1) Sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Get 50,000 points by spending $3000 in the first 3 months.

2) Sign up for the Chase Continental OnePass Plus Card

Get 25,000 miles (or 50,000 miles if you received a targeted offer) after first purchase in the first 3 months.

Points of the Sapphire can be transferred to Continental / United Airlines.

A roundtrip ticket from the USA to Shanghai cost 65,000 miles on Continental / United ( or any Star Alliance Partners).

So these two cards will get you the award ticket.



The alternative could be, sign up for two ( 2 ) Citi AAdvantage Cards ( one Visa, one AMEX ),

You will need to spend $3000 on each of the card in the first six months.
You will then get 106,000 miles.

American Airlines roundtrip USA to Shanghai cost 70,000 miles only.

You have enough left for a domestic roundtrip flight. (Cost 25,000 miles)

Tax will be about US$80 for the award ticket, in both cases.

Or if you only get approved by one card by Chase / Citi, one way award are available at half the miles required for roundtrip.