The Best Way to Get to Seoul
Jan 16, 2017, 1:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
The Best Way to Get to Seoul
Looks like the best bang for the award travel buck is to use ANA. As a test, I found this round-trip business-class flight:
10/4/2017
leaves 10:20 EWR-YYZ AC8671
arrives 16:30+1 day YYZ-Seoul AC061
10/18/2017
leaves 18:40 Seoul-SEA OZ272
arrives 23:12 SEA-EWR UA209
All but the final leg (SEA-EWR) are business. The cost is 95K and $171.78.
The same flight would cost 160K points in United. Am I on the right path here? ANA is the way to go? And is there no way to use United? Most of my points are with them. Searching through the net, it seems like there was a time when you could book ANA flights using MileagePlus for 110K.
10/4/2017
leaves 10:20 EWR-YYZ AC8671
arrives 16:30+1 day YYZ-Seoul AC061
10/18/2017
leaves 18:40 Seoul-SEA OZ272
arrives 23:12 SEA-EWR UA209
All but the final leg (SEA-EWR) are business. The cost is 95K and $171.78.
The same flight would cost 160K points in United. Am I on the right path here? ANA is the way to go? And is there no way to use United? Most of my points are with them. Searching through the net, it seems like there was a time when you could book ANA flights using MileagePlus for 110K.
Jan 16, 2017, 1:38 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Mileage Plus changed redemption rules awhile ago (at least in Airline terms) making partner premium class awards more miles than UA redemptions. ANA tends to be the best J class redemption value.
I'm guessing you're transferring Amex MR points to NH for this?
I'm guessing you're transferring Amex MR points to NH for this?
Jan 16, 2017, 3:22 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 4
Ugh. Nothing like devaluing to make you really earn and burn. Yes, Amex MR points to ANA -- I also have Starwood, but I'd rather not use them because I usually use them for hotel stays. I wish there was a way I could transfer my United or AA miles to ANA!
Last edited by yoyomama79; Jan 16, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Jan 16, 2017, 8:10 pm
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Welcome to Flyertalk yoyomama79. We'll move this to the NH forum as you're looking at flying them.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
<mod hat off>
The one time I flew back from ICN was via DXB on EK
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
<mod hat off>
The one time I flew back from ICN was via DXB on EK
Jan 17, 2017, 6:38 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Jan 18, 2017, 6:57 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: IND
Posts: 2,005
Jan 18, 2017, 5:18 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,352
If you will connect NH via Tokyo, try HND. HND to GMP (Seoul Gimpo airport) has several flights per day AND Gimpo airpot is 1,000 times faster for immigration, landing etc. It has just a few international flights a day so it's never busy. And it's waay closer to Seoul, saving you at least 30-40 minutes. Also, when you depart, you don't have to go a ridiculous three hours early...I'm always there an hour and a few minutes early.
Jan 19, 2017, 4:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: 1A
Programs: UA GS, NH Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist (formerly Courtesy Card sadly), Amanjunkie, CLEAR
Posts: 3,713
Just one thing to consider. SPG points to ANA have a bonus. 20K SPG -> 25K ANA miles, if transferred specially in 20K increments.
I feel AC and UA are pretty much on par. Figure out which seat you like better based on the actual metal you'll be flying and go from there. That's what I would do. Certainly using less miles is always better.
And yes, wouldn't it be a great world if *A miles were interchangeable between airlines? Doesn't that actually seem like an obvious benefit they might consider offering? But they can't because companies like UA suck compared to some of their partners like NH, although, I must say, the gap is closing in both directions.
I feel AC and UA are pretty much on par. Figure out which seat you like better based on the actual metal you'll be flying and go from there. That's what I would do. Certainly using less miles is always better.
And yes, wouldn't it be a great world if *A miles were interchangeable between airlines? Doesn't that actually seem like an obvious benefit they might consider offering? But they can't because companies like UA suck compared to some of their partners like NH, although, I must say, the gap is closing in both directions.
Jan 19, 2017, 9:43 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,275
Looks like the best bang for the award travel buck is to use ANA. As a test, I found this round-trip business-class flight:
10/4/2017
leaves 10:20 EWR-YYZ AC8671
arrives 16:30+1 day YYZ-Seoul AC061
10/18/2017
leaves 18:40 Seoul-SEA OZ272
arrives 23:12 SEA-EWR UA209
All but the final leg (SEA-EWR) are business. The cost is 95K and $171.78.
10/4/2017
leaves 10:20 EWR-YYZ AC8671
arrives 16:30+1 day YYZ-Seoul AC061
10/18/2017
leaves 18:40 Seoul-SEA OZ272
arrives 23:12 SEA-EWR UA209
All but the final leg (SEA-EWR) are business. The cost is 95K and $171.78.
1. AC is not a good choice at all
2. OZ SEA-ICN is a 330, worst plane for their long haul other than 744
3. One leg is in Y, not to mention it is a 5+ hours flight
To me I wouldn't even bother wasting my miles on this itinerary