Originally Posted by
merrickdb
I’ve found that the AA website sometimes doesn’t correctly show flights that could be combined to make an award from Southeast Asia. Try looking separately for BKK-HKG and BKK-TYO and then for HKG-US and TYO-US. If you find flights, you can put them on hold using a multi-city search and then call AA to have them correct the miles required to what it should be as a single reward. If you’re comfortable waiting until close enough in, JL opens significant F and J award availability 14 days before departure.
I was hoping to fly JL, but not sure I want to wait for the 14 days prior. That's a good idea about the multi city search. Thanks!
Originally Posted by
ewh9
I don't know when you are trying to travel, but I was able to easily find Qatar business class availability JFK-DOH-BKK for September 2023 (I am returning from Hanoi). The cost was 110k AA miles each way. For me, the premium compared to flying west was worth it for the ease of booking (and potentially fewer connections from NYC). I searched for reward availability for each leg separately on the British Airways site and then called AA to book the tickets.
I'm flexible on the travel dates, but ideally march or april's. I did see that there were a lot more options by flying through DOH, but that the AA site doesn't show them. I've heard the BA site is decent so I suppose I need to check that out. I think it was 40k from BKK to DOH and 50k (i could be wrong here, maybe it was 70k) from DOH to NYC. I might just have to suck it up and use the 110k each way.
Originally Posted by
JJeffrey
Yea, OP if you're just searching "BKK-CLT" and expecting aa.com to return any and all available flights then you're doing it very wrong
Unless you just happen to get win-the-lottery lucky with your dates then you'll most likely never find anything given the current state of partner availability.
As mentioned above you need to search bit by bit and piece it together one flight at a time. Research what partners fly into what cities in the US. Search the long haul segments first, if you find something put it on hold then search from BKK to the Asia gateway (and from the US gateway to CLT or wherever).
If you're willing to spend a few more miles then you can go via the Middle East on QR, EY, or RJ as guv mentioned, but you have to break up the search into say BKK-DOH + DOH-BOS/PHL/ORD/etc. as if you just search BKK-ORD then aa.com will not return any QR results since it can't be priced as a single award.
I started with BKK to CLT, but quickly learned that produced no results, so I started searching by segments. If those segments are through different partners, would you book it on your own as separate reward flights or call for the booking? I would imagine if AA does it on the phone the total trip would be less miles. Just imagining.. not sure. I started searching flying through DOH and a lot more options emerged, so that's likely the way I'll do it. Thank you!
Originally Posted by
DIRECT MERIT
Wouldn’t BA BKK-LHR then AA LHR-CLT work, at least in principle?
. I looked at that but the LHR taxes are ridiculous.
Originally Posted by
skimthetrees
BKK-JFK on CX is available (booked with AA) June 28 and July 19 if that works. That's as far out as I looked.
. It's just a bit far away. I've been waiting 5 years to visit my family. I was hoping for March or April. If I must, I can do it in the summer.
Originally Posted by
xjaehyun
It took me months of constant checking for JAL F flights on JFK-HND but found them. I still randomly search routes and when JAL has availability in J, there's always the "only 1 seat left" message that comes up (not even consistent availability as it'll show up for a couple hours and then disappear. I've even searched for JFK-BKK a while ago because a friend was going. Try signing up for Expert Flyer and set an alert in case J opens up on BKK-east coast.
. I think I tried using Expert Flyer a few years back, and it looked quite useful, but was a bit confusing for someone new to it. (I still haven't learned the letter codes for ticket types). Did you end up getting your JAL flight? If so, how did you get it, by booking online or calling AA?
Originally Posted by
bwiadca
Don't transfer your miles to United
I also been searching for BKK- US East coast for last 4 months of 2023 and so far I found Ethiopian J for 99k miles ow with stops in Ethiopia and Togo
The other option is ANA to UA BKK-TYO-EWR-IAD for only 650k miles per person one way!
Expert Flyer is the way to go.
LOL You've definitely been searching thoroughly if you found connections in Ethiopia and Togo. 650k miles haha. I probably should start getting used to Expert Flyer.