SDUS Nets Up to 43% Savings On Business Class to Asia, Plus Get Free Side Experiences

July 2025
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How FCF’s Stopover Double Upgrade Strategy upgrades your trip to Asia

In our previous Stopover Double Upgrade Strategy (SDUS) reports covering North America and Europe, we showed you how SDUS could slice up to 51% off travel within the U.S, Mexico, and the Caribbean and deliver up to 47% savings on European adventures.

The concept works globally and across American, Delta, and United, and many of their partners. Now we’re taking a deep dive into SDUS to Asia.

Sample findings that might change how you think about Asian travel:

Example #1: American Airlines / Oneworld

  • Baseline: New York > Tokyo > New York: $7,273 R/T
  • SDUS: New York > Tokyo > Hong Kong > New York: $5,560 R/T – Save $2,312 / 29%

Example #2: Delta / SkyTeam

  • Baseline: Boston > Seoul > Boston: $7,896
  • SDUS: Boston > Seoul > Singapore > Boston: $4,347 R/T – Save $3,395 / 43%

Example #3: United / Star Alliance

  • Baseline: San Francisco > Tokyo > San Francisco: $5,810
  • SDUS: San Francisco > Tokyo > Bangkok > San Francisco: San Francisco: $4,709 R/T – Save $1,101 / 20%

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ASIAN SDUS?

> Business Travelers with Flexible Schedules
Turn that mandatory Tokyo client meeting into a Tokyo + Bangkok double-header. Your company pays for Tokyo; you get Bangkok free.

> Luxury Travelers Seeking Premium Experiences
Why travel around the world just to hit one spot or pay premium prices for direct routing when you can pay less and experience multiple destinations?

> Adventure Seekers Building Asian Experience Wealth
Every Asian trip becomes a multi-country expedition. Seoul + Singapore. Tokyo + Manila. Bangkok + Ho Chi Minh. Build your Asian travel portfolio exponentially.

> Alliance Strategy Optimizers
Switch between Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance based on your specific route needs rather than blind loyalty to one program.

Unlocking Elite Travel:
The Path to High-Saving Experiences

The Tokyo Triangle (Oneworld Excellence)
JAL’s partnership with American creates spectacular savings opportunities, especially for Southeast Asian final destinations.

The Seoul Phenomenon (SkyTeam Dominance)
Seoul appears in 43% of our profitable routes. Korean Air’s pricing, combined with Seoul’s geographic position, creates consistent opportunities across multiple final destinations.

The East Coast Premium Paradox
New York and Boston show the highest absolute savings but require careful alliance selection. Oneworld consistently outperforms other alliances for East Coast origins.

The Southeast Asian Sweet Spot
Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, and Phuket are golden final destinations across all alliances. These competitive markets create consistent SDUS opportunities.

The West Coast Consistency (Star Alliance Strength)
San Francisco outperforms Los Angeles for Star Alliance opportunities. United’s partnerships create more pricing inefficiencies than LAX-based routing.

EXAMPLE SDUS OPPORTUNITIES BY ALLIANCE

Oneworld Champions
American Airlines, JAL, Cathay Pacific partnerships creating premium opportunities
Home Airport Originally Planned Destination Normal Business Class Round Trip Add-On Option: with SDUS SDUS Biz Class Fare Savings
Chicago Tokyo $6,361 + Ho Chi Minh $5,454 $1,085 / 16.6%
+ Bengaluru $5,447 $1,092 / 16.7%
+ Hong Kong $5,626 $735 / 11.6%
+ Bangkok $4,757 $1,604 / 25.2%
Dallas Tokyo $11,062 + Manila $6,565 $4,497 / 40.7%
+ Manila $7,935 $3,127 / 28.3%
+ Ho Chi Minh $8,060 $3,002 / 27.1%
Los Angeles Hong Kong $5,087 + Seoul $5,035 $52 / 1.0%
+ Mumbai $5,083 $4 / 0.1%
+ New Delhi $5,085 $2 / 0.0%
+ Beijing $5,065 $22 / 0.5%
+ Singapore $4,874 $213 / 4.2%
New York Tokyo $7,872 + Hong Kong $5,560 $2,312 / 29.4%
+ Manila $6,170 $1,702 / 21.6%
+ Shanghai $6,402 $1,470 / 18.7%
+ Ho Chi Minh $5,657 $2,215 / 28.1%
+ Bangkok $6,726 $439 / 6.1%
+ Hong Kong $5,395 $1,770 / 24.7%
+ Ho Chi Minh $5,732 $1,433 / 20.0%
+ Singapore $5,150 $2,015 / 28.1%
+ Manila $5,229 $1,936 / 27.0%

‍

SkyTeam Alliance Powerhouses
‍Delta, Korean Air creating Seoul hub magic
Home Airport Originally Planned Destination Normal Business Class Round Trip Add-On Option: with SDUS SDUS Biz Class Fare Savings
Atlanta Tokyo $8,727 + Hanoi $8,676 $51 / 0.8%
+ Singapore $4,347 $3,236 / 42.7%
+ Phuket $5,486 $2,097 / 27.7%
+ Manila $5,843 $1,740 / 22.9%
Boston Seoul $7,583 + Hong Kong $4,738 $2,845 / 37.5%
+ Bangkok $6,042 $1,642 / 21.4%
+ Singapore $4,717 $2,967 / 38.6%
+ Hong Kong $5,545 $2,139 / 27.8%
+ Hanoi $7,413 $271 / 3.5%
Dallas Seoul $7,684 + Phuket $6,280 $1,404 / 18.3%
+ Tokyo $5,449 $6 / 0.1%
Minneapolis Seoul $5,455 + Phuket $5,561 -$106 / -1.9%
New York Seoul $5,438 + Hong Kong $5,305 $133 / 2.4%

