I'm looking for flights from SoCal (LAX/SAN) to Manila in business class for sometime in the next few months. Any recommendations on *A flights? I'm a UA 1k with SWUs to burn. Seems like Asiana through ICN is the favorite, however, availability seems to be spotty. Should I try UA through HKG and then Philippines Air?

or SQ via SIN, TG via BKK (can take UA to either of these transfer points if you wish to use your SWUs)

TG has a flight out of Manila to either ICN or NRT, {EDIT: Its KIX (Oskaka), my memory was off on both of them.}. The flight down to SIN or BKK is really far out of the way unless you want the extra miles. If you want to pay for your own ticket then Cebu Pacific has really cheap flights out of HKG, PVG, or TPE.

You could buy a PR ticket out of HKG through a local agency at a discount, but its still quite a bit higher than a Cebu Pacific flight. Cebu Pacific is all coach, while PR offers business class too but neither of them particularly shine on the big stage so I'd be tempted to take the cheapest one unless you collect PR miles. (They have no airline partners)

The past two years, I've taken SQ (thrice) and OZ (once) on my LAX-MNL trips. OZ via ICN would get you there sooner versus SQ via SIN. Note that at ICN, i think SIN has a better lounge than OZ. If you dont mind having long layovers, SIN might be better. It's only 20 minutes to downtown and you can check out a few sites. At MNL, SIN has a much more comfortable lounge. If i recall correctly, OZ shares theirs with TG.

One thing about OZ in LAX, we had to be shuttled to the aircraft from TBIT. Being on J at that time, i get to be on the shuttle first, but they filled that shuttle to the max -- so once in the shuttle, they didnt care if i was in J or Y. It was a mad rush from the shuttle to the ramps for the aircraft. I dont know if that's always the case.

As for PR, i swore never to take them again-- except for their domestic Philippine routes (no choice domestically, really).

The best option (and the least amount of time) is LAX-HKG on UA and HKG-MNL on either PR or CX. There's a LAX-MNL UA W fare that allows either of those carriers for $820++ right now.

im looking at this promotion and couldnt find it..whered you found this promotion axey?

With regards to star alliance, CX or PAL is not a star alliance flight. my question is, if you hold a star alliance gold card and you just disembarked from the flight from LAX, would they allow you to use the lounge considering youre taking CX to Manila?(No star alliance flights from HKG-MNL).

This was a regularly published fare in the US. It may be gone by now. Also note it was ++ so if you're looking it will probably be a few hundred more considering fuel+taxes.

As for the lounge issue, unfortunately not. Star Gold lounges are only departure, not arrival lounges, so you're out of luck. However, this really isn't a big deal at HKG which is a great airport where you can easily blow a couple of hours. That or avail yourself of one of the pay lounges.