Even if you’re not flying the routes covered below, you can still use the information for planning your itineraries to find the connecting flights most likely to have upgrades available, newer (and therefore better) seats, a free seat—or perhaps all three.
Business and First Class Award Space Opportunity to Asia and the South Pacific on Asiana Airlines
New Seats From New York: On July 22, Asiana starts flying a B777-300 to Seoul from New York, replacing the current aircraft, a B777-200. The B777-300 will have Asiana’s new First Class Suite (OZ First Suite), which has a sliding door, 32-inch monitor, minibar, and personal cabinet. The Business Class cabin has a new flat-bed (OZ Quadra Smartium). New York is the only U.S. route that will have the new seats. A Business Class award ticket costs 125,000 miles (non-peak), First Class 160,000 miles (non-peak). See chart to the right for mileage-award inventory availability.
Using Asiana’s Route System: Seoul is Asiana’s home port and a good jumping-off point to Beijing, Delhi, Taipei, and Tokyo, all served by the airline. Click here for Asiana’s route map.
Asiana’s domestic airline partners (for making connecting flights to New York from almost any other major city in the U.S.) are United and US Airways.
Getting the Miles for Asiana Airlines: Transfer 100,000 Starpoints for Business Class, 130,000 for First Class.
Using US Airways Miles to Get the Award for Less: Booking NY-Seoul on Asiana through US Airways brings the mileage cost down to 90,000 in Business Class and 120,000 in First; and at times when the award availability on Asiana is high, then US Airways might also offer space—meaning you can book the flights using US Airways miles.
Getting the Miles for US Airways: Transfer 80,000 points from Starwood for Business Class, 100,000 for First—20,000 less than United charges for Business Class. You can also buy the miles from U.S. Airways (no annual purchase limit, but 50,000-mile limit per transaction).
Survey of Free Mileage Space on Asiana Airlines New York-Seoul
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Business and First Class Award Space Opportunity to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the South Pacific on Etihad Airways
New Aircraft From New York: On June 1, Etihad Airways starts flying a B777 to Abu Dhabi from New York, which has eight more premium cabin seats than the current plane, an A340-500, and is equipped with Wi-Fi. A Business Class award ticket is 176,781 miles, First Class is 222,004 miles. See chart on page 10 for mileage-award inventory availability.
Using Etihad’s Route System: Etihad Airways flies to 89 destinations around the world. Abu Dhabi makes a good jumping-off point to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Mumbai, Singapore, and Sydney. Click here for Etihad’s route map.
Etihad’s U.S. airline partner is American. Use AA to make a connection to Etihad’s new B777 from JFK from almost any major U.S. city.
Getting the Miles for Etihad Airways: Transfer 142,000 points from Starwood for Business Class, 181,000 for First.
Using American Miles to Get the Award for Less: Booking JFK-Abu Dhabi using AAdvantage miles costs only 135,000 miles for Business Class and 180,000 miles for First Class; and at times the award availability can be similar to what Etihad has—meaning you can book the Etihad flights using AA miles.
Getting the Miles for American: Transfer 110,000 points from Starwood for Business Class, 145,000 for First. You can also buy up to 60,000 miles annually from AA.
Survey of Free Mileage Space on Etihad Airways New York-Abu Dhabi
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