Asiana Club - flying LAX to ICN ~ transferring AMEX points

so i got some great advice on a previous post from mainbill.

i'm trying to fly LAX to ICN sometime early next year. i have 100k AMEX points, and was planning to transfer them to AC. from what i understand, i can fly with their partner airline Asiana for 75k miles without paying any fuel surcharges. i was originally trying to transfer them to BA and using them on Cathay Pacific since it only took 60k miles, but i heard you have to pay a very high fuel surcharge now.

so is it easy as that? i call in, transfer my points to AC, wait a day or two, and then book my ticket through the AC website for Asiana?

and can anyone give some tips on taking advantage of the stop over destinations?

THANK YOU!

You waited too long. AC (didn't) announce fuel surcharges to almost everything yesterday or the day before. And BA is going to double their point requirements start the 16th of November. So you better sstart looking a little faster, aka RIGHT NOW!

so i got some great advice on a previous post from mainbill.

i'm trying to fly LAX to ICN sometime early next year. i have 100k AMEX points, and was planning to transfer them to AC. from what i understand, i can fly with their partner airline Asiana for 75k miles without paying any fuel surcharges. i was originally trying to transfer them to BA and using them on Cathay Pacific since it only took 60k miles, but i heard you have to pay a very high fuel surcharge now.

so is it easy as that? i call in, transfer my points to AC, wait a day or two, and then book my ticket through the AC website for Asiana?

and can anyone give some tips on taking advantage of the stop over destinations?

THANK YOU!

I would strongly advise you to reserve your award seats when you find them BEFORE you transfer points. Last thing you want is to transfer the points and find out that seats are unavailable. That being said, I am not sure about what AC's policy is in terms of "holding" Star alliance award seats. I book using SQ and they allow me to hold awards for upto 3 business days before ticketing. That usually gives me enough time to transfer from MR.

so i got some great advice on a previous post from mainbill.

i'm trying to fly LAX to ICN sometime early next year. i have 100k AMEX points, and was planning to transfer them to AC. from what i understand, i can fly with their partner airline Asiana for 75k miles without paying any fuel surcharges. i was originally trying to transfer them to BA and using them on Cathay Pacific since it only took 60k miles, but i heard you have to pay a very high fuel surcharge now.

so is it easy as that? i call in, transfer my points to AC, wait a day or two, and then book my ticket through the AC website for Asiana?

and can anyone give some tips on taking advantage of the stop over destinations?

THANK YOU!

Hey, let me give you a step by step approach to this.
First, you need to search for OZ award space on ANA, CO, or AC search sites for availability.
Then, you need to call AC and have the itinerary set up.
Then, while you're on the phone, transfer MR points to AC instantly through the MR web site.
Lastly, ticket the flight awards.

The latest announcement from AC shows that fuel surcharge is included only on AC and LH metal.
In terms of maximizing the miles, you can stopover in Europe en route to ICN, or stopover in ICN and destination to somewhere like HKG.
But with the new fuel surcharge on LH, it's not so attractive anymore.

You could also fly on KE with DL miles by calling DL first for available award.
Then, you can place the reservation on hold for one day.
Then, you transfer MR points instantly.
And ticket the reservation.
On DL, you can have a stopover and open jaw.

For 80K, you can fly to Sydney (this would be your destination) via Air NZ via Auckland. Then from Sydney, fly to Seoul on OZ for a long stopover in Seoul. Then take OZ to LAX.

I did this coule of years ago. You have to ask for that route specifically. Both airlines are top notch.
Definately check the award availability before transfering AMEX points.

thanks for the step by step mainbill. definitely very helpful for a newbie like me!

the Sydney route sounds tempting, but i think the HK route is more realistic.

i won't know exactly when i'm going until next month.

thanks for the step by step mainbill. definitely very helpful for a newbie like me!

the Sydney route sounds tempting, but i think the HK route is more realistic.

i won't know exactly when i'm going until next month.

I guess you need to plan a bit early because AC announced they're adding fuel surcharge on a lot of partners including OZ after this month.

I guess you need to plan a bit early because AC announced they're adding fuel surcharge on a lot of partners including OZ after this month.


NoOoOOOOoOoOO!!

i guess i better call them ASAP! if i were to book a flight with my miles, would i be able to change to a later date without a penalty fee??