Help with One way usage
 

I'm planning a trip to Asia this summer, my plan is to fly JFK-BKK, BKK-NRT and NRT-JFK with Northwest. I want to redeem my miles for the one way ticket from BKK-NRT. NW says I can only redeem for round trip. Can I book the round trip and just scrap the second half of the ticket.

What will happen?

Well... if you booked a RT award and for some unexpected reason you missed your return flight, I don't think anyone would be too upset. ;) Can't say for sure, but my guess is nothing is going to happen.

i'm pretty sure award tix allows layovers, why not just book a round trip and book the award trip and do NRT as a layover.

never mind, misread the OP

You can redeem a round trip and nothing will happen if you miss the second leg.
If no seats are available on the NW flight, Korean or China Southern should not be a problem

Also, a one way flight from BKK to Osaka on Cebu Pacific via Manila costs less than $200

I have done this a couple of times when I really only needed one way. Book your return as near 1 year out as you can. Changes can be made (though come with fees) so you really never know when you might use that return in the next year... you might just come across a real cheap mileage run at some point that drops you in Asia, a particular SU deal to HKG a year or two ago comes to mind.

I think this just needs to be booked as a multicity trip. It doesn't seem to charge you extra for the stops. Here is a quick little itin I pieced together with FC/Biz one way.

$64.80 + 90,000 Total miles for all passengers


Wed, Jun 24 NW logo Northwest Airlines 1861 Equipment: Embraer 175
Booking class: A/First
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: CSM
Depart: 8:20 PM New York, NY (JFK)
Approx. flight miles: 1,027
Arrive: 10:44 PM Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP)
Non-Stop
Duration: 3 hr 24 min Operated by Compass Airlines/NWA Airlink
Award Level: PerkSaver
Time between flights: 16 hr 36 min
Thur, Jun 25 NW logo Northwest Airlines 19 Equipment: 747
Booking class: D/Business
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: CSM
Depart: 3:20 PM Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP)
Approx. flight miles: 5,952
Arrive: 5:10 PM Tokyo (NRT)
Non-Stop
Duration: 11 hr 50 min
Award Level: PerkSaver
Time between flights: 2 hr 0 min
Fri, Jun 26 NW logo Northwest Airlines 25 Equipment: 757
Booking class: D/Business
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: CSM
Depart: 7:10 PM Tokyo (NRT)
Approx. flight miles: 2,879
Arrive: 12:01 AM Bangkok (BKK)
Non-Stop
Duration: 6 hr 51 min
Award Level: PerkSaver


Wed, Jul 1 NW logo Northwest Airlines 26 Equipment: 757
Booking class: W/Coach
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: YSM
Depart: 5:10 AM Bangkok (BKK)
Approx. flight miles: 2,879
Arrive: 1:55 PM Tokyo (NRT)
Non-Stop
Duration: 6 hr 45 min
Award Level: PerkSaver


Wed, Jul 8 KE logo Korean Air Lines 702 Equipment: 777
Booking class: U/Coach
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: YSM
Depart: 12:55 PM Tokyo (NRT)
Approx. flight miles: 740
Arrive: 3:20 PM Seoul (ICN)
Non-Stop
Duration: 2 hr 25 min

Time between flights: 4 hr 10 min
Wed, Jul 8 KE logo Korean Air Lines 85 Equipment: 747
Booking class: U/Coach
Ticket Designator: WP300
Fare basis code: YSM

The last itinerary would be great if I had 90,000 miles, and this would all be a moot point. Thanks for all the help though, I think I'm going to book a round trip that is spaced far enough apart and then try to change the ticket and see if I can get any credit for it.

you can buy DL miles with current 100% bonus and combine with what you already have on NW to get to 90K