Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

The Best Ways To Fly to Mainland China With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Ehsan Haque's image
Ehsan Haque
Ehsan Haque's image

Ehsan Haque

Content Contributor

44 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 100U.S. States Visited: 24

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and mile...
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
Jessica Merritt's image

Jessica Merritt

Editor & Content Contributor

78 Published Articles, 446 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 4U.S. States Visited: 23

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little ca...
& Kellie Jez
Kellie Jez's image

Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

1 Published Article, 1166 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10U.S. States Visited: 20

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

China is a hotbed for tourists from around the world. It has a stunningly diverse culture, culinary delights to die for, and has the second-highest number of UNESCO Heritage Sites in the world at 57!

Known for the Great Wall, giant pandas, terracotta army, and some of the most flavorful foods in the world, China has something for everyone.

China should be at the top of your priority list when thinking about your next travel destination. Fortunately, there are plenty of choices when deciding how to fly there using points and miles.

In this guide, we’ll do a deep dive into the best ways to fly to China with points and miles. Many airlines operate nonstop flights to China from the U.S.

We’ll focus on those nonstop flight options, for the most part, starting with the frequent flyer programs that have the best award sweet spots!

After that, we’ll move on to some alternative booking methods, depending on what points you have.

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

ANA Business Class Seat 2
Flying ANA business class using ANA miles costs 80,000 miles round-trip during low season! Visit Japan en route to China, too! Image Credit: Stephen Au

All Nippon Airways is one of the best airline programs, thanks to their jaw-droppingly good redemption rates, a generous stopover and open-jaw policy, and awesome coverage through their Star Alliance and other partners.

ANA still has a published award chart, so you can book award flights at fixed rates as long as there’s award space. ANA has 3 main award charts: 1 for ANA domestic flight awards, another for ANA international flight awards, and 1 for partner flight awards. ANA also prices flights based on the season: low, regular, or high.

ANA only allows round-trip redemptions and tacks on fuel surcharges from some partner airlines but not others.

Although you can fly directly to various cities in China on partner airlines, it might be worthwhile to fly on ANA via Japan, because the award redemption rates are typically much more competitive!

Here is ANA’s award chart for its own flights (miles are for round-trip awards) between Asia 1 (zone 3; which includes China) and North America (zone 6):

SCROLL FOR MORE
Eligible classLow SeasonRegular SeasonHigh Season
Y (Economy)45,00055,00060,000
PY (Premium economy)66,00076,00081,000
C (Business)80,00090,00095,000
F (First)165,000165,000180,000

In the low season, you can fly to China via Japan on ANA Business Class round-trip for 80,000 miles, which is a fantastic deal. It’s worth noting that ANA has fuel surcharges on its flights, which can make some award pricing not as valuable.

ANA also has an award chart for partner-operated flights. Although the partner award chart is zone-based, like the international award chart, prices don’t fluctuate by season. Here are the ANA partner award rates for flights between North America and China:

SCROLL FOR MORE
From: Asia 1 (Zone 3)Class:To: North America (Zone 6)
 Y60,000
 C95,000
 F180,000

When you compare the above 2 award charts, you’ll notice that partner awards are priced the same as ANA-operated high-season awards. If you plan to fly to China during the high season, it will cost the same number of points whether you book a flight operated by ANA or a partner airline.

If you want to fly nonstop over to China, your best options are on flights operated by United Airlines, Air Canada, or Air China. Consider fuel surcharges, as taxes and fees can be considerably less with certain airlines.

For example, ANA levies about $270 in total taxes and fees on round-trip bookings, whereas ANA does not pass on surcharges from United Airlines. The taxes and fees on a United-operated flight will be closer to $70.

Hot Tip:

For more information regarding these charges, check out our guide on airline fuel surcharges.

Although you would pay an extra ~$200 in taxes and fees, it may be well worth it considering ANA business class is among the best. Let’s take a look at some examples:

  1. New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip for 80,000 miles plus about $270 in taxes and fees during low season for ANA business class
  2. Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (NRT) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 180,000 miles plus abut $270 in taxes and fees during regular season for ANA first class
  3. Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Hangzhou (HGH) round-trip for 80,000 miles plus around $270 in taxes and fees during low season for ANA business class

However, if you would like to save some cash and fly on a partner airline, you still have some options. Here are some example routes you can take:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 95,000 miles plus about $70 in taxes and fees in United Airlines’ Polaris business class
  • New York City (JFK) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 180,000 miles plus around $80 in taxes and fees in Air China first class
  • Montreal (YUL) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip for 95,000 miles plus about $60 in taxes and fees in Air Canada Signature business class

