I'm probably not alone in this community in being a perfectionist when it comes to redeeming miles. Or at least I aspire to be, then get super frustrated, and cave. That's because in many cases some amount of compromise is needed when redeeming miles. Want to fly Lufthansa first class to Europe? You can do…
Continue reading: How To Easily Redeem Miles For A Double Bed To Asia
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I have flown China Eastern First class a few weeks ago! Certainly, it is a better product than China Southern in compare hard and soft product! The sad part is layover and lounge in PVG 🙁
if you have a double bed with plenty of award space at a reasonable mileage cost (80,000 miles one-way between the US and much of Asia)
how are you getting 80k? KE's skyteam redemption is 200k from US-Asia 2
Also, how do you plan to redeem for Ford when KE prevents you from redeeming for non-family members?
@ Andy -- Awards between China and North America are 80K, so I haven't yet decided how to book the last part of the ticket. Ford has Chase points as well.
China eastern actually had a pretty good soft product in business. The one thing I really didn't like about the airline was the horrible lounge in Shanghai.
A review of China Eastern's double bed sounds like it would be a fun read...and potentially amusing.
@ anon -- Ah, shoot, I stand corrected. I was looking at the Korean Air chart rather than the SkyTeam chart.
@lucky, it seems that skyteam award requiring round trip would still require 200k even if you flew only KE on the return??
This article seemed to be right on point with a lingering question I've had, but digressed away from an answer to which I know you have the solution. I would love to fly me and my wife First Class Cathay from NYC to Hong Kong in 2017. I have plenty of american and alaska miles, but no status (but can match my delta gold to an alaska status if necessary). I know (I think) American will allow me to book Business Class in advance and then upgrade to First class for only the extra mileage cost within a few days (when multiple seats generally open up). I can even switch by a day or two if necessary with no fees. Correct? Can a similar strategy be employed with Alaska? Alaska is considerably cheaper on the flight, so that would be the preferred booking airline.
Best way to redeem Delta sky miles? I find lowest when schedule opens eleven months advance. Any better way?
Lucky, I'm flying Singapore business 777-300ER (HKG-SFO) in July with my fiance- do you think first class availability will open up towards the departure?
As an aside, I was able to book 2 F class seats on KE with new B747-8 aircraft on both segments; JFK-ICN-AKL just before New Year. Not sure if they have changed that policy to release 1/3 of their cabin!
You're just a drop too late. Until May 31st you were able to redeem 105k CX for ow MU F. They ended their partnership though..
@Lucky, I think Andy is correct. China is considered Asia 2 for rewards involving SkyTeam partners so the roundtrip should cost 200,000 (or at least according to the skyteam chart), and that is what I was charged about a month ago. Let me know if I should try to claim my miles back!
Using JAL miles to redeem MU first class, the round trip is a bargin with a plenty of stopovers.
My wife & I just took the 747-8 in First yesterday ICN-JFK and it was almost a perfect flight. Great soft product. Really good hard product. Slept like a baby for most of the flight which is most important to me. Definitely check it out! It's a beautiful cabin.
Korean SkyMiles lets you book with garuda now, so maybe try their newn777 within Asia since they don't fly to the states. But from the states, Korean 747-8 would be super cool.
Soft product over hard product, IMO, since no amount of investment into a hard product can mask crap service underneath.
Also, too bad one can't redeem Korean Air Skypass miles for Garuda First and try to fly that on the way back or on the way there... or has that policy changed?
@ Sam Johnson -- For Garuda first, or just business? If first, when did that policy change?!
Lucky,
Nort if you have flown Bangkok Airways before - if not you are in for a treat. It's all coach I think but the employees are WONDERFUL. They used to give a meal on EVERY flight. We flew Phenom Pen to Siem Riep and on this flight we got a meal.
Laos is my absolute favorite place in the world - the people are so friendly. You will hear sa ba di over and over all day - and never tire of it.
Beer Lao and Beer Lao Dark are great if you like beer.
You should go to the far north and travel by "bus" which is really a pickup truck. It will be totally filled but SOME HOW - they will fit a family of 4 in!
Go any where outside of Luang Prabang and it will possibly change your life.
I was at Kong Lor Cave - one of the longest caves in the world and stayed in someone's home. As a treat they got me grilled BAT!
David