‍

Star Alliance Steady Performers
‍United, ANA partnerships delivering consistent value
Home Airport Originally Planned Destination Normal Business Class Round Trip Add-On Option: with SDUS SDUS Biz Class Fare Savings
Los Angeles Tokyo $5,579 + Bangkok $4,757 $822 / 14.7%
+ Singapore $4,778 $801 / 14.4%
+ Hong Kong $5,157 $422 / 7.6%
San Francisco Hong Kong $5,811 + Ho Chi Minh $5,286 $525 / 9.0%
+ Bangkok $5,296 $515 / 8.9%
+ Hanoi $4,710 $1,101 / 18.9%
+ Manila $4,855 $956 / 16.5%
San Francisco Seoul $5,682 + Hong Kong $4,990 $692 / 12.2%
+ Hanoi $5,101 $581 / 10.2%
+ Manila $4,946 $736 / 13.0%
San Francisco Singapore $5,693 + Manila $4,820 $873 / 15.3%
+ Bangkok $5,211 $482 / 8.5%
+ Hanoi $4,675 $1,018 / 17.9%
San Francisco Tokyo $6,767 + Hong Kong $5,436 $1,331 / 19.7%
+ Bangkok $4,757 $2,010 / 29.7%
+ Singapore $4,778 $1,989 / 29.4%
[["Home Airport","Originally Planned\nDestination","Normal Business Class\nRound Trip","Add-On Option: with SDUS","SDUS Biz Class Fare","Savings"],["\n\n\n\nChicago","\n\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n\n$6,361","+ Ho Chi Minh","$5,454","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,085 / 16.6%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bengaluru","$5,447","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,092 / 16.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hong Kong","$5,626","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$735 / 11.6%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$4,757","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,604 / 25.2%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\nDallas","\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n$11,062","+ Manila","$6,565","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$4,497 / 40.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$7,935","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$3,127 / 28.3%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Ho Chi Minh","$8,060","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$3,002 / 27.1%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\n\n\n\nLos Angeles","\n\n\n\n\n\nHong Kong","\n\n\n\n\n\n$5,087","+ Seoul","$5,035","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$52 / 1.0%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Mumbai","$5,083","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$4 / 0.1%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ New Delhi","$5,085","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2 / 0.0%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Beijing","$5,065","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$22 / 0.5%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$4,874","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$213 / 4.2%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNew York","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n$7,872","+ Hong Kong","$5,560","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,312 / 29.4%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$6,170","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,702 / 21.6%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Shanghai","$6,402","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,470 / 18.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Ho Chi Minh","$5,657","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,215 / 28.1%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$6,726","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$439 / 6.1%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hong Kong","$5,395","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,770 / 24.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Ho Chi Minh","$5,732","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,433 / 20.0%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$5,150","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,015 / 28.1%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$5,229","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,936 / 27.0%</span></strong>"]]

[["Home Airport","Originally Planned\nDestination","Normal Business Class\nRound Trip","Add-On Option: with SDUS","SDUS Biz Class Fare","Savings"],["\n\n\n\n\n\nAtlanta","\n\n\n\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n\n\n\n$8,727","+ Hanoi","$8,676","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$51 / 0.8%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$4,347","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$3,236 / 42.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Phuket","$5,486","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,097 / 27.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$5,843","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,740 / 22.9%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\n\n\n\nBoston","\n\n\n\n\n\nSeoul","\n\n\n\n\n\n$7,583","+ Hong Kong","$4,738","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,845 / 37.5%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$6,042","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,642 / 21.4%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$4,717","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,967 / 38.6%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hong Kong","$5,545","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,139 / 27.8%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hanoi","$7,413","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$271 / 3.5%</span></strong>"],["\nDallas","\nSeoul","\n$7,684","+ Phuket","$6,280","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,404 / 18.3%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Tokyo","$5,449","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$6 / 0.1%</span></strong>"],["Minneapolis","Seoul","$5,455","+ Phuket","$5,561","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">-$106 / -1.9%</span></strong>"],["New York","Seoul","$5,438","+ Hong Kong","$5,305","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$133 / 2.4%</span></strong>"]]

[["Home Airport","Originally Planned\nDestination","Normal Business Class\nRound Trip","Add-On Option: with SDUS","SDUS Biz Class Fare","Savings"],["\n\n\nLos Angeles","\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n$5,579","+ Bangkok","$4,757","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$822 / 14.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$4,778","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$801 / 14.4%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hong Kong","$5,157","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$422 / 7.6%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\n\n\n\nSan Francisco","\n\n\n\n\n\nHong Kong","\n\n\n\n\n\n$5,811","+ Ho Chi Minh","$5,286","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$525 / 9.0%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$5,296","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$515 / 8.9%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hanoi","$4,710","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,101 / 18.9%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$4,855","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$956 / 16.5%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\nSan Francisco","\n\n\nSeoul","\n\n\n$5,682","+ Hong Kong","$4,990","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$692 / 12.2%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hanoi","$5,101","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$581 / 10.2%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Manila","$4,946","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$736 / 13.0%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\nSan Francisco","\n\n\nSingapore","\n\n\n$5,693","+ Manila","$4,820","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$873 / 15.3%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$5,211","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$482 / 8.5%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Hanoi","$4,675","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,018 / 17.9%</span></strong>"],["\n\n\nSan Francisco","\n\n\nTokyo","\n\n\n$6,767","+ Hong Kong","$5,436","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,331 / 19.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Bangkok","$4,757","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$2,010 / 29.7%</span></strong>"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","+ Singapore","$4,778","<strong><span style=\"color: #009966;\">$1,989 / 29.4%</span></strong>"]]