ANA is generally reliable for these partners, so you can complete your booking online with these steps:

  1. Visit ANA’s website
  2. On the right-hand side of the top banner, click ANA Mileage Club
  3. The Flight Awards section automatically appears on the left-hand side of the page you’re directed to. Click International then Award Reservation, and you will be prompted to log in with your ANA member number and password.
  4. Fill in the search query by typing in your cities, travel dates, class of service, and number of passengers. Click Search.
  5. Select the flights you want to take.
    • If you need time to transfer your points, you are technically able to hold awards for up to 72 hours by calling ANA at 1-800-235-9262 during the hours of 5 a.m to 6 p.m Pacific time, but this is highly variable, depending on the representative you get.
  6. Finish transferring your points and confirm your reservation by paying any taxes and fees.
Hot Tip:

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

ANA is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. American Express Membership Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio and take 2 to 3 days for transfers. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus miles. Transfers can take up to 7 days.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Bottom Line:

When it comes to award redemptions, it’s hard to beat ANA’s pricing. You have the option to fly ANA itself or one of their many Star Alliance partners like United or Air China.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Hainan Airlines A350 Business Class Cabin - Cherag Dubash
Hainan Airlines A350 – Business Class Cabin. Image credit. Cherag Dubash

Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan is another great award program that can be used to book award flights to China. Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance with other partners such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines among others.

The program has some great redemptions for partner airlines and allows for stopovers.

Late in 2022, Alaska revamped its award charts, including those for partner airlines. (Alaska will be revamping its award charts yet again in March 2024, including switching over to a distance-based system.)

Let’s take a look at the current international award rates:

Alaska Partner award chart 2023
Alaska Airlines’ revamped partner award chart. Image Credit: Alaska Airlines

However, the consolidated award charts of 2022 came with changes many members weren’t happy with. The individual award charts for each airline partner were changed to a “starting from” pricing method, meaning that the pricing is currently for the lowest cost potentially available on a partner airline.

Still, it’s possible to find awards with the lowest rates. Here’s an example flying from LAX to Beijing (PEK) on partner Cathay Pacific:

Alaska Mileage Plan award Cathay pacific 2023
Using Alaska miles to fly Cathay Pacific is a great way to fly to China. Image Credit: Alaska Airlines

In addition to Alaska’s Oneworld partners, the program also has non-alliance partnerships. One option is Hainan Airlines, a Skytrax 5-star airline. Using Alaska miles to book Hainan Airlines business class is an excellent way to fly to China.

Hot Tip:

Alaska Airlines has removed the ability to book award travel on Hainan Airlines due to a high rate of booking failures. We expect booking to return. You can find more information on Alaska’s website.

Follow these steps to book award travel with your Alaska miles on Hainan Airlines:

  1. Visit Alaska Airlines.
  2. Click the checkbox that says Use Miles to search for your routes and dates. Be sure to use Multi-city if you’re booking stopovers or open-jaws.
  3. Pick your desired flights and click Add to Cart.
  4. Log in to your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account.
  5. Complete the booking and pay any taxes and fees.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Earning Alaska Airlines miles can be difficult, as they only have 1 major transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, and with every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

Alaska Airlines also has a co-branded credit card.

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Provides the potential to earn plenty of miles to fly with Alaska Airlines or over a dozen partners. Plus, get an annual companion fare from just $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)!

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

Provides the potential to earn plenty of miles to fly with Alaska Airlines or over a dozen partners. Plus, get an annual companion fare from just $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23)!
Get 70,000 Bonus Miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
70,000 bonus + Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™
$1,260
$95
18.24% - 26.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

With the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card in your wallet, you could get great perks and earn miles at the same time. This is a win-win if Alaska is the airline you prefer to fly with! Plus, its annual companion fare is a great benefit for traveling couples.

Pros

  • 3x miles per $1 spent on Alaska purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services
  • 1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual companion fare
  • Free checked bag for you and up to 6 traveling companions
  • 20% back on Alaska inflight purchase

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • LIMITED TIME ONLINE OFFER — 70,000 bonus miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™!
  • Get 70,000 Bonus Miles plus Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
  • Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™. Every year on your credit card account anniversary you’ll receive a companion fare which allows you to book a companion flight from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23). Valid on all Alaska Airlines flights booked on alaskaair.com.
  • Free checked bag for you and up to 6 guests on the same reservation – that’s a savings of $60 per person roundtrip!
  • Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, local transit (including rideshare), cable, and select streaming services, and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases. And, your miles don’t expire on active accounts.
  • 10% reward bonus on all miles earned on card with an eligible Bank of America checking, savings, or investment account.
  • Priority boarding on Alaska Airlines when tickets are purchased with card.
  • With oneworld® Alliance member airlines and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska has expanded their global reach to over 1,000 destinations worldwide bringing more airline partners and more ways to earn and redeem miles.
  • Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
  • Plus, no foreign transaction fees and a low $95 annual fee.
  • This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 18.24% - 26.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Frequent Flyer Program

