Transferring Austrian Airlines Miles: United Rewards Simplified

Austrian Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which means that you can book Austrian business class with miles from any of its partner airlines' loyalty programs. For example, you can use United Airlines miles to book Austrian Airlines award flights. However, Austrian Airlines has high taxes and fees, so it is advisable to use one of their partner airlines' loyalty programs that do not pass on these high fees.

Transfer miles using the Miles & More programme

Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group and a member of the Star Alliance. This means that you can book Austrian Airlines flights with miles from any Star Alliance member's loyalty programme. For example, you can use United Airlines miles to book Austrian Airlines award flights.

However, Austrian Airlines has high taxes and fees, so it's better to use one of their partner programmes that don't pass on these charges.

One option is to use the Miles & More programme. With Miles & More, you can earn miles on every flight you take with Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, or SWISS, as well as on flights with 35 other airlines. You can also earn miles when staying at numerous hotels, renting cars, shopping at certain brands, and using the Miles & More credit card.

The miles you earn can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other rewards. For example, you can get:

• Flight awards from 15,000 miles
• "Round-the-world" flights
• Upgrades to the next highest travel class
• Taxes, fees, and surcharges when booking flights (flat rate of 15,000 miles)
• Non-cash rewards such as Spotify Premium, Napster subscriptions, shopping at Chic Outlet Shopping, duty-free shopping at the airport, and items from the Lufthansa WorldShop

Additionally, if you fly frequently, you can achieve a special status that comes with privileges to enhance your travel experience, such as a higher baggage allowance, lounge access, and more.

Use United Airlines miles to book Austrian Airlines

United Airlines is a great option for booking Austrian Airlines business class. United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which includes Austrian Airlines, so you can use your United miles to book flights with Austrian. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use your United Airlines miles to book Austrian Airlines:

Step 1: Visit the United Airlines Website

Go to the United Airlines homepage and log in to your United MileagePlus account. You will need to have enough United miles in your account to book the Austrian Airlines flight you want.

Step 2: Search for Flights

Use the search box on the United Airlines homepage to search for flights. Make sure to toggle the "Book with Miles" checkbox to indicate that you want to use your miles for the booking. Enter your travel dates and destination, and click "Find Flights" to see the available options.

Step 3: Choose Your Flight

Scroll through the search results to find the Austrian Airlines flight that works best for you. Pay attention to the dates, times, and mileage cost of the flight. Keep in mind that United MileagePlus uses a dynamic award pricing system, so the mileage cost may fluctuate.

Step 4: Redeem Your Miles and Pay Taxes and Fees

Once you've found the flight you want, proceed to redeem your United miles. You will need to provide your credit card information to pay for any taxes and fees associated with the booking. Review the booking details carefully before finalizing your reservation.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Austrian Airlines Flight

Congratulations! You have successfully used your United Airlines miles to book an Austrian Airlines flight. Make sure to take advantage of the excellent business class product offered by Austrian Airlines, including their renowned food and beverage service.

Earning United Miles

If you need to earn more United miles, there are a few options to consider. United MileagePlus is a transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. You can transfer points from these programs to United MileagePlus at a favourable rate. Additionally, signing up for co-branded United credit cards is a great way to earn United miles directly.

Avoid high taxes and fees

Avoiding high taxes and fees should be one of your top priorities when transferring your Austrian Airlines miles to United. Here are some tips to help you minimise these charges:

• Choose the Right Frequent Flyer Program: Some frequent flyer programs, such as United MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, and Air Canada Aeroplan, do not pass on carrier-imposed surcharges on award tickets. By redeeming your miles through these programs, you can avoid paying high fuel surcharges.
• Book with Airlines that Don't Add Fuel Surcharges: Airlines like TAP Air Portugal, SAS, and United do not add fuel surcharges to award tickets. By booking your award travel with these carriers, you'll only pay the standard government-imposed taxes and fees.
• Compare Partner Airlines: Different partner airlines within the same frequent flyer program may have varying levels of taxes and fees. For example, Air Canada and Lufthansa, which are both partners of Air Canada's Aeroplan program, can have significantly different fees for the same route. Shopping around and comparing fees can help you find the most cost-effective option.
• Avoid Certain Destinations: Some destinations, like London, incur much higher surcharges than others. Avoiding these high-surcharge destinations can help you reduce your overall taxes and fees.
• Book in Advance: Many frequent flyer programs charge close-in booking fees for awards booked within a certain timeframe of departure, typically within 21 days. By booking your travel well in advance, you can avoid these additional fees.
• Achieve Elite Status: Many airlines waive or reduce certain fees for their elite status members. Achieving elite status within a frequent flyer program can help you avoid or minimise taxes and fees on your award bookings.
• Compare Booking Portals: Before making your award booking, it's worth browsing through different airline booking portals to find flights with the lowest combination of miles and surcharges.

