Angkor Wat, Bangkok, Great Wall of China, Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, Osaka, and Tokyo. There’s clearly many more things that you can do in Asia but these are ones that come to mind for me.
Asia has a near limitless number of airports to fly into from the US. Beijing International Airport (PEK), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), Incheon International Airport (ICN), Haneda International Airport (HND), and Narita International Airport (NRT) are ones to check out flying into for your next trip to Asia.
Best Credit Cards to Use to Fly to Asia
When earning transferable points, American Express, Chase, and Citi are the programs that I leverage most often. Capital One and Marriott are the 2 other transferable point programs. Marriott can make a ton of sense when you’re looking to use airline partners unique to Marriott like Alaska Airlines.
The travel card I use the most is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card earns 3X points on travel. An equivalent Citi card is the Citi Prestige. You’ll earn 5X points on flights with this card. For Amex, the American Express Gold is your card. It earns 4X points on travel. If you want to earn 5X points on flights and have lounge access, the American Express Platinum is solid.
It’s well know that the Chase Ink Business Preferred has one of the highest sign up bonuses for a business card. The card also earns 3X points on travel. For Amex business cards, the American Express Business Platinum can make sense. It earns 5X points on flights booked with the airline and offers lounge access.
Best Ways to Fly to Asia with Points and Miles
As you’re evaluating your options in this list, it’s important to note a couple of things. One, the bank transfer partners are listed below. Two, the award prices shown are one-way. Simply double the number of miles shown for round-trip award prices.
- Amex – ANA, Etihad
- Capital One – Etihad
- Citi – Etihad
- Marriott – All
ANA Mileage Club
ANA Mileage Club program is an award program that’s hard not to like. Why you may ask? ANA has competitive award pricing. That’s both when flying its own and partner airline flights around the world.
If you’re wanting to fly Austrian Airlines or Lufthansa, consider other programs instead of ANA. The reason is because ANA passes on fuel surcharges. This comes into play when flying airlines with high fuel surcharges like Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa.
A cheap way to fly to Asia is to use 37,500 ANA miles to fly ANA one-way business class to the Japan region. With 40,000 ANA miles, you can fly ANA one-way in business class to the South Korea region. It’s important to note that these award prices are during the ANA low season.
It’s an easy booking process with ANA:
- Search for flights on United
- Confirm award availability on ANA
- Complete the booking online
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club can be great to use for flights to Asia. Its award program continually ranks as one of the most competitive out there. When flying Star Alliance award flights, give Asiana Airlines a look.
Fuel surcharges and easily earning Asiana miles are 2 drawbacks with the Asiana Club program. Like ANA, Asiana passes on fuel surcharges. This comes into play when flying Austrian Airlines or Lufthansa.
With 52,500 Asiana miles, you can book a one-way Asiana business class flight to the Korean region. 55,000 Asiana miles gets you a one-way Asiana business class flight to the Japan, China/Northeast Asia region.
Asiana Airlines booking process looks like this:
- Search for flights on United
- Call Asiana Airlines: 800-227-4262
- Confirm availability over the phone
- Complete the booking over the phone
Etihad Airways Etihad Guest
One of the most unique programs in this list is the Etihad Guest program. Etihad has individual airline partnerships. This works great as you can fly American Airlines at competitive award prices to Asia.
Etihad doesn’t allow you to book partner award flights on its website. Some travelers may consider this a downside. However, I’ve found the Etihad agents to be easily able to book award flights over the phone.
One-way business class flights on American Airlines to the Asia 1 region (Japan, Korea) will run you 50,000 Etihad miles. Flights to the Asia 2 region (i.e. Hong Kong) cost 55,000 Etihad miles in business class one-way.
American Express and Citi have offered transfer bonuses to Etihad in the past. With that said, the award prices listed above become even more competitive when you factor in a transfer bonus.
The process to book flights with Etihad has an extra step:
- Search for flights on British Airways
- Call Etihad: 877-690-0767
- Confirm award availability
- Complete the booking over the phone
Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank
A Oneworld program that has competitive award prices to Asia is Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. For economy and business class flights to Asia, you will want to give Japan Airlines a look.
The award booking process and ease of earning of Japan Airlines miles are downsides with the award program. In terms of earning miles, putting your spend on Marriott credit cards is the main way to earn Japan Airlines miles.
50,000 Japan Airlines miles is all you’ll need to book a one-way Japan Airlines business class flight to Japan. 70,000 Japan Airlines miles gets you a one-way first class flight to Japan. It’s important note these award prices are from the west coast.
The booking process with Japan Airlines is as follows:
- Search for flights on British Airways
- Confirm availability on Japan Airlines
- Complete the booking online
Conclusion on Best Ways to Fly to Asia with Points and Miles:
Asia, and in particular Japan, is an area of the world I’m looking to get back to soon. If you’re wanting more Asia travel inspiration, God Save the Points Kyoto Travel Guide and Tokyo: 10 Fun Things To Do On Your First Trip blog posts will give you your fix.
Which airline programs make your best ways to fly to Asia list? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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