Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
#DearOhad returns with major award travel shifts: #KoreanAir drops its sweet spots, #Marriott hikes redemption rates, #Qantas floods the market with Australia award seats, #AirFrance plots another FlyingBlue bump, and #Lufthansa teases more FirstClass partner space... Let’s unpack the drama!
Korean Air just officially announced its new award chart for SkyPass. Are the sweet spots still there, or did they kill the good stuff?
-- Depressed in Des Moines
Dear Depressed,
You’re not hallucinating - it’s real. Korean Air’s newly published award chart (for flights starting in 2025) is the final nail in what used to be one of the most valuable sweet spots in the game. Partner awards are out. Dynamic pricing is in. And one-way business class to Asia will now start at 120k miles.
Still, don’t panic just yet. Flights before January 2025 can still be booked under the old rules, so you’ve got a five-month window to burn those SkyPass miles the classic way: round-trip to Seoul in business for 120k, or Europe via KE metal at under 100k RT.
ProTip: If you have Marriott or Bilt points, you can still transfer to KE and book a stopover in Seoul for free. Just don’t wait - dynamic pricing waits for no one.
Marriott just rolled out some new Bonvoy hotel categories and pricing updates. Am I reading this right, or did half the sweet spots just vanish overnight?
-- Bonvoyed in Boulder
Dear Bonvoyed,
You’re not crazy. Marriott quietly updated pricing across dozens of properties, and most went up - especially those “category-less” top-end redemptions. In some cases, what used to be a 70k per night stay is now pushing 90k–100k during peak times.
No official chart, no notice. Just classic Bonvoy behavior.
That said, there are still pockets of value - especially in off-season city hotels, South America, and some legacy Cat 5 gems still under 35k. You’ll just need to work harder to find them.
ProTip: If you're eyeing a high-end redemption, use the “PointSavers” filter and lock in dates now. And always check if you can stack with a 5th-night-free for outsized value.
Qantas just ran a massive release of award seats from the U.S. to Australia for 2025. Did I miss the boat, or are there still ways to grab a seat down under on points?
-- Lagging in L.A.
Dear Lagging,
Yes... and yes. Qantas opened the floodgates this week for flights in May–July 2025, dropping tons of business and economy awards to Sydney and Melbourne from major U.S. hubs. The bad news? Most of the seats got snapped up fast by folks using Alaska, AA, or Qantas points.
But don’t despair. These periodic releases happen a few times a year, and Qantas tends to trickle out more space even after the initial dump. Plus, you can waitlist with Asia Miles or keep checking Alaska’s calendar view.
ProTip: Set alerts with UpNonStop (wink) or point.me and try less obvious routes like Dallas–Melbourne or SFO–Brisbane. Qantas premium seats are rare, but not impossible - with speed and a little luck.
I heard that Air France/KLM is raising Flying Blue prices again next month. Should I cash out now or gamble on a future promo?
-- Anxious in Annapolis
Dear Anxious,
The Flying Blue stealth inflation continues. Starting August 15, we’ll see higher “starting from” award prices on many long-haul routes, especially in business class. Paris to U.S.? Up. Amsterdam to Asia? Up. You get the idea.
If you’ve got plans and points, book now. There’s no downside to locking in an award today - you can often cancel for €50 and rebook later if a promo pops up.
ProTip: Remember, Flying Blue runs Promo Rewards monthly. Book short-haul intra-Europe hops or North Africa jaunts with as few as 7.5k miles one-way - and always check for hidden sweet spots like Europe–Tel Aviv or NYC–Curaçao.
Heard through the grapevine: Lufthansa First Class might open up more award space to partners again soon. Is this real, or just another unicorn rumor?
-- Doubting in Dallas
Dear Doubting,
It’s not just whisper-talk - Lufthansa is experimenting with earlier First Class partner release windows again, especially from their Munich hub. In a few recent cases, we’ve seen seats show up to 15 days out instead of the usual 1–2 days before departure.
That’s a big deal if you’re sitting on Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, or United miles. While nothing’s guaranteed, it could signal a wider policy shift.
ProTip: Focus on routes like MUC–JFK or FRA–LAX, and search 7–14 days out. If you see LH F for under 100k with minimal surcharges - book immediately. Champagne at 30,000 feet waits for no one.
Until next week - may your points stay liquid, your lounges uncrowded, and your upgrades go through on the first try.
Got a redemption riddle, a miles meltdown, or a routing rabbit hole?
Email newsletter@upnonstop.com and we’ll unpack it next Sunday.
