Many Routes Between the U.S. and Asia Offer Availability Right Now for AAdvantage Sweet Redeems

February 2016
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Book mileage awards on American to/from Asia now before the March 22 increase. These options probably won’t last long.

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Lowest Partner Award Rate: Book through Japan Airlines Mileage Bank loyalty program—the carrier is a Starwood partner—and you can save up to 20,000 miles before the AA increase and up to 105,000 after the increase on March 22 (48%), as Japan Airlines uses a flight-distance chart to Asia. Inventory through Japan Airlines is often similar to American’s.

No Credit Card Transfer Points, But You Bought Alaska Miles?

The carrier is an AA partner and the cost to Asia is 100,000 to 110,000 for Business Class and 125,000 to 135,000 miles in First Class. If you took advantage of Alaska Airline’s last mileage purchase bonus (up to 50%, see Nov. 16 alert), then you are getting those miles at a good rate. (Alaska offers the bonus every two to three months.) Availability using Alaska miles is often similar to AA’s own.[/aside]

Book the awards to/from Asia even if you don’t know your exact dates to lock in the current rates. You’re booking a placeholder award, reserving space, in effect, and you have up to a year to change the dates at no cost. (But not the routing, which gets expensive, because the new rates apply.) Here’s a recap of six reasons to give American a look right now before the devaluation.

  1. Good Mileage Award Availability: On five routes, July throughSeptember to Asia in Business Class and First Class. See chart below for details.
  2. Low Mileage-Ticket Taxes: Generally $35 to $100 versus $500+ on Japan Airlines.
  3. Large U.S. Route Network: Makes it easier to reach an AA Asia gateway (Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles) using miles from smaller U.S. airports—as there’s no extra cost because AA does not charge additional miles for domestic connecting flights. In other words, Miami to Seoul costs the same as Dallas-Seoul, which involves flying to Dallas to catch the international flight.
  4. Easy Access to Miles: Via Starwood (often posts in two business days, but can take up to five).
  5. Good Rates Before the Increase: AA charges 100,000 to 110,000 miles until March 21 for Business Class and 125,000 to 135,000 for First Class.
  6. Return-on-Miles to Asia is Often Good: On Dallas-Tokyo, fares are usually high—starting at $6,966 in First Class and climbing to $25,968 with shorter notice and/or no-minimum stay). At 125,000 miles, the return starts at 5.6¢ per mile.

Sweet Redeem Survey: American to/from Asia

Primary Differences Between American Booking Options

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[["Route","Class of Service","U.S. <span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>to<\/strong><\/span> Asia","#colspan#","#colspan#","Asia <strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">to<\/span><\/strong> U.S.","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray","Handful","Hopeful","Hopeful"],["Chicago - Shanghai","Business","","Feb.","March to Sept.","March","","Feb., May to Sept."],["Dallas - Seoul","First","Feb., March, May","April, June","July to Sept.","","March, April","Feb., May to Sept."],["#rowspan#","Business","April","","July to Sept.","Sept","","April to Aug."],["Dallas - Tokyo","First","April, June, Sept.","July","Aug.","June","Aug., Sept.",""],["#rowspan#","Business","April, May, July","Aug., Sept.","","Sept.","",""],["Los Angeles - Shanghai","Business","","Feb.","March to Sept.","March","","Feb., May to Sept."],["Los Angeles - Tokyo","First","June, July, Sept.","","","June, Aug., Sept.","",""]]
<small><span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Handful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you’re flexible. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hopeful:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated. <span style="color: #6699cc;"><strong><em>Hooray:</em></strong></span> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated. Months in black at least one seat available.</small>
[["<strong>The Options<\/strong>","<strong>U.S. to\/from Asia<\/strong>","<strong>Availability<\/strong>","<strong>How to book<\/strong>","<strong>Getting Miles<\/strong>","#colspan#","<strong>Notes<\/strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","Credit Card Transfer","Buying","#rowspan#"],["<strong>American \/ AAdvantage<\/strong>","100,000 to 110,000 miles until March 21 \nfor Business Class and 125,000 to 135,000 for First Class.","See chart on page 10.","Online at AA.com","Starwood","150,000","Redeem now before the March 22 increase. You can\u0092t change routing, but you can change dates for a year."],["<strong>Alaska \/ Mileage Plan<\/strong>","Business Class 100,000 to 110,000 miles, First \nClass 125,000 to 135,000.","Often similar to AA.","Online at Alaska.com (check availability on AA.com first)","Starwood","Unlimited","Often sells miles as low as 2\u00a2 each, which can net a $5,656 Dallas-Tokyo for just $2,075 R\/T."],["<strong>Cathay Pacific \/ Asia Miles<\/strong>","180,000 miles in First Class and 120,000 in \nBusiness Class.","#rowspan#","Over the phone (check availability on AA.com first)","Amex Rewards, Citi, Starwood","Top off up to 30%","Not the lowest mileage rate, but has many credit card transfer partners."],["<strong>Japan Airlines \/ JAL Mileage Bank<\/strong>","Uses flight-distance chart. Itineraries of 10,001 to 12,000 miles (Los Angeles-Tokyo) cost 115,000 in First Class. Itineraries of 12,001 to 14,000 miles (Dallas-Tokyo, Dallas-Seoul, and \nLos Angeles-Shanghai) are 85,000 in Business and 135,000 in First. Routes of 14,001 to 20,000 miles (Chicago-Shanghai) is 100,000 in Business.","#rowspan#","Online at jal.com, but service is currently down and scheduled to resume early Feb. (check availability on AA.com first)","Starwood","Not offered","One of the lowest award rates, starting at 85,000 miles (via Starwood transfer, only 70,000) in Business Class and 115,000 (95,000 via Starwood) in First."]]