[How to] Get a Free Award Flight to India in Business

We travel to India almost every year and getting there is one of our family’s biggest expenses. It typically requires some travel budget planning. It’s a wonderful place to visit, with various cultures to explore and the most delicious Indian food.

Recently, several credit card issuers offer lucrative sign-up bonuses and maximizing their rewards would earn a flight for next to nothing. If you use wisely, these rewards not only get you economy travel, when planned well in advance, they can also take you in the comfort of Business/First. As a matter of fact, traveling to Asia or any country like India in Business class is a dream come true experience to me.

Redeem India Award Flight Travel using American Miles AAdvantage

There are several options to book an award ticket for travel to India through various airlines. We will discuss the options and examples for best miles redemption to India including some of the most attractive Business Class flights in the skies. It’s none other than Qatar and the second best is Etihad. Qatar QSuites offers suite-style business-class seats on select routes. Similarly, Etihad has Business Studio, on select flights. Both are award-winning business class travel. You can check out the cool video below on Qsuites. Now let’s see how to get around on these for almost nothing.

If you are traveling from the US, American AAdvantage miles provides some great redemption for traveling in Business or First. Qatar and Etihad are partners to American, so you can book their tickets via American miles. You can check their award chart here.  They offer a generous one-way award ticket to India at 40,000 miles in Economy (target for Business), 70,000 miles in Business and 110,000 miles in First. Normally, these tickets cost anywhere from $3000 to $5000 one way. Obviously redeeming tickets for miles is a great way to travel. Here are some of the credit cards that earn American AAdvantage miles.

American AAdvantage Miles Credit Cards

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard

Earn 40,000 bonus miles after $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months and 10,000 bonus miles after a total of $6,000 in purchases within the first 12 months. Annual fee $99, waived for the first 12 months.

Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard

Membership includes access for authorized users at no additional charge
Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after
$5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee $450

CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Mastercard

Earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after
$4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening
Annual fee $99, waived for the first 12 months

AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard

For everyday purchases
Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and
a $50 statement credit after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
No annual fee

AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard

Limited Time Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles
after making your first purchase in the first 90 days and paying the annual fee

AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard

Receive 50,000 bonus miles
after making your first purchase in the first 90 days

How to Book Qatar Business Award Travel using American Miles

Now, you can book Qatar Award travel ticket directly from AA redeem award ticket.

Here is how it looks when you select a particular route.

For example, Business Class Availability at 70,000 points from Dallas DFW to Chennai MAA.

First Class Availability at 110,000 points from Dallas DFW to Chennai MAA.

When you select a particular class, you will see routes with 2 to 3 legs. You will also see options via British Airways and American too. However, we want to choose the best, therefore showing the Qatar Business availability routes. Travelling additional leg in business is still ok, as you also have the benefit of using Airline lounge at the airport.

 

How to Book Etihad Business Award Travel using American Miles

You cannot book Etihad award travel directly at American Airlines website. You will have to call AA and make the reservation, reservation fee can be waived if you talk to them (just be sure to ask politely), as you can’t book via online. YMMV.

Before calling, you can find the availability using Etihad Guest booking. Check the availability below, you will only be able to book using AA miles if there is availability in Guest Business award travel. Don’t worry about the miles required shown below, you will only have to redeem what the AA award chart shows. Here is an example of Chicago to Mumbai availability.