The Long Way to Barcelona

May 7, 2012 - Rick

We are earning EQM’s today with a roundabout route to Barcelona. Jacksonville to Dallas to New York’s JFK to Manchester, England on a cheap coach fare upgraded with our systemwides earned from earning Executive Platinum status. As I blogged earlier this year this was the only route I could find upgrade space on when we wanted to book our trip. The pluses are all legs are confirmed in first and the ticket was $400 plus cheaper than flying from Savannah. It two hours from Savannah to Jacksonville and we’ll leave the car at the airport hotel we got the night before with Katy’s free anniversary Hyatt night.

Upon arrival in Manchester, we have a three plus hour layover before boarding our 10K award tickets on BA using the All Airline American Airlines award chart. We have kept our costs to a minimum, added EQMs and are flying in comfort most of the way. The EQM’s are necessary to maintain my Exec Platinum status through 2013. The only other revenue tickets we have on AA are to Hawaii in September and upgraded those as well.

Our first three days are at the Le Meridien on La Ramblas in Barcelona. At 12,000 points per night we eliminated 599 Euros per night which is the current room rate. Can you imagine paying 599 euros or $792 for a room? That’s per night. Not per week, or per month but per night. Absolutely no way I’d do that. I guess you can see from that redemption alone why I use the SPG card.

The cruise was $999 per person for a balcony room on the MSC Fantasia with stop in Marseilles, France, Genoa, and Naples, Italy, Palermo on Sicily. Katy wants to see Pompeii and we will at the stop in Naples. It will also be our first time to the continent of Africa with the last stop in Tunisia.

We’ll keep in touch and I’ll try to send Howie photos to post. Can’t wait for Barcelona tomorrow.

Deal of the Day

For today’s Deal of the Day American Airlines AAdvantage® has provided 2500 AAdvantage® miles for the best deals, fares, promotions, anything related to American Airlines, their oneworld partners or AAdvantage ® partners. Add it to the comments section of this post or this afternoon’s Deal of the Day post (with your first name, last initial, and home airport) to be eligible to win.

Dhammer53

Le M in BCN is in a great location. A 5 minute walk from the airport bus, and a 3 minute walk to their famous market. Good place for morning coffee etc.
we were there in March 2011. We used 12,000 points per night to get the 5th night free. Total of 48k. Not bad.

Tom E

Hi Rick,
Next time you book on AA be sure to specifically ask for the expanded ExPlat inventory. Last month I was struggling to get the connections I wanted on a trip to SCL/PMC & EZE. I had called the ExPlat line several times and assumed that I’d automatically tap into the expanded ExPlat inventory. I had two round about tickets on hold. I called back again and this time I asked for it and bingo, the flood gates opened and I was able to get the connections I really wanted.
The expanded inventory does not appear on Expert Flyer.
Have a great trip and I hope you can join me on one of my Patagonia fly fishing adventures in the future.

Matthew H.

Matthew H.
STL
American Airlines is running great deals to Europe right now, especially Zurich. You can travel to Zurich from D.C. or Tampa for as low as $452.
http://www.aa.com/netsaaver/viewNetSAAverSpecialsDetails.do?fN=Europe.Sale.xml&locale=en_US&saleId=27&anchorLocation=HomePageHero1&reportedTitle=&reportedPosition=0&url=undefined&_locale=en_US&repositoryName=undefined&repositoryId=undefined
Bill H

I still grab 75 or 100 AA miles every seven days or so at Opinion Place. The surveys are far quicker than eRewards, and while the small number of miles seems “silly” its still a way to keep your stash of miles from ever expiring.
Dan R

Use your AAdvantage Citi Visa CC for checking in the following:
-First checked bag is free for you and up to four travel companions
-Priority Boarding and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases..http://thepointsguy.com/2012/04/new-benefits-added-to-citi-platinum-select-aa-visa-card-better-deals-still-out-there/
zensync

Get Directv
through the AA.com portal and earn 25,000 with your installation. Aaron SATLAaron S
Aaron S
ATLAaron S
Ricardo Seir

Next to the Hotel in Las Ramblas is the famous Mercado de Boquerias. Dont miss it.
There is also a coffe shop very near, called Cafe Viena. Great place for coffee and jamon y queso sandwiches that they make with their own bread.
I have been many times to Barcelona, and I keep going to Cerveseria Catalana (20 min walk from the hotel). For me, one of the absolutely best places in Barcelona to have small plates and a beer. Dont miss it, you will never forget it.
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The Long Way to Barcelona

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