a daytime flight.  If I can amuse myself in ways other than sleeping, it can be in Coach (25,000 mile Classic Award — or, heck, spring for the 31,250 and put my feet up in Business Class).

Mixed class awards are easy to book with Flying Blue Awards.  Even flights over to one city/country and back from another (“open jaw”) can be booked easily as two one-way flights with no miles penalty.  I like over to London, back from Paris.  I’m also thinking about over to Lisbon and back from Madrid — two delightful cities with a lot of fun touring options in between.  Flying Blue makes these possible.

Let’s Go!

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* The website says, “with Promo Awards@, you save between 25 to 50% on the Award Miles usually required for a Classic Award ticket to certain destinations in the same cabin class. Promo Awards@ are available for limited periods and exclusively online. Discover these offers on our Flying Blue Promotions and News pages.  Please note that it is not possible to change or cancel Promo Awards@.”

** Air France, “regions” = Europe, North America, South America, Caribbean and Indian Ocean, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Middle East.