Pre-COVID, I flew to and thru HKG quite often. It was a relatively easy GPU upgrade. Prices were pretty good. I also had multiple options from the east coast going from EWR, ORD, or SFO. I preferred having an upgraded seat all the way there vs connecting in NRT and sitting in Y for several hours. Now SIN is pretty much the only option but its pretty much an impossible upgrade. I suppose flying to TPE is another option but either way, I am forced to take a TCON to get to SFO and that upgrade is even more impossible. At that point, I might be better off just going via NRT (EWR-SFO UA E+ vs Asian carrier)