Business and leisure travelers can save big on 11+ routes to Asia—up to 81% off.
Last month FCF wrote a special report for oneworld (American) members looking to deploy miles to Europe in order to achieve or maintain their elite status. (The tactics also work for anyone who can’t find a low Business Class fare AND also works for those that don’t even have any American miles.)
This month FCF takes the same approach to Asia.
Our Pitch: The same as Europe: Forget about free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite credit, and it can be difficult to find availability. Instead, use miles to upgrade, as availability is much greater and you earn miles and elite credit.
American’s Upgrade Program
To Asia, American requires 25,000 miles plus a $350 co-pay each way on the lowest upgradeable economy fares (H, K, M, L, V, G, Q, N, O, S classes). The co-pay is kind of high, but when Business Class fares are high, this upgrade offers a great return.
Save 68% on High-Fare Routes
One Example: Say you’re traveling Dallas-Hong Kong, often an expensive Business Class route, even booked way in advance. The lowest AA economy fare is currently $1,322 from Dallas, while Business Class is $6,255 ($4,933 more)—so even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 68% off the published fare by using miles. (See chart below for upgrade award availability survey.)
AA.com screenshot below…
What to do when an Upgrade is only Available One-way
American lets you combine coach and Business Class fares, so you can upgrade from a coach fare the segment that has upgrade space and book the other leg in Business Class. On Dallas-Hong Kong, the combined coach-Business Class fare is $3,755 while round-trip Business Class is $6,205—so even with the $350 one-way co-pay, you can still save 34% by using miles one-way.
Lowest Economy Route on American Saves 75%
Los Angeles-Hong Kong is one of AA’s lowest economy fare routes, currently starting at only $490 round-trip, while Business Class is $4,795. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 75% off the published fare by using miles.
AA.com screenshot below…
Bridge Route Connections Can Save up to 81%
Smart travelers use the long-haul Business Class flight as a “bridge”. All they have to do is get to and from the bridge gateway.
From the U.S., that means you might even buy an economy through-fare ticket, meaning the fare gets you to and from the international gateway all on one ticket rather than requiring two separate tickets. Upgrade all the flight segments if upgrade space is available—or only the international legs.
Example: Boston-Hong Kong: The through-fare ticket gets you there via Dallas or Los Angeles for $695 instead of $4,819, the cost of a Business Class ticket. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 71% off the published fare by using miles.
Traveling Onward in Asia,
AND NOT ON AMERICAN?
It’s easy if you stick with AA’s partners, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines, and book the entire trip on one ticket.
Say you want to fly from Los Angeles to Bangkok. On American, that means making a connection in Hong Kong. The through-fare is $665 in coach round-trip versus $7,003 in Business Class. You upgrade the bridge legs of the trip, Los Angeles-Hong Kong-Los Angeles. Even with the $700 co-pay, you can save 81% off the published fare by using miles. Note that the Hong Kong-Bangkok leg will be on Cathay Pacific in economy.
Google Flights screenshot below…
How to BOOK MILEAGE UpgradeS with American
After you get a sense of “where good availability is” (perhaps using our survey below), call American and confirm that the flights/dates you want are available for the upgrade using miles, and book it.
If the upgrade on the flights/dates you want are not available, have the agent check other dates/flights.
This cannot be done online. Call 1-800-433-7300.
How Anyone Can Play This Upgrade Game
Don’t have any or enough American miles? No problem. Just buy American miles when they go on sale (recent opportunity here), or transfer Starwood points (takes about two days), and you too can save big.
Sweet Redeem Survey: American Upgrade Availability to Asia
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