This report at a glance:
- Why First Class award tickets are disappearing
- When using miles for First Class to Asia works
- When using miles for First Class tickets to Asia is more challenging
- How to win with First Class Award Tickets to Asia
These days, coveted First Class mileage award tickets to Asia seem to disappear faster than the Incredible Shrinking Man. And like that unfortunate soul, the shrinkage seems to be just as unstoppable. There are a few reasons for this.
SHRINKING SUPPLY OF SEATS
It’s not just your imagination. First Class seats are actually decreasing. American doesn’t even offer a First Class product on many aircraft to Asia and United has phased out First Class.
MORE TRAVELERS NOWADAYS
At the same time, the number of bank hackers (those who get credit cards just for the sign-up bonus only to cancel afterwards) is increasing almost as fast as the number of First Class seats is shrinking. Serious premium travelers now have to compete with college kids and otherwise non-travelers who have newfound means to get First Class seats by hacking bank credit cards.
So what’s a traveler to do to snag First Class award tickets to Asia before they shrink into oblivion?
FCF’S SOLUTION: HOW TO WIN IN FIRST CLASS WHEN USING MILES
Actually, there are ways to secure First Class seats to Asia when using miles. You just have to know where to look, when to look, and know how to find what you need.
Where to Look: There are still airlines that have mileage award space—even when many others don’t. For example, Asiana and Korean often have First Class award availability for travel between the U.S. and Asia.
When to Look: When flash availability surfaces.
How to Do it: Be flexible to get the seats. You may have to be open to alternative dates of travel and be ready to pounce when deals become available.
WHEN USING MILES FOR FIRST CLASS TO ASIA WORKS:
ASIANA
Unlike travel to Europe, where some airlines (British Airways, for instance) charge 200,000 miles for a First Class mileage award seat, many airlines have decent First Class mileage rates for travel to Asia.
Take, for example, the Los Angeles-Seoul route on Asiana. The cost in First Class using Asiana miles is 160,000 miles plus $346 in taxes.
Don’t have Asiana miles? No problem. You can transfer what used to be 130,000 Starwood points (now 390,000 Marriott points).
Don’t have Starwood/Marriott points? Still no problem. All Nippon Airways is a partner with the Amex Rewards Points program and a partner airline with Asiana, which means you can use All Nippon miles to travel on Asiana flights. But All Nippon charges 180,000 miles—20,000 more miles than what Asiana charges.
Here is a recent opportunity FCF found for Asiana with Many Dates With Cheap First Class Flights Available for Up to Four Seats, 10 Months
WHEN USING MILES FOR FIRST CLASS TO ASIA WORKS:
ALL NIPPON
All Nippon is another airline that charges low First Class mileage award rates between the U.S. and Asia. Take, for example, the Chicago-Tokyo route. The cost in First Class using All Nippon miles is 150,000 miles plus $352 in taxes.
Don’t have All Nippon miles? No problem. You can transfer what used to be 120,000 Starwood points (now 360,000 Marriott points) or 150,000 Amex points.
Have a ton of United miles? If you want to use United miles (maybe because you have a lot) then the cost is actually more with United, at 220,000 miles.
Buy miles when on sale with LifeMiles: Given the baseline fare is $20,369, you can buy 180,000 LifeMiles miles for about $2,700 when they go on sale. Add taxes with the LifeMiles loyalty program, which generally cost $90 dollars, for a total of $2,790. We recommend that you only buy miles if you are confident there is availability you can work with or you fly enough that, should availability shift, you can use the miles on a future trip.
Here is a recent Opportunity for First Class to Asia on All Nippon.
WHEN USING MILES FOR FIRST CLASS TO ASIA WORKS:
CATHAY PACIFIC AND KOREAN AIR
Two more airlines that charge low First Class mileage award rates between the U.S. and Asia are Cathay Pacific and Korean Air.
Sample opportunities FCF found recently: Fly West Coast to Asia on Korean Air First Class with Marriott/SPG Points and Reap First Class On Cathay Pacific in January from Boston, Chicago, and New York
Cathay Pacific First Class
AIRLINES THAT OFFER INFREQUENT OR ONLY LAST-MINUTE FIRST CLASS AVAILABILITY
FCF has found two airlines that seldom have mileage award space in First Class: Japan Airlines (only last-minute award space) and Singapore (infrequently).
So, if you long for First Class using miles with either of these airlines, you have to be very flexible and check FCF’s flash deal alerts, which will keep you posted on availability. For example, we reported that Japan Airlines had space back in February for travel in First Class, and Singapore in First Class on the Los Angeles-Tokyo route. Stay tuned—and be ready to pounce when these flash deals arrive.
Armed with such insider knowledge, you can say goodbye to the incredible shrinking First Class award opportunities to Asia and travel much more comfortably.