Originally Posted by
bobbybrown
If your vacation trip is in economy class, and you want to use miles, UA is also a good option because you can enjoy ANA's above average product with UA miles.
True, but I don't have enough UA mileage regularly to get on ANA paid with miles. I have flown them business class with miles in the past, and they were very good. Based on this experience I wanted to just fly ana paid, but they both cost more for economy (1500 vs 950) and don't have power at the seats. That's pretty much a deal killer. Keep in mind ana adds on 350 in taxes to the quotes presented on most sites and ke only 81.
Originally Posted by
bobbybrown
KE's Y class is also good, but KE has too long blackout dates for award trip, so you'll have to go vacation when not many people go vacation. KE's redemption is expensive: 70K to north Asia, 85K to south Asia (if you combine other skyteam members, 80K to north, 90K to south Asia). UA is 65K and DL is 60K.
KE does not release that many award seats to DL, so it is extremely hard to grab KE award through DL miles. But if you plan far ahead, like 6 months, you won't have any issue unless you want to take ATL/JFK-ICN. KE award currently charges fuel surcharge, which is 150 USD between US-Korea and more beyond. But no change fee, no cancel fee, etc, makes your trip flexible.
On sum, I would suggest DL's amex card with much more promotions all the time (not only credit card) if you want to take KE and your vacation is not in Christmas and not in between May and August. Otherwise, go with UA and take NH, or in worst case, take UA
So from this I think the DL amex combined with using my DL number on paid KE flights. Since we are talking about vacations, 6mo out is no problem and I will be flying from IAD, not through ATL so that will lessen the impact there as well.
I am a bit confused about one thing, with DL miles would I still pay 60k miles to go on KE or would I pay the full KE rates?