How the mileage programs compare—and why having the right credit card(s) makes such a HUGE difference.
[aside headline="No miles? No problem." alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"] For detailed information on getting miles in the airline programs in this article, please see our April 2015 issue. It includes not only tips on transferring points but also ways to buy miles, and it offers insights on mileage-transfer time for each airline program.
Buy Miles to Fly in Style
The “buy miles” strategy works when published fares are high ($4,000+), or a non-stop is a must. We don’t recommend it when fares to Asia are on sale (recently ranging from $2,663 to $3,146), as cited in our most recent fare alerts (June 30 alert and Aug. 5 alert)
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This is part four of FCF’s latest mileage-award comparison series, in which we grade major alliance mileage programs by how much they charge for a free award ticket in Business and First Class to/from various regions of the world.
In September we focused on oneworld in Business Class between the U.S. and southern South America, in July, Star Alliance First Class U.S. to/from Asia), and in June, oneworld in Business Class U.S. to/from Asia. For this installment, we examine nine Star Alliance airline loyalty programs for travel between the U.S. and Asia in Business Class.
Mileage Cost Discrepancies
Flying to Asia allows you to take advantage of award chart discrepancies between airline partners. Having the right credit cards, meaning one from Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi Thank- You, or Starwood (full report in FCF’s March issue) enables savvy travelers to leverage these discrepancies.
Many Asian carriers (and some European carriers) use a flight distance award chart (mileage required equals the distance between departure and destination cities), whereas most North American carriers use a regional chart (a flat rate from one region to another; also known as a zone chart).
Sometimes you can book an Asian carrier at a much lower rate compared to a U.S. carrier, such as using up to 60,000 (42%) fewer miles through All Nippon (an Amex and Starwood partner) from Chicago to Hong Kong. Book with United (Chase partner) and you’ll pay up to 65,000 more miles for the same flights.
A Note on the Grading System
It’s very simple, A through F, just like in grammar school.The lower the mileage requirement, the higher the grade, and for this report card, FCF rates not only each airline’s mileage requirements but also grades partner-flight rates. The grades are based on four sample routes, as it is impossible to account for every route.
[aside headline="Why Starwood Is King (and Amex Rewards is Queen)" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"] As you can see in our chart below, All Nippon only charges 75,000 miles in Business Class to Japan (any city in Japan) from its North American gateways (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Vancouver) during low season. One of the lowest, Business Class awards to Asia, it costs even less if you have a Starwood account: only 60,000 Starpoints 10,000 fewer for Business than United charges for coach (Amex Rewards points cost is 75,000). In other words, if you have a Starwood card and book via ANA, compared to the person doing what most people do (American, Delta, or United credit cards and direct bookings), you’re getting free upgrades.
Another way to look at it: Starwood card players often net 2-for-1s.
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The Grades
Air Canada: D+ / C
Charges the same for its flights as partner awards,150,000 for most of Asia. (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, and the Philippines are 155,000.) Transfer partners: Amex Rewards and Starwood.
All Nippon: A+ / A+
Divides Asia into four zones with three seasonal rates (75,000 to 115,000 miles); see seasons here.
Partner awards are based on these zones but do not have seasonal restrictions. They start at 85,000 miles round-trip in Business Class to Japan, the lowest cost of any Star Alliance partner award on this route. Other routes vary depending on the zone, but still fall in the 85,000 to 115,000 range round trip. Transfer partners: Amex Rewards and Starwood.
Asiana: C- / B
Also divides Asia into four zones for its flights, three for partner flights. Charges one rate for its regular Business Class seat and up to 30,000 miles more for its new Business Smartium seat. Gets a C- for its flights and B for partner rates. Transfer partner: Starwood.
Avianca: C
Does not fly between the U.S. and Asia, but offers partner flight awards based on its zone award chart; cost is 150,000 to 156,000 miles round-trip in Business Class. No transfer partners, but often has miles on sale through its LifeMiles program.
EVA Air: D / D
Divides the U.S. into two zones for travel to Asia on its flights (150,000 to 160,000 miles) and five zones to Asia for partner awards (175,000 to 195,000 miles).Transfer partner: Citi Thank You.
Lufthansa and other Miles & More airlines: C / BLoyalty
program includes Austrian, Brussels, LOT, and SWISS, and mileage cost to Asia (135,000 miles) is the same on all of them; flights are via Europe. Transfer partner: Starwood.
Singapore: C- / D
Divides Asia into seven zones and the U.S. into two for its own flights, and Asia into four zones for partner flights. C- for its own flights (includes 15% online booking discount) and D- partner rates. Transfer partners: Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi Thank You, and Starwood.
United: C / C
Charges 130,000 to 140,000 for its own flights and 150,000 to 160,000 for partner flights. Transfer partner: Chase.
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