(Pay $23,000+? No.)
Airlines don’t make it easy to fly First Class between Asia and the West Coast.
But FCF does.
This time we present the best ways to fly from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Hong Kong (and from there to the rest of Asia) in long-haul comfort.
We’ve gone to the Pearl of the Orient—this is not a clichè as Hong Kong is located in the Pearl River Delta—for this installment and uncovered the following:
- The “When?” and “On what airline?” mileage award availability exist
- The partnership opportunities that get you the ticket for far less than retail
- Why buying miles or points can save you a lot of money or get you in the game if you don’t have any
American AIRLINES:
Published First Class Fares: To Hong Kong normally $23,008 from Los Angeles round-trip, making these prime routes for using miles.
Mileage Cost: 220,000. See mileage award availability in chart below.
No American Miles? No Problem: Transfer 180,000 Starwood points.
Cathay Pacific:
Published First Class Fares: To Hong Kong normally $15,832+ from Los Angels and San Francisco round-trip, again prime routes for using miles.
Mileage Cost: 180,000. See mileage award availability in chart below.
No Cathay Pacific Asia Miles? No Problem: Transfer 145,000 Starwood points, 150,000 Citi ThankYou points with current 20% transfer deal, or 180,000 Amex points.
How the “Buy Miles to Fly in Style” Strategy Can Save Up to 71%: Simply purchase Amex Rewards points. They cost 2.5¢ each. That brings the cost of a First Class ticket to Hong Kong down to $4,500 round-trip (plus about $86 in award taxes, which vary slightly by route) for a seat that otherwise goes for $15,832+.
Partner Opportunities:
Alaska Airlines: Just 135,000 miles for American flights (booked by Dec. 31) and 140,000 for Cathay Pacific flights.
Starwood Points: Transfer to Alaska to bring down the award cost to 110,000 to 115,000 miles (with the 25% transfer bonus) to/from any U.S. city, a savings of up to 39%.
Save 82% through Alaska Airlines: The current purchase bonus (ends Oct. 5), which is up to 50% (see alert here), brings Los Angeles-Hong Kong in First Class down to about $2,800 (plus about $79 in award taxes) on Cathay Pacific. (However, Alaska Airlines’ mileage inventory is much less than Cathay Pacific’s, but it’s still worth checking.)
Japan Airlines: 135,000 miles to Hong Kong round-trip from San Francisco on Cathay Pacific and 155,000 for both American and Cathay from Los Angeles.
Starwood Points: The 25% transfer bonus with JAL brings the award cost down to 110,000 to 125,000—a savings of up to 35,000 points (24%). (Japan Airlines mileage inventory is often similar to Cathay Pacific’s own, but always check before committing to a transfer or purchase.)
Sweet Redeem Survey: First Class to Hong Kong for at Least One Traveler
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