If there’s one destination that offers a big payoff when using miles to fly First Class, it’s Asia. From the U.S., most flights are at least 11 hours long, so you need the pampering that First Class provides (and you get the time to savor it). Then there’s the fact that Asian carriers offer some of the best First Class cabins in the air. And the fact that they charge top dollar for it—a First Class ticket from Los Angeles to Hong Kong on Cathay is $15,000—means you get a whopping return on miles: 11 cents per mile in this case.
Cost Discrepancies Abound
Flying to Asia allows you to take advantage of award-chart discrepancies. Most Asian carriers use a flight-distance award chart, whereas most North American carriers use a regional one (a flat rate from one region to another). Sometimes you can book a regional award on a North American carrier for use on an Asian carrier at a much lower rate.
Note that some Asian carriers have variable mileage charges, depending upon the season and even the type of seat. Korean Air demands 240,000 miles for its new Kosmo First Class Suite from LAX to Seoul on May 20, but the day before, that seat costs only 160,000 miles. Singapore Airlines more than doubles the mileage for its new First Class suite.
We examined 16 airlines to Asia and here is what we found.
Air Canada / Aeroplan: B+
This Star Alliance member charges as few as 120,000 miles for a First Class award ticket to Asia from North America (Canada and the continental U.S.) to such countries as China and Japan, for travel on its partners All Nippon and United, many airlines ask that much for a Business Class award (170,000 miles, includes Indonesia and Asian Russia).
Air China / PhoenixMiles: D+
A Star Alliance partner that gets a poor grade because First Class award tickets are expensive: 190,000 miles to mainland China from North America (excluding Hawaii). Redemption via Star Alliance partners is pricey: ranging from 220,000 miles to Hong Kong to 275,000 for South Asia.
Alaska Airlines / Mileage Plan: B+
It doesn’t fly to Asia and it isn’t part of any alliance, but Alaska gets a high mark because it offers First Class awards to Asia on American and Cathay Pacific, and it is fair about the cost. Taking AA to Japan costs 125,000 miles and to China 135,000, the same as American charges. Cathay is really a good deal: 140,000 miles to China, 40,000 to 80,000 fewer miles than Cathay’s own program demands.
All Nippon Airways / ANA Mileage Club: A-
ANA’s First Class redemption program received the second best grade, charging 110,000 miles for an itinerary of up to 11,000 miles round-trip, such as LAX to Tokyo (10,916); 120,000 for 11,001 to 14,000 miles round-trip, such as Chicago to Osaka (13,122); and 140,000 for 14,001 to 18,000 miles round-trip, such as NYC to Okinawa (15,442).
American Airlines / AAdvantage: B+
Charges 125,000 miles for a First Class award from North America to Japan, and 135,000 miles to China. American is part of Oneworld and also offers an all-airline award on partner airlines such as Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, for which it charges 125,000 miles for Asia1 and 135,000 miles for Asia2. The fact that it allows for one-way awards on partner airlines (something most Star Alliance airlines don’t) also makes this one of my favorites.
Asiana / Asiana Club: C+
First Class awards start at 140,000 miles on its U.S. Korea route, and then steps up: 150,000 miles for Japan, 170,000 miles for South-East Asia, and 190,000 for South-West Asia.
British Airways / Executive Club: D-
It gets a low grade because of the high mileage cost: 270,000 miles to South Asia and 360,000 to the Far East. The program wasn’t made to fly from the U.S. to Asia, which makes some sense.
Cathay Pacific / Asia Miles: C- First Class awards cost 180,000 miles for itineraries of up to 15,000 flight miles round-trip (LAX to Hong Kong), and 220,000 miles for up to 20,000 flight miles (NYC to Hong Kong). You get a much better return on your miles if you book an award on Cathay using its partners: Alaska and AA.
Continental / OnePass: B
Continental doesn’t offer a First Class cabin; however, its members are able to redeem miles via the Star Alliance partnership for 135,000 miles to Japan, 145,000 to North and South Asia, and 160,000 to Central Asia. If you’re flying from Hawaii, the meter drops: 85,000 miles to South Asia, 95,000 to Japan, 100,000 to North Asia.
Delta / SkyMiles: Incomplete No First Class on DL or partners, hence the incomplete grade.
Japan Airlines / JAL Mileage Bank: A
One of the best First Class award programs to Asia, offering awards as low as 80,000 miles from Hawaii and 110,000 miles from North America. The rest of Asia comes in at 110,000 miles from Hawaii and 130,000 miles from North America. It also offers other types of partner redemption awards such as a Oneworld flight-miles-chart award starting at 120,000 miles.
Korean Air / Skypass: C-
This SkyTeam member offers First Class redemption awards with a twist: The miles required depends not only on miles flown, but when you travel (off- versus peak-season). So seasonality is key. The lowest off-season award from North America to Korea, Japan and Northeast Asia is 160,000 miles (peak season is 240,000 miles); Southeast Asia is 190,000 miles off-season and 285,000 peak-season; Southwest Asia is 210,000 and 315,000 miles, respectively. Peak season is Dec. 11 to Dec. 26, 2010, May 20 to July 3, and Dec. 9 to Dec. 25, 2011.
Singapore / KrisFlyer: D-
This Star Alliance member does not allow First Class Saver redemptions on its B777-300ERs and A380s—the planes that have Singapore’s vaunted First Class suite. The regular award costs an astounding 360,000 to 490,000 miles. One of the few exceptions, LAX to Tokyo, costs 140,000 miles because the aircraft is a B747.
Thai Airways / Royal Orchid: D A case of very limited supply. Thai only flies from Los Angeles, and does not have a First Class cabin. It does offer a First Class redemption option via its Star Alliance partners, but the mileage required is high, 192,000 to 264,000 miles.
United / Mileage Plus: B
The only U.S. Star Alliance carrier that offers a First Class product. Its redemption chart parallels Continental’s (not surprising, as they’ve merged): 135,000 miles to Japan, 145,000 miles to North Asia and South Asia, and 160,000 miles to Central Asia. Rates from Hawaii are much lower: 85,000 miles to South Asia, 95,000 to Japan, and 100,000 to North Asia. Only Central Asia costs more: 170,000 miles.
US Airways / Dividend Miles: B+
Also a Star Alliance member that offers First Class redemption awards even though it does not offer an international First Class cabin. It charges 120,000 miles round-trip (15,000 fewer miles than domestic Star Alliance partners Continental and United) from North America to North Asia, and 160,000 miles for South and Central Asia.
First Class Mileage Award Redemption Rates to Asia
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