Another way to accumulate Alaska Airlines miles is by purchasing them. Buying miles isn’t always a great idea. However, in some cases, it can save you money when compared to paying for airfare. Alaska Airlines routinely offers discounts of 30% to 50% on purchased miles, so consider holding out for these sales.

Etihad Guest

Etihad Airways, although based in the Middle East, provides another option for flights to China. Etihad is not a part of many major airline alliances but does partner with quite a few airlines around the world, including American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and ANA, which all fly to China.

Earlier in 2023, Etihad Guest completely overhauled its award chart with standard pricing for all its partner airlines. If you want to fly partners one of their many airline partners, this is the updated award chart:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Distance (in miles)EconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
0 to 5006,0007,50010,00014,000
501 to 1,00012,00013,00020,00027,000
1,001 to 1,50015,00019,00030,00040,000
1,501 to 2,00023,00025,00040,00054,000
2,001 to 2,50028,00031,00050,00067,000
2,501 to 3,00034,00037,00060,00080,000
3,001 to 4,00045,00049,00080,000107,000
4,001 to 5,00060,00062,000100,000134,000
5,001 to 6,00067,00074,000120,000160,000
6,001 or more75,00090,000140,000200,000

However, the pricing above is just the starting rate. When you’re redeeming your points, both Etihad and partner airline redemptions often require many more miles.

Booking Etihad awards varies depending on the airlines flown. You can book American Airlines and Virgin Australia redemptions on Etihad’s website. For all other partner award bookings, you need to call Etihad at 877-690-0767.

Earning Etihad Guest Miles

Etihad Guest is a transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. That makes it easy to earn Etihad Guest miles.

Hot Tip:

If you’re interested in earning Etihad Guest miles to fly to China, check out our guide Best Ways To Earn Lots of Etihad Airways Guest Miles.

American Express, Capital One, and Citi transfer to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points
$210
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

LIMITED TIME OFFER
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earn 5 Free Night Awards
$1,750
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros

  • Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (valued up to 35,000 points)
  • One year complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
  • Limited time offer! Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

NEW 155K OFFER
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
155,000 points
$1,085
$250
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • 15 Elite Night Credits per year
  • 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
  • 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
  • Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

NEW 185K WELCOME OFFER
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 bonus points
$1,295
$650
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
  • 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • 25 Elite Night Credits each year
  • Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

  • Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

In early 2023, Virgin Atlantic joined the SkyTeam alliance, so you can use Virgin Atlantic miles to fly with partners, which include Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and China Airlines.

Despite recent changes to Virgin Atlantic’s partner award charts, there’s still plenty of value. Flying Club has a distance-based award chart and a separate award chart for each of its partner airlines.

Here is the awad chart for partner China Airlines:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Flight DistanceEconomyPremiumBusiness
0 to 5005,5009,00014,500
501 to 1,0007,00012,50015,500
1,001 to 1,50010,00016,00021,500
1,501 to 2,25011,50022,00035,000
2,251 to 3,00015,50026,50040,000
3,001 to 4,00020,50037,50060,000
4,001 to 5,00025,50047,50075,000
5,001 to 6,00031,00057,50085,000
6,001 to 7,00037,00070,000100,000
7,001 to 12,00050,00095,000140,000

China Airlines’ business class product is among the best. The airline flies 777s and A350s to North America and offers standard reverse-herringbone business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.

In addition to the seats, the airline offers great hospitality and a variety of food.

China Airlines A350 Business Class Cabin Rear
China Airlines business class is an excellent way to use Virgin Atlantic points. Image Credit: Nick Ellis

If you want to redeem Virgin Atlantic points on China Airlines, you have to book by phone. It was initially possible to book China Airlines flights online, but Virgin seems to have pulled this functionality.

China Airlines has a good amount of business class award availability, unlike other trans-Pacific carriers such as Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

In addition to Skyteam partners, Virgin Atlantic also has a non-airline alliance partnership with ANA.

However, using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points on ANA flights requires you to pay on a per-segment basis. If you want to use your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles for ANA, these miles are best used strictly for flights between the U.S. and Tokyo on ANA and not onward to China.

Earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are incredibly easy to earn. Flying Club is a transfer partner of all the major transferable currencies, including American Express, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Transfers from all occur at a 1:1 ratio except with Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

POPULAR FIRST CARD
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

  • 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked through Chase TravelSM
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

American Airlines 787 Business Class Cabin
For 140,000 AA miles, fly on American Airlines 787 Dreamliner business class. Enjoy luxe privacy and comfy seats on your way to China! Image Credit: Chris Hassan

Another great option for award flights between the U.S. and China is American Airlines, another Oneworld member. You can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly both American Airlines and Oneworld airline flights from the U.S. to China.

American Airlines has gone through major devaluations over the years, but there is still plenty of value in the loyalty program. Partner awards with American’s AAdvantage program aren’t subject to dynamic pricing, unlike American’s own flights. That can provide a ton of value.

Here’s the award chart for flights from the U.S. operated by American Airlines:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Region:Main Cabin Starting at:Premium Economy Starting at:Business or First Starting at:
Contiguous 48 U.S. States and Canada7,50015,000
Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America10,00020,000
South America, Short Haul15,00030,000
Hawaii and Alaska20,00040,00060,000
Europe25,00050,00075,000
South America, Long Haul30,00060,00090,000
Asia, Middle East, and South Pacific35,00060,00095,000

Due to dynamic pricing on its own flights, getting great value while flying on American can be difficult, as prices fluctuate.

The best way to get real value is through the airline’s international partners in the Oneworld Alliance. On AA’s partner award chart, Asia is divided into 4 regions, and Japan is considered to be part of Asia Region 2. Here’s American’s revamped partner award chart:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Destination:Main Cabin
Off Peak
Main CabinPremium EconomyBusiness/FirstFirst
Contiguous 48 U.S. States and CanadaNot available12,50022,50025,00050,000
Alaska15,00025,00030,00055,000
HawaiiNot available22,50050,00055,00080,000
CaribbeanNot available17,50027,50052,500
MexicoNot available17,50027,50052,500
Central America17,50027,50052,500
South America Region 120,00030,00055,000
South America Region 2Not available30,00040,00057,50085,000
Europe22,50030,00040,00057,50085,000
Middle East40,00062,50070,000115,000
Indian SubcontinentNot available40,00062,50070,000115,000
AfricaNot available40,00065,00075,000120,000
Asia Region 1Not available35,00050,00060,00080,000
Asia Region 2Not available37,50050,00070,000110,000
South PacificNot available40,00065,00080,000110,000

As you can see, you can get great value from the airline’s international partners in the Oneworld alliance.

You can fly one-way between the U.S. and China for 37,500 miles in economy or 70,000 miles in business class. Even better, you have the option to fly on some of American’s best partner airlines, including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Of course, this depends on award space, which can be difficult to find at times.

Here are 2 flights to consider when you have the required number of AAdvantage miles in your account:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Haneda (HND)Beijing (PEK) for 70,000 American miles one-way in Japan Airlines business class
  • Chicago (ORD) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Shanghai (PVG) for 70,000 American miles one-way in Cathay Pacific business class
Hot Tip:

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

You’ll have no problem earning American Airlines miles, as the airline offers several co-branded credit cards and partners with both Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.

Miles transfer from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio. There is no 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points, as with other programs. Bilt Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Learn More(at Bilt's secure site)
$0

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid benefits that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros

  • 3x points per $1 at restaurants including eligible delivery
  • 2x points per $1 on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
  • 1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each year
  • No annual fee
  • No foreign currency conversion fees
  • Access to airline transfer partners
  • Cellular telephone protection
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Purchase security
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver

Cons

  • Does not offer a welcome bonus
  • Requires at least 5 transactions that post each statement period to earn points
  • $0 annual card fee
  • 1X points on rent payments with no fees (on up to $100,000 in rent payments every year) and non-bonus purchases
  • 2X points on travel (when booked directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company)
  • 3X points on dining

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is an extremely underrated and often overlooked program. The program has a published award chart, plenty of Star Alliance and non-alliance partners, the ability to book stopovers, and does not tack on fuel surcharges on partner awards booked with Aeroplan.

Air Canada presents several ways to redeem points with its numerous partnerships. For its own flights, Aeroplan uses variable pricing to make all of its seats available for award bookings. However, there are caps on award costs.

For partner awards, Aeroplan uses award charts to determine redemption rates between and within its travel zones for partner awards.

The program breaks up the world into 4 regions: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. To know exactly how many points your award ticket will cost, it’s important to know what zone you’re flying to and from.

