Mileage Plan International Redemption Sweet Spots ?
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAS, MPL
Programs: DL Platinum, 1 MM
Posts: 1,318
Like I said, if you're an AA veteran, you have "free stopover in the international gateway/hub on one ways" back on awards now that you switched to AS. I find that tremendously useful, even if I take it in the USA as opposed to overseas in LHR/HKG/DXB. Free transcon/one way to Hawaii or Mexico out of SEA tacked on to an award? Don't mind if I do.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
I believe it would be MORE HELPFUL that the thread puts more focus on the "bookable" sweet spots. Those look good in theory (on the chart) but practically near impossible to book, are worth mentioning but not really useful at the end because without availability, the charts mean nothing.
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,731
I can see that being a useful benefit for flyers living on the coasts or in a AA hub. Less useful for those of us in flyover country. I actually hadn't been aware of the AA redemption benefits continuing, so this little discussion has given me a lot of useful information, thanks everybody.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,337
I mean... I GUESS you can do the "buy miles cheap, cash in for CX/EK/what have you". But AS doesn't have a partner like AMEX/Chase to generate flexible RDM that can go into multiple programs.
I believe it would be MORE HELPFUL that the thread puts more focus on the "bookable" sweet spots. Those look good in theory (on the chart) but practically near impossible to book, are worth mentioning but not really useful at the end because without availability, the charts mean nothing.
Last edited by eponymous_coward; Oct 26, 2017 at 12:02 pm
#36
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 71
If you want J travel to asia, I've been happy with redemptions and hard/soft product on Hainan the past year. I flew them with my wife to Shanghai as well as another trip to Bangkok. I'm booked to fly RT SEA-BKK-SEA again in december as well. They might not have the 'best' hard product out there, but the soft product (food, service, etc) is good, and I had one of the best transfer experiences EVER in PEK connecting to BKK. For the 2 J passengers that were transiting, they opened up a special VIP customs/immigration/security section just for us and shuttled us through in a very efficient and white glove manner.
Flights to/from south east asia are 50k each way, albeit not always at the best routing times. For example my upcoming return from BKK in december is a 130am (!!) flight, but I land in Seattle at 1030 am 'same day', so at least thats OK
Flights to/from south east asia are 50k each way, albeit not always at the best routing times. For example my upcoming return from BKK in december is a 130am (!!) flight, but I land in Seattle at 1030 am 'same day', so at least thats OK
#37
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
If you can find availability, CX F/J to NZ is pretty good value IMO. 80k miles one-way and you can take a stopover in HKG. Minimal fees (~$100).
There's no F to NZ of course but you can at least get it on the TPAC segment.
I'm taking off on just such an award in two days.
There's no F to NZ of course but you can at least get it on the TPAC segment.
I'm taking off on just such an award in two days.
#38
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
If you can find availability, CX F/J to NZ is pretty good value IMO. 80k miles one-way and you can take a stopover in HKG. Minimal fees (~$100).
There's no F to NZ of course but you can at least get it on the TPAC segment.
I'm taking off on just such an award in two days.
There's no F to NZ of course but you can at least get it on the TPAC segment.
I'm taking off on just such an award in two days.
#40
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
I don't think there is any partner to F to NZ other than EK which will cost wayyyy more than 45K
#41
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NRW / Germany
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 186
According to the award chart it is 30k in J with CX.
Just found this announcement, seems like CX will start a service HKG - CHC from Dec onwards.
https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...hk-and-nz.html
Just found this announcement, seems like CX will start a service HKG - CHC from Dec onwards.
https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...hk-and-nz.html
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,337
#43
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NRW / Germany
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 186
Yes, just checked HKG - CHC in March next year. Seems C award space is not an easy thing to find and F is only available in the redemption chart :-/ But still for 30k I find it pretty decent if you find space to NZ...