Originally Posted by
uanj
If you have UA miles PVG-TPE and SHA-TSA are both 7-8k miles one way. You have to get to Shanghai but it may be a cheaper option. Domestic-international transfer at PVG is relatively easy (nothing like the nightmare that domestic-international is at PEK). For SHA whether you have a domestic flight or take the train you will have to take the subway one stop to SHA's international terminal, it is not connected to the domestic terminal. Easy but you need to plan enough time for it.
UA's award prices remain a mystery to me, but PEK-TPE appears to be 16.5k in one direction, and only about 2k more if you add another segment (i.e. return to PEK or somewhere else).
This pricing seems to be based on distance, at least in part, and PEK-SHA was only 7.5k miles the last time I checked.
Delta charges 17.5K miles for all one way flights within Asia (I didn't check India, but I did check SE Asia). Connections don't factor into this price structure. As such, PEK-CGK is a decent redemption (you will be connecting in Korea, Taiwan, or Vietnam).
BA charges 10K-12K per segment. This means that PEK-HKG costs half as much as PEK-HKG-SGN.