Which new international routes offer the best award value?

Alaska Airlines has announced two new long-haul routes from Seattle (SEA) for spring 2027: seasonal 3x-weekly service to Athens (ATH) starting May 12, and 5x-weekly year-round service to Paris (CDG) starting May 25. Both will be operated with Boeing 787-9s, offering 34 business class and 296 economy seats. The sources note that tickets are already on sale and that “if you’re quick, you might even be able to snag some premium cabin award availability at a good value.” That makes these routes worth checking now, especially for Alaska’s own Atmos Rewards members and for anyone holding American Airlines AAdvantage miles, since Alaska is an AAdvantage partner and you can redeem those miles on Alaska metal.

United Airlines is expected to announce new international routes on Tuesday, August 25, at a Newark hangar event tied to the debut of its first Airbus A321XLR. The sources indicate Denver, Newark, and Los Angeles are likely hubs receiving new flights, though specific destinations have not yet been leaked. The A321XLR is a longer-range, premium-heavy aircraft with 20 Polaris suites, and United has previously suggested it could open routes to France, northern Italy, Scandinavia, West Africa, or North Africa. Until the actual routes are announced, there’s nothing actionable yet—but if you hold United MileagePlus miles, it’s worth watching for award space on any new XLR-served routes, as new routes often launch with attractive saver-level awards.

The bottom line: For Alaska’s new Seattle–Athens and Seattle–Paris flights, book award tickets as soon as possible—the sources suggest there is limited premium cabin award availability right now. For United’s upcoming announcement, wait for the official route list before making any moves, but keep your MileagePlus account ready to pounce if a desirable destination appears.