By following these strategies, you can significantly reduce the taxes and fees associated with transferring your Austrian Airlines miles to United. Remember to review the terms and conditions of the frequent flyer programs you're considering to make an informed decision.

Use Air Canada Aeroplan to book Austrian Airlines

Air Canada Aeroplan is a great option for booking Austrian Airlines business class. Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart, which means the further you fly, the more points you’ll redeem. For flights between the U.S. and Europe, the following award chart applies:

| Miles Flown | Economy Class | Premium Economy | Business Class | First Class |

|---|---|---|---|---|

| 4,001–6,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 | 55,000 | 70,000 |

| 6,001–8,000 | 35,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 | 85,000 |

| 8,001+ | 40,000 | 45,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 |

Since all available flights between the U.S. and Vienna fall within the 4,001 to 6,000-mile bracket, you’ll pay 55,000 points for a one-way business class ticket.

One of the unique benefits of Aeroplan is that you can add a stopover on a one-way flight for just 5,000 extra points. For example, if you wanted to fly from New York to Cape Town with a stopover in Vienna, you would calculate the sum of the distance of the two flights, find the appropriate distance bracket and pricing, and add 5,000 points to the price. In this case, the total distance is 9,890 miles, which falls under the 8,001+ miles bracket, costing 100,000 points in business class. Just add 5,000 points to that amount, search for award space separately, and call Aeroplan to book the ticket.

• Go to Air Canada’s homepage.
• In the top-right corner, click Sign in and log into your Aeroplan account.
• You’ll be redirected back to the homepage. There’s a search box in the middle of the page. Click Points to perform award searches.
• Click One-way or Round-trip.
• Enter your travel details and click Find.
• Find your desired flight, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use your credit card for taxes and fees.

To book a stopover, you’ll need to search for each segment’s award availability and then call Air Canada at 800-361-5373 to book your ticket.

Earning Aeroplan points is easy, with several transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy. Chase, Capital One, and Amex transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio in around 5 business days. Plus, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points.

Use United MileagePlus to book Austrian Airlines

United MileagePlus is a great way to book Austrian Airlines business class. It's particularly attractive because of its absence of fuel surcharges, simplistic booking interface, and the ability to earn miles quickly.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use United MileagePlus to book Austrian Airlines:

Step 1: Visit United's website

Go to United's homepage, where you will find a search box. Make sure to toggle the checkbox that says "Book with Miles" before proceeding.

Step 2: Populate the search box and find flights

Enter your origin and destination airports, select "Business" as your cabin class, and choose your preferred dates. Scroll through the options and select the flight that suits your needs.

Step 3: Redeem your miles and pay taxes and fees

Once you've found your desired flight, proceed to redeem your United MileagePlus miles. You will also need to use a credit card to pay for any taxes and fees associated with the booking.

Step 4: Earn more United MileagePlus miles

If you need more miles, there are several ways to earn United MileagePlus miles quickly. United MileagePlus is a transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. You can also sign up for co-branded United credit cards, which offer a great way to earn miles directly and provide benefits with the airline.

Benefits of using United MileagePlus for Austrian Airlines bookings:

• No fuel surcharges: Avoid paying high fuel surcharges imposed by other programs, which can amount to hundreds of dollars.
• Simplistic booking interface: United's website offers a user-friendly experience, making it easy to search for and book Austrian Airlines flights.
• Ability to earn miles quickly: With transfer partnerships and co-branded credit cards, you can accumulate United MileagePlus miles rapidly.
• Access to more Austrian business class award flights: United MileagePlus may offer a wider range of award flight options compared to other programs.
• Excursionist Perk: This feature allows you to book a stopover on a round-trip flight, providing more flexibility for your travel plans.

In summary, using United MileagePlus to book Austrian Airlines business class is a great option due to its simplicity, absence of fuel surcharges, and the ability to earn and redeem miles quickly. With its user-friendly interface and access to more award flights, it's a convenient choice for booking your next Austrian Airlines trip.

Frequently asked questions