How to save up to 191,500 miles in Business Class to Asia
Perfectionism and travel don’t go well together, as we discussed in this March article. But it doesn’t mean imperfection is the end-all-be-all for Business and First Class flyers heading to Tokyo. FCF finds that those who consider their travel plans an iterative process have the best chance at successfully scoring a better cabin, better seats, a better schedule, a better airline, or a better price.
This is especially true when looking for award seats to Asia, which has proven harder than finding a golden grain of rice in a padi field. When it comes to AA, award seat opportunities tend to arrive close to departure time, so you need a healthy appetite for brinkmanship. Even then, you have to know where to look. So this is for those who are upgrade open-minded or for those who have their bags packed at the front door, ready to say, “taxi!”
What We Found
Our team found Business Class awards on American Airlines’ nonstop flight from Dallas to Tokyo on May 3 for 251,500 miles one-way (screenshot below). So far, so bad. So, they looked further to see if they could get it cheaper by adding a connecting flight which we told you about in that same March issue and also in April.
AA Biz Class from Dallas to Tokyo
for 251,500 miles one-way
For those catching up, it’s worth the read. Fancy adding a flight and paying less? It goes against mainstream thinking, right? More on that in a moment, but back to our due diligence. We surveyed 44 American Airlines’ U.S. departure cities to Tokyo for Business Class award seats, with one-stop connecting through Dallas.
Ten of them are American Airlines’ U.S. hub cities — Charlotte, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Raleigh, Pensacola, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and St. Louis.
- Three of those hubs — Los Angeles, Pensacola, and St. Louis — offered awards for 60,000 miles connecting with flight AA175 through Dallas.
- Seven of the hubs had awards ranging from 103,000 to 245,500 miles with the same connecting flight AA175 through Dallas.
- 25 non-hub U.S. departure cities had awards for 60,000 miles connecting with the same AA175 flight through Dallas.
- Nine of the non-hub AA routes had awards ranging from 72,500 to 394,000 miles.
For these flights connecting in Dallas, some are from West Coast departure cities. If these were paid tickets, it would be considered backtracking. But flying from the West Coast on an award ticket through the Midwest on the way to Asia costs you way less, only 60,000 miles.
The chart below highlights where we found American Business Class connecting flights to Tokyo, many for fewer miles.
AA Biz Class Connecting Flight Mileage, one-way
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Buffalo, New York to Tokyo via Dallas in Biz Class for 60,000 AA Miles
Salt Lake City to Tokyo via Dallas in Biz Class for 60,000 AA Miles
sT. lOUIS to Tokyo via Dallas in Biz Class for 60,000 AA Miles
Connect with a Partner to Save Miles
Let’s look at a specific example for you Los Angelenos ready for sushi.
Japan Airlines Business Class from Los Angeles to Tokyo via San Francisco for 60,000 miles one way
If you were to fly from LAX to Tokyo nonstop on the red-eye arriving at the ungodly hour of 4:45 AM it would cost you 103,500 one way, and if you were to take a better flight with a reasonable departure time, it would cost you 434,000 miles. But if you fly from LAX to Tokyo connecting with Japan Airlines via San Francisco, it’ll cost you only 60,000 miles.
It’s a real stunner. LAX-SFO-Tokyo is 43,500-374,000 miles LESS than the nonstop LAX-Tokyo? You’d say, “Bring on the Tokyo-sized savings.” Screenshot follows.
Los Angeles to Tokyo via San Francisco in Biz Class for 60,000 AA Miles
Find More Seats When Making Connections
Here's a First Class example, flying to Tokyo on American from Nashville connecting to Japan Airlines First Class via Chicago using American miles has three times the number of award seats when compared to the Chicago-Tokyo nonstop.
First Class Chicago to Tokyo Non-stop for 80,000 AA Miles
First Class Nashville to Tokyo With a Connection for 80,000 AA Miles
Finally, Get First Class for LESS than Business Class
Business Class from Nashville to Tokyo on American Airlines connecting through Los Angeles is 95,500 miles one way…
…whereas First Class from Nashville to Tokyo on American connecting through Chicago on Japan Airlines is 80,000 miles one way. Wait, what? Yes, I can feel the stamp magically appearing like the rising sun and slamming down to proclaim:
That’s not the flag of Japan, that’s an upgrade
First Class Nashville to Tokyo via Chicago
for 80,000 AA Miles
Last Word for the Loyalists
Now you might say, “Wait a second, Bennett, I’m a loyal American Airlines flyer who lives in the great AA hub city of Chicago, darn it, and you’re telling me that Jerry Lundegaard from Fargo, North Dakota, can get to Tokyo in Business Class for 89,000 miles
than me?!”
And I would say with a sad shrug, “Loyalty sure ain’t what it used to be. Your best bet is to be loyalty-free and fancy-free. Stay open to opportunities and we’ll keep providing them for you here at FCF.” Who would have thought a flight connection could be your new best friend?