The Tokyo (non-Tokyo) Asian Gold Rush and How to Save Up to 87% On First and Business Class

April 2022
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Asian award roads lead through, not to, Tokyo

Everyone is flying these days and many fares are on the rise. Premium flights to Asia are especially being priced through the nose, whether it be in miles or cash. They typically run $5,380 to $12,400 round-trip to Asia in cash for Business Class or 140,000+ miles. For First Class you’re looking at $20,000+ or 160,000+ miles.

Deals are hard to find today, so it’s time to be creative.

One Cheap Award Exception:
Tokyo

But if you want to go to Japan right now, so what? You can’t even go. Even while countries around the world are opening up, Japan is still holding out. The only people who can fly to Japan are foreign nationals with a business purpose and on top of that, they have to quarantine for 14 days. If that’s not you, you can leave Japan out of your thinking for the short term. I suspect that given the steady decline in Covid death rates through March, the country will open up soon.

But the very fact that we can’t go to Japan right now is leaving the door wide open for cheap award seats, and I promise you – this won’t last.

With so many flights from the U.S. to Tokyo, why let the opportunity go to waste?

Idea #1 to Leverage Tokyo AVAILABILITY Now:
Speculation Bookings

If you want to avoid high fares to Asia, and use your miles, I would  recommend booking a trip to Tokyo on speculation for travel later this year. At the moment, most tickets allow you to change or cancel free of charge, so there’s usually no risk. And hey, if Japan does open-up, you’ll have an awesome trip planned.

Idea #2 to Leverage Tokyo AVAILABILITY Now:
Use Tokyo as the Linchpin to Other Countries In Asia

So why do I care about Tokyo flights NOW if most people can’t go to Tokyo? Because Japan has a policy that allows you to fly through the country as a transit point:

Flights to Tokyo from the U.S.
*With Miles Availability to Tokyo*

We’re happy to say there are scads of availability to Tokyo from a range of US cities as the FCF research reveals below:

Business Class Availability

On United…

[table_opt id="6569" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

On All Nippon…

[table_opt id="6570" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

On Japan Airlines…

[table_opt id="6571" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

On Singapore Airlines…

[table_opt id="6572" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

First Class Availability

On All Nippon…

[table_opt id="6573" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

On Japan Airlines…

[table_opt id="6574" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

WHAT POINTS WORK WITH WHAT AIRLINES?

  • Amex: With All Nippon, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore
  • Capital One: With Cathay Pacific and Singapore
  • Chase: With Singapore and United
  • Citi: With Cathay Pacific and Singapore

NO MILES OR POINTS?
NO PROBLEM.

You can save up to $10,275 / 83% on Business Class flights by purchasing Amex points at 2.5¢ each.

[table_opt id="6575" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

First Class WITH AMEX POINT PURCHASE

You can save up to $18,900 / 83% on First Class flights by purchasing Amex points at 2.5¢ each.

[table_opt id="6577" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

BUY AMERICAN OR UNITED MILES

You can save up to $6,471 / 75% on Business Class flights by purchasing American or United miles when on sale at ~1.8¢ each.

[table_opt id="6576" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

First Class

You can save up to $20,020 / 87% on First Class flights by purchasing American or United miles when on sale at ~1.8¢ each.

[table_opt id="6578" style="gray-header" header_rows="1" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]

If You Want to Use Your Miles: FLY VIA Tokyo to Asian Destinations such as Thailand

Beaty limestone rock in the ocean

EXAMPLE
Opportunities Connecting Via Tokyo…
With Good Availability in Business Class
Using American Miles

Bangkok and Jakarta are plentiful for four travelers May through February.

Manila is plentiful for four travelers August through February.

Kuala Lumpur is plentiful for four travelers May through December and February.

Colombo is plentiful for two travelers September through February.

EXAMPLE
Opportunities Connecting Via Tokyo…
With Good Availability in Business Class
Using United Miles

Bangkok is plentiful for one traveler in January and February outbound and November to February on the return.

Jakarta is plentiful for one traveler June through February.

Manila is plentiful for one traveler July through February.

Asian award roads lead through, not to, Tokyo

Everyone is flying these days and many fares are on the rise. Premium flights to Asia are especially being priced through the nose, whether it be in miles or cash. They typically run $5,380 to $12,400 round-trip to Asia in cash for Business Class or 140,000+ miles. For First Class you’re looking at $20,000+ or 160,000+ miles.

Deals are hard to find today, so it’s time to be creative.

One Cheap Award Exception:
Tokyo

But if you want to go to Japan right now, so what? You can’t even go. Even while countries around the world are opening up, Japan is still holding out. The only people who can fly to Japan are foreign nationals with a business purpose and on top of that, they have to quarantine for 14 days. If that’s not you, you can leave Japan out of your thinking for the short term. I suspect that given the steady decline in Covid death rates through March, the country will open up soon.

But the very fact that we can’t go to Japan right now is leaving the door wide open for cheap award seats, and I promise you – this won’t last.

With...

