[Expired] [Deal Alert] U.S. To Africa From 104,000 Miles Round-trip in Business

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Finding award flights to Africa is no easy feat, especially if you’re looking to fly in business class. If this trip has been on your radar, now’s the time to jump — there’s widespread award availability on United’s nonstop routes from Washington, D.C. to Lagos.

Let’s take a look!

Fare Deal — Details

We found widespread award availability on this route, which features United’s excellent Polaris business class product. You can find up to 4 seats on most flights from now through October 2023, though awards dwindle off completely for the rest of the year:

• Class: Business
• Routes: Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Lagos, Nigeria (LOS)
• Dates: March to October 2023
• Rates: From 104,000 miles round-trip

The cheapest way to book this award is through ANA, which will charge you just 104,000 miles and ~$144 round-trip.

Otherwise, it’s possible to book these flights with Aeroplan points, which can be easily earned through a number of transferable point programs, from just 70,000 points and ~$54 one-way.

Finally, if you have a large balance of United miles, this can also be booked from 70,000 United miles and $5.60 one-way.

Best Ways to Book

ANA

You have a few different options for these flights, though the one that’ll suit your needs will depend on the flexible point currencies you hold and how firm your plans are.

ANA is by far the cheapest, charging just 104,000 miles roundtrip. However, it offers the least flexibility of these options since you cannot book one-way tickets. This isn’t an issue if you know when you want to return and there’s widespread availability in both directions, but it’s something to keep in mind. ANA charges a cancellation fee of 3,000 miles, but there’s no fee to change your tickets. 

You can earn ANA miles by transferring over from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. You can also choose to transfer over Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer, though transfers can take up to 7 days.

Air Canada

Using Aeroplan points is more expensive, but it’s a decent option for those who don’t have a ton of points. Thanks to its partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, it’s easy to earn enough Aeroplan points to make these redemptions.

All of these points, with the exception of Marriott Bonvoy, transfer over at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer, though note that transfers can take up to 5 days.

Keep in mind that Air Canada charges a $150 cancellation fee for business class award tickets, unless you book the higher-priced flexible ticket.

United Airlines

United is another option for this flight and can be your best bet if you’re just booking something speculatively. This is because there are no change or cancellation fees on award tickets, so you can book (and rebook) to your heart’s content.

Like ANA, United has limited transfer partners. You can either choose to transfer Chase or Bilt points at a 1:1 ratio or Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive an extra 10,000 miles for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer. Transfer times take up to 2 days.

Hot Tip: Check out our guide to recommended websites and apps that offer flight deal alerts, so you don’t miss out on the next great travel deal!

Final Thoughts

Even if you’re not interested in exploring Nigeria, this flight is a great opportunity to get you over to Africa and onward. With widespread availability, you’ll be able to find seats for you (and some of your loved ones) throughout most of the year. If this is something you’re looking to book, do so before these seats get snapped up!