Hey peeps,
I'm planning my SE asia trip with KUL for my final destination. I want to avail the 72 hr visa free waiver to get a taste of Beijing if possible. My plan was to fly from west coast to NRT(spend a day there) before transiting through PEK to KUL. What are some good airlines/routes for this?

I am doing multi city search on google flights, but I'm open to using miles too(alaska, aa or ba)

Thank you

Do one way searches for the segments you want to fly to see if there is any availability that appeals to you. Depending on your balances this may make sense to do a redemption or redemptions and/or purchasing a return/open-jaw or one way ticket. May also be better to do West Coast-PEK(stop)-KUL(Stop)TYO(stop)-West Coast.

Happy searching. When you come up with something feel free to return for comments.

Try routing to see if there are any availability on JL from west coast to Beijing. It will most likely route through HND/NRT, where you can possibly force in a 23 hr layover of some sorts. Beijing will be your stopover. Then, from PEK to KUL on MH.

This seems feasible if you're flexible with dates and are willing to play around to piece together an itinerary. Overall, looks like oneworld will be your best option (and you seem to be set on that).

For a revenue ticket, try openjaws like XXX-PEK on NH or JL//KUL-XXX, and then just separately buying a PEK-KUL or using BA avios to get that short(ish) segment. NH seems to usually have good OJ fares from west coast to KUL in my past searches.


Also, PEK has 144 hr visa free

agree this.

if you are not really set on Beijing, Singapore Airlines offer LAX-NRT-SIN. It's one of the best regardless of what class you fly. Used to be A380 but it's 77w now.

If you are set on Beijing, then I recommend ANA for NRT/HND-PEK and MH for PEK-KUL. Bottom line is to avoid any Chinese airlines at all cost

With Alaska miles, you can route on Hainan Airlines to fly from the US to PEK have a free stopover there, then go onwards to HND, TPE or BKK (and maybe one or two other places, but not KUL AFAIK). Usually excellent Business Class award space from a number of US and Canada gateways.

As much as I love Tokyo, I would skip the NRT layover and book West Coast - PEK / stopover - BKK then take Air Asia or use Avios on MH to get down to KUL. You could also try to put the NRT layover on your return with a different airline such as SQ or NH...

Thank you All. Quick question, Would I qualify for 72/144 visa free thingy even if I fly on two different bookings through PEK? As in, not really a layover. say fly aa to nrt. nrt to pek(ana), pek to kul mh? Would the chinese immigration still see this qualify for the visa free thingy? I read many stories of people denied boarding

You would be eligible, but you would need to convince the airline that you are eligible.