Help Me Get To China To See Dad
Dec 25, 2011 | 2:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 16
Help Me Get To China To See Dad
I'm totally new to using airlines miles programs, but in my search for finding the cheapest way to visit my father in Shanghai I stumbled across this awesome forum.
I signed up recently for the Southwest 50k points card and should have those points soon, I don't have any other rewards cards. My credit is pretty good, but not great (700 FICO), should be able to get approved for most non-AMEX cards.
I am looking to travel from San Diego to Shanghai pretty much anytime before August, 2012. Economy class is fine. No airline preference. Schedule is totally flexible and have no problem with weird layovers/times.
I am going to make this trip no matter what, so if I have to pay for it, that's fine, just trying to find the cheapest way to do this. So, I ask of you pros, what's the best way to do this?
I signed up recently for the Southwest 50k points card and should have those points soon, I don't have any other rewards cards. My credit is pretty good, but not great (700 FICO), should be able to get approved for most non-AMEX cards.
I am looking to travel from San Diego to Shanghai pretty much anytime before August, 2012. Economy class is fine. No airline preference. Schedule is totally flexible and have no problem with weird layovers/times.
I am going to make this trip no matter what, so if I have to pay for it, that's fine, just trying to find the cheapest way to do this. So, I ask of you pros, what's the best way to do this?
Dec 25, 2011 | 2:56 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 644
1) Sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Get 50,000 points by spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
2) Sign up for the Chase Continental OnePass Plus Card
Get 25,000 miles (or 50,000 miles if you received a targeted offer) after first purchase in the first 3 months.
Points of the Sapphire can be transferred to Continental / United Airlines.
A roundtrip ticket from the USA to Shanghai cost 65,000 miles on Continental / United ( or any Star Alliance Partners).
So these two cards will get you the award ticket.
The alternative could be, sign up for two ( 2 ) Citi AAdvantage Cards ( one Visa, one AMEX ),
You will need to spend $3000 on each of the card in the first six months.
You will then get 106,000 miles.
American Airlines roundtrip USA to Shanghai cost 70,000 miles only.
You have enough left for a domestic roundtrip flight. (Cost 25,000 miles)
Tax will be about US$80 for the award ticket, in both cases.
Or if you only get approved by one card by Chase / Citi, one way award are available at half the miles required for roundtrip.
Get 50,000 points by spending $3000 in the first 3 months.
2) Sign up for the Chase Continental OnePass Plus Card
Get 25,000 miles (or 50,000 miles if you received a targeted offer) after first purchase in the first 3 months.
Points of the Sapphire can be transferred to Continental / United Airlines.
A roundtrip ticket from the USA to Shanghai cost 65,000 miles on Continental / United ( or any Star Alliance Partners).
So these two cards will get you the award ticket.
The alternative could be, sign up for two ( 2 ) Citi AAdvantage Cards ( one Visa, one AMEX ),
You will need to spend $3000 on each of the card in the first six months.
You will then get 106,000 miles.
American Airlines roundtrip USA to Shanghai cost 70,000 miles only.
You have enough left for a domestic roundtrip flight. (Cost 25,000 miles)
Tax will be about US$80 for the award ticket, in both cases.
Or if you only get approved by one card by Chase / Citi, one way award are available at half the miles required for roundtrip.
Last edited by Ragnarok; Dec 25, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Dec 25, 2011 | 3:43 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: CHI / SFO
Programs: UA*G, AC*S, Marriott LTP, National Exec
Posts: 3,893
Keep your eyes peeled on the MR Deals forum, there are often cheap fares from the west coast US to China for less than $700 r/t including taxes and fees. It looks like the cheapest published fare right now is $1037 on UA from CLD to PVG but it can drop a lot lower than that so just be patient and wait until the new year.
Dec 25, 2011 | 3:51 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MSY; 2-time FT Fantasy Football Champ, now in recovery.
Programs: AA lifetime GLD; UA Silver; Marriott LTTE; IHG Plat,
Posts: 14,814
Actually, Southwest does offer international redemptions for credit card holders. It looks like they price based on the revenue cost. A quick search on a random date in April found a LAX-PEK one-way for as low as 52K (though many other choices were higher). That could possibly be combined with a one-way award on another airline (e.g. AA) to build a roundtrip with the existing WN miles and whatever new miles he collects (or with a paid one way).
Dec 25, 2011 | 4:29 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 16
Actually, Southwest does offer international redemptions for credit card holders. It looks like they price based on the revenue cost. A quick search on a random date in April found a LAX-PEK one-way for as low as 52K (though many other choices were higher). That could possibly be combined with a one-way award on another airline (e.g. AA) to build a roundtrip with the existing WN miles and whatever new miles he collects (or with a paid one way).
Dec 26, 2011 | 9:01 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 586
Agree with post 2 to obtain your points. But if you go in August it's ususally the most expensive $-wise or you need to book that using points as far in advance as possible. I'm using the same points mentioned for my trips there every year and they are the most economical points I have. China is much more beutiful in the summer months. However, Shanghai won't be too cold from March onward.
Dec 26, 2011 | 3:13 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 96
With 700 FICO, you should have no problem getting AMEX cards.
Dec 26, 2011 | 4:34 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 278
Post #2 has probably the best strategy. ^ I don't think using WN points to travel international is a good use of points (too expensive).
Using AA, it's only 35K one-way on Economy MileSAAver award to PVG (so, basically 70K roundtrip). Also, there is usually good availability flying Cathay Pacific (using AA miles, they are both OneWorld Alliance) to PVG (with a layover in HKG).
Using AA, it's only 35K one-way on Economy MileSAAver award to PVG (so, basically 70K roundtrip). Also, there is usually good availability flying Cathay Pacific (using AA miles, they are both OneWorld Alliance) to PVG (with a layover in HKG).
Dec 26, 2011 | 7:39 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,385
Airmiles to PVG no a problem, stick around and you will find yourself in FC at 62,500 each way....on AA....UA...lie flat....drink up and enjoy the ride...it can be done...