US Airways Discounts Caribbean, Europe Awards

Looking for cheap frequent flyer award tickets to the Caribbean or Europe this fall and winter? If your miles are in US Airways’ Dividend Miles program, and you can shoehorn your trip into a somewhat narrow window of opportunity, you may be in luck.

During the month of September, Dividend Miles members can fly from the U.S. or Canada to any of US Airways’ Caribbean destinations for 25,000 miles in coach, or 50,000 miles in first or business. Normal prices are 30,000 and 60,000, respectively, so the savings amount to a 17 percent discount.

The savings for Europe award flights are even better. Between January 15 and February 28, coach flights to Europe are discounted from 50,000 to 35,000 miles—a hefty 30 percent discount. And business- or first-class seats are reduced 25 percent, from 80,000 to 60,000 miles.

Unlike the recent award discounts from [% 3396356 | | United %], US Airways’ lower prices are simply shown on the airline’s award chart as “off-peak” awards, so they’re more likely to be overlooked.

Of course, cheap seats don’t guarantee that seats will actually be available. These are restricted awards, so capacity controls are in effect. But because they’re being offered during traditionally slow travel periods, availability should be less problematic. And the prices, especially to Europe, are compelling.