Questions and Answers

We are looking to our first trip to Asia this summer (end June 2017). What is the best airline (comfort, service and good award availability) to travel from NY to HK for 4? Most of my points are with Ritz Carlton and Chase Sapphire but hoping I can figure out best airline and get various credit cards to rack up points. Since we have 4 people and no too much time before travel, best for us would be if airlines have options for cash + points for cheaper business class rewards. Thanks in advance. Jane

Without know specifically where all your points are, sounds like the choices are going to be Korean Air, Singapore, United programs.

Korean air charges 125K round trip, but has about $500 surcharges yet great availability. Problem is their peak season is until 6/30 to Asia and starts 7/14 coming back.

UA is next, doubt you’ll be able to get 4 business seats on United to HKG but you might look at their upgrade package which involves a co-pay, plus you can buy miles from them reasonable during sales (around 2 cents). United metal will be 140K RT for business and 160K for a partner, like Asiana or ANA. I bet you’d find availability on these 2, and OZ flies the 380 out of JFK although I was underwhelmed with that flight.

Singapore is another transfer partner. On the JFK-FRA-SIN-HKG route which is A380 to SIN your looking at 157K per plus about $400-$500 in surcharges. Availability might be an issue. Singapore Star Alliance is 175K RT with surcharges although I don’t think Asiana has them. But miles cost 3 1/2 cents.

I’d go UA miles with the hopes of either UA, Asiana or ANA. No surcharges and buy miles.

Also all these airlines have one-way so you can mix and match. Even if you needed to have 2 go one one airline and 2 go on another, not sure if that’s acceptable but an idea. Good luck!

Agreed. Asiana and Air China are probably your best bets in terms of availability and lower fees. I wouldn’t mess with United upgrades unless you’re a 1K or Global Services.

While I was on BA today booking a flight I did a quick check from NY to HKG basically to see availability. Most days at the end of June had 4 business class seats either out of JFK or EWR to HKG. While BA is 105K points one-way, you can mix cash and avios up to 1/2 the points. Doing so cost 2.75 cents a point so it’s not the least expensive but if you don’t have the points and can’t find the availability it might work for you. Lowest you could do it for is 52,500 plus $1,500 each one way. So for 4 its 420K $12,048 versus 840,000 all points. You can do levels in between as well, like 75,000 points and $966.

The R/T fare on CX is $7K so it’s not unreasonable if you compared to this.

However the R/T fare from Toronto is $3,500. So as opposed to spending $12K and 420K points you could spend $14K and a few thousand points to get to YYZ (plus get the points for airfare). Sometimes it all gets so confusing in hopes of getting a free ticket. I guess it all depends on how many points you have. Hope you find something.