I'm taking a trip in a few months to BKK, originating in CLT. I'm about to lose my mind trying to select how, though. Who has the best biz class experience in *A? Lie flat is a requirement. Looking like I'll have to connect in NY, LA, Chi, or Houston depending on carrier. Alternative is to take US Envoy direct to CDG (only CLT direct A330 with Envoy suites?) then book a second trip on Qatar through Doha. Benefit there is my return in the US doesn't connect before going home and the flight over (to CDG) is overnight.

Are there any *A airlines where I could use US miles to upgrade to first?

Thanks in advance!

Ac? Clt-yyz-hkg-bkk?

The following are all the fully flat options available:

US C and TG C (The CDG has a leased aircraft with these fully flat seats): CLT-CDG-BKK (4 hours connection time)

SQ C: CLT-EWR-SIN-BKK

NH C and TG C (TG has the same leased aircraft on the NRT-BKK route): CLT-JFK/ORD-NRT-BKK

OZ C: CLT-LAX/SFO-ICN-BKK (ICN-BKK is angled flat)

LX C: CLT-JFK/MIA/ORD-ZRH-BKK

AC C + TG/NH/CA C: CLT-YYZ-(YVR)-PEK/PVG/NRT-BKK


+ Some routes with UA and CO.

Assuming you are flying after October 31, you can do either of 2 routes that ill get you lie flat C and F to BKK.

You can do CLT-JFK-NRT-BKK and back on a combo of NH and UA. The JFK-NRT is NH new C and F. The NRT-BKK is UA 744 with the new C and F.

Or you can fo CLT-ORD-NRT-BKK. The ORD to BKK and back is all on UA 744 with the new C and F.

If you fly before Oct 31, the ORD-NRT is on an older 772 with the older UA C and F (lie flat older F, cradle seat C).

I don't think there is any other way to go to TPAC to BKK with lie flat C and F seats.

AWESOME! EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks SO much for the suggestions! Open for others, too!

One other option if you're purchasing a ticket: get a SQ RTW. You'd need to handle the domestic USA segments to and from CLT and some of the travel in Asia separately (either doing SIN-BKK-SIN as a separate ticket).

SQ RTWs in F can be had for around $7000 (one important note: you will not get F on A388s, you will get C), so they may be a viable option for you (and might actually price less than some business class tickets even if you add in a few hundred dollars in cheap coach tickets to handle things like CLT-JFK or SIN-BKK-SIN). The thread that discusses them is here.

Yes (SQ wouldn't be an option, in all likelihood, since *A upgrades aren't allowed to SQ F save for their last couple of 747 routes), but the ticket you will be required to purchase is likely to be quite expensive (full C or D, no deeply discounted business class like Z). It would be considerably less expensive just to buy the US miles necessary for a full F award redemption from US (though you would lose the flexibility of having a paid full-fare ticket).

But plenty of ways to go TATL.

I've got my decision down to flying either NH (staggered business) through Japan or US to somewhere in Europe then Qatar to BKK. Anyone flown both NH and Qatar or have a strong opinion on either route?