Air Berlin to increase USA routes to Chicago and New York

An interesting opportunity has popped up for those who like redeeming Avios on the cheap (as well as more connections to the United States), with Air Berlin increasing the frequencies on three of their US routes.

First up, Berlin Tegel – Chicago is to go Daily:

AB7420 DEPART TXL 10:00 ARRIVE ORD 12:10
AB7421 DEPART ORD 15:25 ARRIVE TXL 07:00+1

Commences: 1st May 2014
Booked Equipment: Airbus A330-200
Operates Daily

Berlin Tegel to New York JFK gets an additional boost, with services going from daily to 10 times a week

Berlin-TXL to New York-JFK

AB7248 DEPART TXL 13:00 ARRIVE JFK 15:45 
AB7454 DEPART TXL 17:10 ARRIVE JFK 19:55

AB7454 operates Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 


New York-JFK to Berlin-TXL

AB7249 DEPART JFK1730 ARRIVE TXL 0725+1
AB7455 DEPART JFK2155 ARRIVE TXL 1150+1

AB7455  operates Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

Commences 1st May 2014
AB7248/AB7249 operates daily
AB7454/AB7455 operates Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 

Dusseldorf to New York JFK also goes ten times weekly too:

AB7450 DUS1305 – 1530JFK 332 D
AB7480 DUS1700 – 1925JFK 332 357

AB7451 JFK1715 – 0655+1DUS 332 D
AB7481 JFK2125 – 1105+1DUS 332 357

Notes:
AB7450/7451 operates daily
AB7480/7481 Friday Service commences 2nd May 2014
AB7480/7481 Sunday Service commences 18th May 2014
AB7480/7481 Wednesday Service commences 28th May 2014
Booked Equipment: Airbus A330-200

So why is this of interest to those of us who have bucketloads of Avios? As Head for Points states, this is a great redemption to the USA with very low taxes in all classes. See http://www.headforpoints.com/2013/11/10/airberlin-launches-more-us-services-great-for-low-tax-avios-redemptions/ for the take

Low taxes and surcharges are great things, and with some careful planning you could combine a reward flight saver to Berlin-TXL or Dusseldorf, with an onward flight with Air Berlin, for a chunk of Avios and not a lot of cash – even in Business Class!