Originally Posted by
kayexalate
So if I'm looking for 6/9/18, do I just keep looking? it seems like an Asiana flight on that date will likely never appear (assuming blackout dates are in effect) and any UA flight on that date will likely be 80k only.
Short answer -- yes, more or less. The key to award travel is flexibility; the less you have, the more miles you'll likely end up needing. If you're restricted to the nonstop, on one particular date, and need to get all four people onto the flight, yes, it may be very difficult to find saver inventory.
UA will allow you to waitlist for an award on their flights if you have a confirmed reservation for an alternative. So, if you are able to find space flying SFO-NRT-ICN, for example, you can book that and then waitlist for the nonstop. (You may need to wait a day or two for the flights to get loaded fully into their system).
SQ used to operate SFO-ICN, but they cancelled that when they opened the SFO-SIN nonstop. They do fly LAX-ICN, if that helps at all. SQ awards are not available online; you need to call. Most people search for SQ using either a paid service like ExpertFlyer or a free account on another *A partner like ANA.
Also, if you have Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Delta SkyMiles, Korean Air is also an option on that route. (KE is a Ultimate Rewards transfer partner and a DL alliance member).
Good luck!