Looking for creative routings
 

Hey all,

I'm looking to meet up with my parents in HKG around October of this year. Based in SFO, I can go SFO-HKG direct via UA/CX/SQ. However, I sort of want to take a different routing in business or first.

Here are my points spread:
UA: 500K with UA 1K status
UR: 150K
MR: 100K
TY: 85K
SPG: 75K

What are some of the most lucrative flights I can take? I just need to be in HKG for say 5 days...so I was thinking about transferring SPG to Alaska to do a SFO-HKG(5 days)-SYD(3 days) or SFO-HKG-NRT in business(since they allow a free stopover).

I don't travel internationally much and not sure what's doable. I'll take it that I can't incorporate a stopover in EU with the trip to Asia?

Well you have two very good things going for you. High mileage balances & 6+ months until desired travel.
Your options are rather wide open if you're willing to use those points. Personally I'd do SFO-LAX-Europe on LX followed by LH/SQ/OZ to Asia and then if possible CX home. It comes down to what interests you and what availability you have.

If you do choose to do Australia I'd recommending hopping over to NZ while you're there & using EK for at least one of the segments in F for that short 4 hour F class experience with a shower in the air. It's a novelty but if you don't travel internationally much it's a nice bucket list item to check off.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've not redeem a single mile yet and am only familiar with the UA award chart. Do you know approximately how many miles will be required if I were to fly SFO-LAX-EU followed by LH to HKG then CX to SFO assuming business class the whole way?

I've also read about the SYD-AKL flight on EK. Sounds interesting!

I believe, but could be wrong, that the SFO-EU and EU-Asia would be booked at 2 one way tickets so the award mileage would 110k miles for the first ticket & 115k for the second as they are partner First class saver award tickets. Availability being the bigger problem for you as you have lots of miles.

Just to note, I say go SFO-LAX then onward on LX to get the new 77W that is on that route.

This thread may be interesting.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...15-2016-a.html
In late 2014, I had a UA award SNA-ORD-NRT/HND-BKK-SIN (destination) -BKK-FRA (stopover) - SFO-SNA and it priced as a round trip to SIN.

Whoa! That routing looks awesome and exactly what I'm trying to find! Seems pretty complex unlike my boring ones!

Thanks for the thread. I've always wonder about that thread! Reading right now!