IAH-BKK with time in Beijing
 

Ok guys--need some help.

Hubby and I are looking to do IAH-BKK with a few days in Beijing. Looking to depart around 5/6 and return around 5/17-dates are a little flexible. Want to be in Beijing for about 4 days and Bangkok for the rest. Prefer to fly into BKK direct, but open for ideas.

I've priced UAL at $1400 (IAH to BKK) but I can't find any decent fares PEK-BKK.

We're Silver with BMI and CO so we can fly in either set of carriers.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? I'm pretty good at this game but I can't get anything short of $400 for BKK to PEK. And I can't get a stopover with ITA to get me a decent price.

Thanks in advance--I love this place and if I need to post this elsewhere...let me know.

if you're just silver on both - and I'll just go ahead and assume you haven't yet requalified next year - you might as well fly on star and get a jump on status there.

Yes, I haven't re-upped for 2009 yet for status. This was the trip to get that done.

$400 intra asia isn't too bad really when there is no LCC traffic on the route. I assumed you priced in in reverse too? Paying to PEK from the US then buy PEK-BKK from there?
One other option is to use miles for all or part of the trip but it sounds like you want to earn miles on it. Intra asia awards are fairly cheap.