Getting to Asia June 2016 on miles
Nov 30, 2015, 1:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
Getting to Asia June 2016 on miles
Hi all,
My family and I are headed to Asia next summer for a cruise, and we'd like to get there on miles. In business class.
I've been plotting things out with United, but realized maybe another airline is the way to go.
Details:
Depart SFO (or OAK, SAC, etc.) to Singapore around 6/10/16 (cruise departs Singapore on 6/12/16... ends in Tianjin near Beijing on 6/24/16). Then fly from either Beijing, Xian, or Shanghai around 6/27/16 to Seoul, Korea. Then fly from Seoul back to SFO on around 6/30/16. The dates are somewhat flexible -- but we can't miss the cruise or leave Beijing before the cruise ends.
My husband and I have a fair number of miles on United -- may have to buy some via Award Accelerator to cover us plus our sons.
My parents and my brother's family have miles from their Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but can transfer those to other airlines, too (we have some of these, too).
So, I was planning to do a combo of Chase Sapphire points transferred as miles, existing miles, and Award Accelerator purchase to get Saver Business Class tickets for our trip.
But perhaps there's a better way to go about this? Another airline perhaps?
Any and all thoughts welcome!
My family and I are headed to Asia next summer for a cruise, and we'd like to get there on miles. In business class.
I've been plotting things out with United, but realized maybe another airline is the way to go.
Details:
Depart SFO (or OAK, SAC, etc.) to Singapore around 6/10/16 (cruise departs Singapore on 6/12/16... ends in Tianjin near Beijing on 6/24/16). Then fly from either Beijing, Xian, or Shanghai around 6/27/16 to Seoul, Korea. Then fly from Seoul back to SFO on around 6/30/16. The dates are somewhat flexible -- but we can't miss the cruise or leave Beijing before the cruise ends.
My husband and I have a fair number of miles on United -- may have to buy some via Award Accelerator to cover us plus our sons.
My parents and my brother's family have miles from their Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but can transfer those to other airlines, too (we have some of these, too).
So, I was planning to do a combo of Chase Sapphire points transferred as miles, existing miles, and Award Accelerator purchase to get Saver Business Class tickets for our trip.
But perhaps there's a better way to go about this? Another airline perhaps?
Any and all thoughts welcome!
Dec 2, 2015, 5:03 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Sounds like you could transfer miles from Chase UR to Singapore Airlines (SFO to SIN). You need to check if they have business class availability before you transfer though.
For the return journey, you could transfer miles from Chase UR to Korean Air and fly Korean Air back home.
For the return journey, you could transfer miles from Chase UR to Korean Air and fly Korean Air back home.
Dec 2, 2015, 10:30 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
If you tell me specific flight date and # of people, I could check for you.
Dec 2, 2015, 10:48 am
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
If all 8 people want to fly business to SIN, you would likely need to transfer points into different programs where people board different airlines/flights and then you all can meet up in SIN.
Dec 2, 2015, 10:50 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
Yea unfortunately for the SFO to SIN, there is no availability. It's all waitlist. Even if you did waitlist, you'd be lucky to get 1 seat, max 2. I can't imagine a scenario where all 5 people would get to fly Singapore Business Saver awards. Couples complain about difficulty getting 2 seats at times, though it's possible if you book far enough in advance.
If all 8 people want to fly business to SIN, you would likely need to transfer points into different programs where people board different airlines/flights and then you all can meet up in SIN.
If all 8 people want to fly business to SIN, you would likely need to transfer points into different programs where people board different airlines/flights and then you all can meet up in SIN.
Yeah, we could split up by family (3-2-3). Thanks for checking for us.
Dec 2, 2015, 11:09 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Also remember the time & date difference between SFO & SIN. If you take the 01:30 SQ flight on 6/10 you arrive late morning of 6/11, but if you take the 14:00 SQ flight you get in midday 6/12.
Other options are BR, CA, OZ, NH.
If I were leaving on a cruise I would plan to arrive at least a day early if not more to tour Singapore and adjust to the time difference.
Other options are BR, CA, OZ, NH.
If I were leaving on a cruise I would plan to arrive at least a day early if not more to tour Singapore and adjust to the time difference.
Dec 2, 2015, 11:11 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
Also remember the time & date difference between SFO & SIN. If you take the 01:30 SQ flight on 6/10 you arrive late morning of 6/11, but if you take the 14:00 SQ flight you get in midday 6/12.
Other options are BR, CA, OZ, NH.
If I were leaving on a cruise I would plan to arrive at least a day early if not more to tour Singapore and adjust to the time difference.
Other options are BR, CA, OZ, NH.
If I were leaving on a cruise I would plan to arrive at least a day early if not more to tour Singapore and adjust to the time difference.
What are BR, CA, OZ, NH? I'm a newbie
Dec 2, 2015, 11:24 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
BR=Eva Air via TPE
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
Dec 4, 2015, 2:09 pm
#11
Left Expert Flyer 4/23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,741
Yes. You could use Expert Flyer to check for Singapore Award availability but it won't tell you if its at the saver rate. You need the saver rate for the awards to make sense, otherwise there is no point.
If you tell me specific flight date and # of people, I could check for you.
If you tell me specific flight date and # of people, I could check for you.
Dec 4, 2015, 2:15 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,676
BR=Eva Air via TPE
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
Dec 4, 2015, 5:07 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
Here's the direct link to FT Glossary & better to keep it handy: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/glossary.php
Dec 4, 2015, 5:08 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 126
BR=Eva Air via TPE
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
CA= Air China
OZ= Asiana
NH= ANA
They're all UA/Star Alliance partners with many routes to potentially find saver award tickets on.
Under the help tab at the top of the screen there is a glossary link. It has a lot of the shorthand that is used on here. I spent a lot of time going there when I was new.
Dec 4, 2015, 6:01 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,022
What you see on other airlines web site may/may not be available to UA freq flyers.
The UA forum may have info about booking with UA ff partners. Unsure about UA, but with some ffps all partners awards are not on line.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ster-wiki.html
As you dates are some what fixed be prepared to pay cash for some (all?) of your group.
For awards (or paid fares) be prepared to fly on different days and/or routes and/or split your group.
It can be something like:-
1 long haul business award on a fixed date is hard
2 long haul business awards on a fixed date on the same aircraft is 4 times as hard (2 squared)
3 long haul business awards on a fixed date on the same aircraft is 9 times as hard (3 squared) [may never happen]