Fly United and its partners in Business and First Class for up 80,000 fewer miles to Asia, Europe and South America—or save enough for a free domestic First Class round-trip for every long-haul booked.
In February, FCF wrote about why United-focused travelers should earn Amex or Starwood Starpoints and transfer them to an All Nippon mileage account to fly on United. That’s because All Nippon gives you a much better value-per-mile than that offered by using United co-branded cards. Use the United card to hit your elite-status spend bonus, then switch over.
This month FCF is taking a closer look at the United-Asiana partnership as a possible back-up to United MileagePlus. Stock-up on Asiana miles through purchases or transfers so you have an alternative wallet.
The same rule applies
Spend enough on your United card to get your elite status bonus, then switch cards to one earning Starpoints, then transfer the points to an Asiana mileage account. Voila!
Why?
Asiana’s mileage program often has lower mileage award rates for United-operated flights than United’s own rate. Plus, award availability using Asiana’s mileage program is usually the same as United’s own, so no issue there.
Bonus upside: Asiana also has MUCH lower mileage award rates for Star Alliance partner operated flights than United’s rate, and it offers one-way awards at 50% of the round-trip cost.
One drawback: Award taxes are a bit higher than those United charges.
UNITED FIRST CLASS BONDAGE BUSTER #1:
Sample trip to Asia saves enough to get more than a free domestic First Class flight (80,000 miles): Based on past FCF research, United almost never has First Class award space for its own flights, but sometimes it offers First Class seats on partners’ flights. However, with United miles, partner travel incurs a nasty surcharge.
So, the best solution is to book Asiana’s First Class using Asiana miles—which you can get easily. On the New York-Seoul route, United’s lowest First Class partner award costs 240,000 miles and $48 in taxes, whereas Asiana charges 160,000 miles and $266 in taxes.
United.com @ 240,000 Miles…
Asiana.com @ 160,000 Miles…
UNITED FIRST CLASS BONDAGE BUSTER #2:
Sample partner trip to Asia in First Class saves 60,000 miles—enough for a one-way Business Class ticket to Europe or southern South America: On the New York-Tokyo route, United’s lowest All Nippon First Class partner award costs 220,000 miles, whereas Asiana charges 160,000 miles.
BUSINESS CLASS BONDAGE BUSTER #3:
Sample trip to South America saves 50,000 miles (enough for a free First Class ticket in the U.S.): On the Houston-Rio de Janeiro route United’s lowest Business Class award costs 120,000 miles and $56 in taxes, while Asiana charges only 70,000 miles and about $93 in taxes.
United.com @ 120,000 Miles…
Asiana.com @ 70,000 Miles…
BONDAGE BUSTER #4—BUSINESS CLASS:
Sample trip to Europe saves 40,000 miles: On the Newark-Frankfurt route, United’s lowest Business Class award costs 120,000 miles and $126 in taxes. Booking the flights using Asiana miles costs 80,000 miles round-trip and about $164 in taxes.
HOW TO SEARCH FOR ASIANA AWARD SPACE
- Set up an Asiana mileage account (takes five minutes here) as you must have the mileage required for award redemption in order to book award space.
- Check the United website for United-operated flight-award availability or for Star Alliance partner operated flight-award availability; or another good site to find Star Alliance award space is Aeroplan, Air Canada’s mileage program, you must log into Aeroplan to search for space, then click “Travel” under the “Use Your Miles” menu. These sites are a great tool and are easier to get an idea in finding Star Alliance partner award space, so you know where there is free award availability.
- Then call Asiana to check if the award space is the same, and if so, book United or book partner award space. 1-800-227-4262 (menu key #5).
- Getting miles: Asiana is a transfer partner with Starwood. (For more details on Starwood see, What Grandma Taught Me About Loyalty Programs and 99+ Ways Anyone Can Score by Buying SPG Points.)
Related FCF Reports:
For details on How and Why to Bust Out of United MileagePlus Bondage—for Travel to Asia, Europe, and South America using All Nippon miles, go here.
For details on How (and Why) to Bust Out of Delta SkyMiles Bondage for Travel to Asia, Europe, and South America with Virgin Atlantic miles, go here; and using Korean miles, go here.