Given the difficulty in finding TPAC J seats to redeem with SkyMiles, I thought it was worth noting that from mid-October 2012 CZ will start operating their A380 on LAX-CAN. This has 1-2-1 flat bed seating in J, and EF is showing really good award availability. Yes, there will be fuel surcharges, but the only way to avoid them TPAC now is on DL metal, and finding more than one seat there is well nigh impossible. LAX-BKK via CAN looks to have about $267 r/t in fuel surcharges based on what ITA reports for a revenue ticket.

The one caveat to put on this opportunity is that CZ desperately wants to operate the A380 out of PEK (preferably to JFK) but CA is blocking them. If some sort of deal can be reached, I imagine they'll switch it from CAN in a heartbeat. For DM/PM this isn't a big deal. However, for those without free changes, there is the possibility of being put on the old 777.