Aeroplan region map for awards
Aeroplan uses 4 zones to determine award pricing. Image Credit: Air Canada

For travel within and between regions, there are distance-based award charts. The farther you fly, the more expensive your award redemption is. 

For example, here’s the award chart for flights between the North America and Pacific zones. Prices are based on distance and include flights operated by Air Canada and its partner airlines:

Aeroplan zones between NA and Pacific zones
Travel between North America and the Pacific zones can provide great value, especially on partner airlines. Image Credit: Air Canada

Aeroplan uses distance-based award charts to dictate award pricing, which allows for some great redemption opportunities. This is especially true for flights in the 7,501-to-11,000-mile distance band, which can be booked for 87,500 miles on a partner airline in business class.

With numerous alliance and non-alliance partners, Aeroplan offers endless airline options to book award flights to China. For example, you could fly Star Alliance partners Air China, Air India, ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways, among others.

EVA Air business class
EVA Air Royal Laurel business class is an excellent way to use Air Canada Aeroplan points. Image Credit: EVA Air

Another great benefit of the Aeroplan program is the ability to add a stopover for just 5,000 points. The ticket cost is calculated based on the total mileage based on the award chart, plus an additional 5,000 points. This provides an incredible way to maximize your Aeroplan points.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan points

Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express, Bilt, Chase, and Capital One. Each program transfers at a 1:1 rate to Aeroplan.

Aeroplan is also a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Aeroplan, and for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer you get a 5,000-mile bonus.

Aeroplan also offers a co-branded credit card.

Aeroplan® Credit Card

Aeroplan® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Aeroplan® Credit Card

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 60,000 points
$900
95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

Flyers based in the U.S. may think they wouldn’t have a need for a card like the Aeroplan® Credit Card, it might be much better suited for you than you think.

Not only does Air Canada offer fantastic award redemptions, but adding the card to your wallet makes the program even more rewarding by offering elite status, more points, travel coverage, and more. Let’s take a closer look and see why the Aeroplan card might make a lot of sense for you.

Pros

  • 3x points per $1 on Air Canada purchases, at grocery stores, and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
  • 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to a maximum of 1,500 bonus points)
  • Receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year, and continue to extend it beyond that by spending $15,000 on the card per calendar year
  • Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
  • Preferred pricing on award tickets
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points
  • Earn 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • $95 Annual Fee
  • Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
  • Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan® Credit Card.
  • Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
  • 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Other Options To Fly to Mainland China

Thanks to airline partnerships, there are endless ways to book award flights to China and Asia as a whole.

Other airline program options include: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Qantas Frequent Flyer Miles, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Asiana Airlines Mileage Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Korean Air SKYPASS, and British Airways Avios.

We did not include these airlines here for 1 or more of the following factors:

  1. Unattractive award redemption rates
  2. High fuel surcharges
  3. Better alternative partner programs
  4. Difficult booking process
  5. Lack of transfer partners

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of airline loyalty programs that you can utilize for award tickets between the U.S. and mainland China.

However, some programs are clearly better than others. It’s worth looking into multiple programs to see which will result in the best value. With endless options to book award travel using points and miles, now is the time to book that award ticket to China.

The information regarding the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly to China?

Yes you can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to fly both American Airlines and Oneworld airline flights from the U.S. to China. You can fly one-way between the U.S. and China for 37,500 miles in economy or 70,000 AA miles in business class. If you can find award space, you have the option to fly on some of American’s best partner airlines, including Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

Can I use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points to fly to China? How can I earn more points?

Yes, you can! Virgin Atlantic is part of Skyteam, meaning that you can use their miles to fly on its partners, which include Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and China Airlines, among others.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are relatively easy to earn, as Flying Club is a transfer partner of all the major transferrable currencies, including American Express, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Transfers from all occur at a 1:1 ratio except with Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio. With every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

Can you use Alaska miles to fly to China?

Yes, you can. Alaska Airlines is part of the Oneworld Alliance with other partners such as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines, among others. There are a lot of airlines to fly to China using Alaska miles.

Can I use Air Canada Aeroplan points for flights to China?

Yes, Aeroplan points can be used to book award tickets to China. You can check out Air Canada’s website for its published award chart to know how many miles you need to fly on their many partner airlines.

Ehsan Haque's image

About Ehsan Haque

Ehsan is an avid traveler who has traveled to 100 countries, diligently using points and miles to fund his journeys. Currently, he holds 32 active credit cards and earns over a million points and miles annually, primarily using them for luxury hotels and long-haul premium cabins.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status