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

Key Takeaways

• Many airlines operate nonstop flights to China from the U.S., including Air Canada, Air China, and United Airlines.
• Some of the best programs to use to book flights include ANA Mileage Club, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Etihad Guest, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• There are lots of choices for award tickets between the U.S. and China, but some offer better value, so it’s worth comparing options.

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

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 allows one-way redemptions and open-jaws. It also 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):

In the low season, you can fly to China via Japan on ANA Business Class round-trip for 108,000 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:

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 108,000 miles plus about $270 in taxes and fees during low season for ANA business class
2. Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 185,000 miles plus abut $270 in taxes and fees during regular season for ANA first class
3. San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Hangzhou (HGH) round-trip for 108,000 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 130,000 miles plus about $70 in taxes and fees in United Airlines’ Polaris business class
• New York City (JFK) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 204,000 miles plus around $80 in taxes and fees in Air China first class
• Montreal (YUL) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip for 130,000 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:

Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club miles for max value.

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.

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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

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.

Alaska revamped its award charts in March 2024, switching over to a distance-based system.

Let’s take a look at the current international award rates to and within Asia Pacific:

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. 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 2 major transfer partners: Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Bilt points transfer to Alaska Mileage Plan instantly at a 1:1 ratio.

Bilt points transfer at a 1:1 ratio. 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.

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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) when you spend at least $6,000 a year on the card!

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• APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable
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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:

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.

Recommended Marriott Credit Cards

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

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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Credit Recommended

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.

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Cons

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• 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

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms 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 ins and outs 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.

Apply Now(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.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Up to 135,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $945

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

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

Cons

• $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your 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 Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
• 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.
• 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms 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 ins and outs 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.

Apply Now(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.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Up to 150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,050

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

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

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your 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 the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
• 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 Brilliant 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 ($120) 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.
• 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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 award chart for partner China Airlines:

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.

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.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel^SM
• 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.

100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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

American Airlines AAdvantage Program

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:

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 China is considered to be part of Asia Region 2. Here’s American’s revamped partner award chart:

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:

Check out our guide The Best International Business Class Airlines in the World.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

You’ll have no problem earning American Airlines miles, as the airline offers several co-branded credit cards and is a transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Aeroplan^® Credit Card

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

75,000 bonus points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,125

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

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)

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

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

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points
• Earn 75K bonus points after you spend $4,000 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

• APR: 20.49% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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.