If you have points with Amex, Capital One, Citi, or Chase, this $23,128 seat should be on your upgrade radar
Here’s something that’ll make you rethink everything about using miles for premium travel to Asia: While everyone else is fighting over Business Class seats and paying 200,000+ miles one-way, there’s a First Class secret hiding in plain sight.
I'm talking about Singapore Airlines First Class for 187,000 miles. Yes, that's more than the theoretical "saver" price (120,000). But here's the thing: Those saver awards with Singapore are like unicorns. Beautiful in theory, but extinct in practice.
The Ugly Truth About U.S. Carrier Premium Awards
Let's start with reality. Try booking Business Class to Asia on American, Delta, or United right now. Go ahead, I'll wait.
What you'll find is a masterclass in frustration. Delta wants 290,000 miles one-way for Business Class. American's dynamic pricing bounces between 122,000 and 240,000, depending on how the algorithm feels that day. United? Good luck finding anything under 170,000 to 250,000 that isn't connecting through three time zones and a prayer.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Actual Availability...
Now here's where it gets interesting. Singapore Airlines' First Class from Los Angeles to Tokyo shows availability on 207 days over the next year. That's not a typo. Two hundred and seven. 134 on the outbound, 73 on the return.
How about for two travelers? Would you believe: 96 days outbound and 44 days return through May 2026.
Think about that. When's the last time you found TWO Business Class seats together on any U.S. carrier to Asia for any reasonable number of miles?
Let's Talk About What You Actually Get
This isn't just about availability. It's about what happens when you close that suite door.
U.S. Business Class: A nice seat that lies flat. An amenity kit with socks you'll never wear again.
Singapore First Class: Your own private suite. A 35-inch wide bed. Dom Pérignon and Krug champagne. Caviar service. Pajamas that some actually want to keep, lol.
It's like comparing a nice hotel room to a penthouse suite. Sure, they both have beds, but that's where the similarity ends.
Singapore Airlines' $23,128 First Class Seats
The Math That'll Make You a Believer
"But 187,000 miles is a bit much." I hear you say.
Is it though? Let's do some math:
- American Business Class: 122,000-240,000 miles
- Delta Business Class: 290,000 miles typically, or more
- United Business Class: 170,000-250,000 miles
- Singapore First Class: 187,000 miles
The Route That Changes Everything
Singapore flies First Class on exactly one route from the U.S. to Asia, with a B777-300ER: Los Angeles to Tokyo.
Outbound flight SQ11 departs at 12:45 p.m. and gets you to Tokyo at 5:40 p.m. the next day. Return flight SQ12 leaves Tokyo at 6:15 p.m. and has you back in LA at 11:15 a.m.
Not in LA? Neither are most people. But connecting to LA is easier than finding Business Class award space on your preferred carrier. And Tokyo? It's the gateway to everywhere in Asia.
Make sure you’re mindful of FCF’s take on positioning flights.
Here’s the Miles / Points Availability We Found For Singapore’s $23,128 First Class Seats Your Cheat Sheet
Months in black have at least one seat available; in blue, at least two seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile…
The Strategic Play
Here's how the value-seekers are thinking about this:
Option 1: The Full Experience. Book round-trip for 374,000 miles and experience both flights in First Class. When you consider what U.S. carriers are charging for Business, this isn't the splurge it seems.
Option 2: The Hybrid. Book First Class one-way (I'd choose the return red-eye flight) and find something else for the outbound. Maybe you'll get lucky with a saver award. Maybe you'll book a positioning flight on ANA or JAL. The flexibility is yours.
Option 3: The Cash Alternative. Don't have 187,000 miles lying around? If you've got an Amex card, you can buy them for $4,675 through their mileage purchase program. That's over 50% off the otherwise $23,128 round-trip cash price.
Why This Matters Now
The premium travel landscape has shifted. The days of reliably finding 70,000-mile Business Class awards to Asia are over. Dynamic, inflationary pricing killed that dream.
While U.S. carriers race to the top with their Business Class pricing, Singapore's First Class sits there at 187,000 miles, available and bookable.
The Bottom Line
Is 187,000 miles a lot? In absolute terms, yes. In relative terms—compared to what you'll actually pay for inferior Business Class products—it's arguably the best value in premium travel to Asia today.
Sometimes the best value isn't the cheapest option. It's the one that actually exists, delivers incomparable value, and creates a memory that makes you smile every time you talk about it, which will be often.
Those 207 days of First Class availability aren't going to last forever. Neither is this pricing sweet spot.
What are you waiting for?