[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Denver","Nov., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","",""],["Los Angeles","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">June,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June,<\/span> Aug.","July","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, <\/span><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">June,<\/span> July, Aug.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April,<\/span> May","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June<\/span>"],["San Francisco","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, June.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug., <\/span>Nov., Dec.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May,<\/span> Oct., Jan","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,<\/span> June to Aug., Feb.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.,<\/span> Oct., Dec.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,<\/span> June"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Chicago","","","Jan., Feb.","Oct., Nov.","Jan.","Dec., Feb."],["Houston","Dec.","Nov.","Jan., Feb.","Nov., Dec.","","Jan., Feb."],["Los Angeles","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Jan., Feb.","April, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","","Dec., Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["New York","Feb.","Feb.","","Feb.","",""],["San Francisco","July, Aug., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","","Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Oct., Dec., Jan.","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["Washington, DC","Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","Feb."]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats.</small>
[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Boston","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April,<\/span> July, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","April","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>","April, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","July, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.,<\/span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Sept.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec., Feb., March<\/span>"],["Chicago","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Dec.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, May, Aug., Sept., Jan., Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>","Nov., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","April, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Dec., Jan., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>"],["Dallas","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">July,<\/span> Nov., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec., Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, June, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Dec., Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb., March<\/span>"],["Los Angeles","May, <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan. to Feb.<\/span>","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec., Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">July,<\/span> Oct.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, June, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Dec., Jan., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>"],["New York","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May,<\/span> Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Dec., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May, July,<\/span> Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June, Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Nov., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>"],["San Francisco","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May,<\/span> July, Oct.","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb., March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">July,<\/span> Oct., Nov., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">June<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Sept.,<\/span> Jan., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb., March<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Los Angeles","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May to Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">June, July,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug. to Feb.<\/span>","June., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug., Oct. to Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May.,<\/span> Aug., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept.<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Chicago - Tokyo","Nov., Dec.","Jan. to March","Nov. to Jan.","Feb., March"],["New York - Tokyo","March","","March",""]]
<small>*Months in black at least one seat available.</small>
[["Tokyo To \/ From","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Chicago","","April, March","","May","March",""],["New York","","March","","","March",""],["San Francisco","","March","","","March",""]]
<small>*Months in black at least one seat available.</small>
[["Operating Airline","To Tokyo From","Lowest Cost Amex Miles Partner","Amex Partner Cost \/ Miles","Cost To Buy","Published Fare","Buying Amex Points Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","All Nippon","75,000","$1,875","$7,937","$6,062","76%"],["#rowspan#","Houston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,937","$6,062","76%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,658","$3,783","67%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$10,700","$8,825","82%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,985","$6,110","77%"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,130","$6,255","77%"],["Japan","Boston","Cathay Pacific","150,000","$3,750","$9,402","$5,652","60%"],["#rowspan#","Chicago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,666","$3,916","51%"],["#rowspan#","Dallas","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,631","$4,881","57%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,380","$1,630","30%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,711","$3,961","51%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,460","$3,710","50%"],["Singapore","Los Angeles","Singapore","184,000","$4,600","$7,711","$3,111","40%"],["United","Denver","All Nippon","85,000","$2,125","$12,400","$10,275","83%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$6,613","$4,488","68%"],["#rowspan#","Newark","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,400","$9,275","81%"]]
[["Operating Airline","To Tokyo From","Lowest Cost Amex Partner","Amex Partner Cost \/ Miles","Cost To Buy Miles","Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","All Nippon","220,000","$5,500","$21,500","$16,000","74%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$22,000","$16,500","75%"],["Japan","Chicago","Cathay Pacific","160,000","$4,000","$22,300","$18,300","82%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$22,900","$18,900","83%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$20,100","$16,100","80%"]]
[["Operating Airline","To Tokyo From","Buy Miles From","Cost \/ Miles","Approx Cost to Buy Miles When on Sale ","Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","United","160,000","$2,880","$7,937","$5,057","64%"],["#rowspan#","Houston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,937","$5,057","64%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,658","$2,778","49%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,985","$5,105","64%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,130","$5,250","65%"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,780","$2,900","50%"],["Japan","Boston","American","120,000","$2,160","$8,251","$6,091","74%"],["#rowspan#","Chicago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,887","$3,727","63%"],["#rowspan#","Dallas","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,402","$7,242","77%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,666","$5,506","72%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,631","$6,471","75%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$5,380","$3,220","60%"],["United","Denver","United","160,000","$2,880","$8,373","$5,493","66%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$6,077","$3,197","53%"],["#rowspan#","Newark","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,423","$5,543","66%"]]
[["Airline","To Tokyo From","Buy Miles from","Cost","Approx Cost To Buy Miles","Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","United","220,000","$3,960","$21,500","$17,540","82%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$22,000","$18,040","82%"],["Japan","Chicago","American","160,000","$2,880","$22,300","$19,420","87%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$22,900","$20,020","87%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$20,100","$17,220","86%"]]
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