The Best Way to get to Asia Non-Stop on Star Alliance Airlines to/from Houston and Chicago

August 2017
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A stratospheric 81% savings with All Nippon, plus the way to go for anyone who can fly via the carrier’s two Midwest hubs.

There are dozens of ways to book non-stop First Class seats to and from Asia from Chicago and Houston; maybe even hundreds.

To narrow the options down, so you can put the process behind you quickly, is to start by asking the crucial questions:

  • When and on what carrier is there good availability?
  • If you don’t have the necessary miles or points, how can you buy them to save a small fortune?

[aside headline="United MileagePlus Members Get Hosed, Again " alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]United’s non-stops from Chicago and Houston to Asia had almost no free First Class mileage award seats over the next 11 months, which is why those flights are not part of this special report.[/aside]

What follows is a rundown of All Nippon’s best deals and the upcoming months to find them now—with up to two seats in First Class.

We Have Lift Off: All Nippon First Class

All Nippon First Class

Published Fares: To Tokyo from Chicago round-trip starts at $19,610, and $20,435 from Houston.

Mileage Cost: 150,000 (165,000 during high season). For the same price you can fly free to anywhere else in Japan—and to many other destinations in Asia for only 15,000 more miles, with a free stopover in Tokyo, if you want. Or, add a free domestic flight to any All Nippon U.S. gateway, via its partner United, and miles required range from 150,000 to 165,000 round-trip to Japan. See mileage award availability in chart below.

No All Nippon Miles? No Problem: Transfer 120,000 Starwood points or 150,000 Amex Rewards points to All Nippon.

Best “Buy Miles to Fly in Style” Deal: Purchase Amex Rewards points at 2.5¢ each, which brings the First Class ticket down to $3,920 round-trip (including about $170 in award taxes), a savings of $20,435 (81%) on the Houston-Tokyo route.

Sweet Redeem Survey: First Class on All Nippon

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[["<i>Route<i>","<i>Availability to Tokyo<i>","#colspan#","#colspan#","<i>Availability from Tokyo<i>","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month ","4 to 8 Days Per Month ","9 to 12 Days Per Month ","13+ Days Per Month "],["Chicago to Tokyo (NRT)","Aug. to Oct. <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.,\n Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.\n to April<\/span>","Nov. to April, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May, June<\/span>","Sept., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,\n April<\/span>","Oct., Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec. to Jan., Feb., March, <\/span> April, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,\n June<\/span>"],["Chicago to Tokyo (HND)","Sept., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.,\n Dec.<\/span>","Aug., Oct.","Nov., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan. to June<\/span>","Sept., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April<\/span>","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.,<\/span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.,\n March, <\/span>April, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May, June<\/span>"],["Houston to Tokyo","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept.\n to Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.,\n Jan., March<\/span>","Aug. to Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.,\n <\/span>March","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept. to Nov., April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec., Jan., March<\/span>","Oct. to Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.,\n <\/span>March, April, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,\n June<\/span>"]]
<small>Months in black at least one seat available;<strong> <span style="color: #6699cc;">in blue at least two seats.</span></strong>