FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Help Please: LAX -> Tokyo Award Flight
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Old Apr 16, 2013 | 3:14 pm
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SanDiego1K
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Even if you had the points today, you'd have a tough time finding a return flight. And it will likely be two to three months before you could earn the points.

I just looked at Star Alliance award space, that for which you should be able to use US miles.

I found outbound availability on Aug 31. It's a 1am flight from LAX on ANA, flying nonstop to Tokyo.

But there is nothing available on any Star carrier for the return between Sept 1 and Sept 7, at least Transpacific. This is the time when there is a massive influx of foreign students returning to their US universities.

AlohaDaveKennedy gives a good suggestion about searching for award space via Europe. I believe that US will allow you to redeem that direction, effectively having a RTW ticket on what is priced as RT. I've no idea if award space is available that direction. You seem to want to do a relatively brief trip. If you fly via Europe, it will take you at least 2x the time as flying a nonstop to the west coast.

Award space is very transient. What isn't available today could be tomorrow and vice versa. Still, I'm pessimistic about your ability to earn and then redeem those points between now and your desired date of travel. You might need to be looking at a goal of further in the future.
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