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The Best Ways To Fly to Hong Kong With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

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Stephen Au

Stephen Au

Senior Content Contributor

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Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used...
Edited by: Kellie Jez

Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

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...

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Hong Kong is a bustling city. A capital of global finance, the city also has amazing cultural traditions and an unmatched international atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, this city sits at or near the top of the priority list for many travelers.

Though very small geographically (the city measures just 1,063 square miles), it manages to be an economic powerhouse, a tourist hotbed, foodie heaven, and luxury travel oasis all at once. Thanks to all of this, it sees a huge amount of inbound and outbound travel in a typical (non-pandemic) year.

There are many airlines and different routes you can choose from to fly to Hong Kong, primarily with Star Alliance and Oneworld alliance carriers.

In this post, we’ll cover the best programs to use for round-trip flights in all cabin classes, including economy and business class, across a healthy variety of airlines. We’ll also share a few “sweet spots” which allow you to redeem points and miles at a great value for business and first class flights between North America and Hong Kong.

Let’s get to it!

Nonstop Flights Between North America and Hong Kong

Since Hong Kong is one of the primary hubs of the global financial system, it boasts a huge number of airlines that offer service to and from the city. This also means there are many options for booking flights with points and miles.

We’re going to be focusing this section on Star Alliance and Oneworld alliance carriers because SkyTeam carriers don’t offer any nonstop flights into Hong Kong from North America.

Here’s a look at the foreign airlines that offer nonstop flights to Hong Kong from the U.S. or Canada:

  • Cathay Pacific
    • Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • Chicago (ORD) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • New York (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG)
  • Singapore Airlines
    • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG)
  • Air Canada
    • Toronto (YYZ) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • Vancouver (YVR) – Hong Kong (HKG)

And here are all of the U.S. airlines that have nonstop flights to Hong Kong:

  • American Airlines
    • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Hong Kong (HKG)
  • United Airlines
    • Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG)
    • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG)

Best Programs for Booking Flights

As we jump into each redemption, it’s important to note that booking premium cabin award space will require you to plan ahead.

There are some exceptions (particularly with Cathay Pacific first class close-in award bookings), but the general rule of thumb is to plan as far in advance as possible.

Hot Tip: Remember that the key to award travel is flexibility in both the points you earn as well as the dates you are looking to travel!

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

ANA offers incredible round-trip business class pricing with miles, which you take advantage of to fly United Polaris nonstop to Hong Kong! Image Credit: Chris Hassan

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is at the top of our list for several reasons, but the main one is value.

ANA offers some of the best round-trip redemptions in the business. Keep in mind that ANA only allows round-trip bookings, so one-ways are not an option here.

Because ANA doesn’t offer nonstop flights from North America to Hong Kong, our best bet will be to utilize its partners that do offer nonstop service between North America and Hong Kong: Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines.

Hot Tip: ANA offers 1 free stopover AND 1 open-jaw OR 2 open-jaws on round-trip award bookings. If Hong Kong is not your final destination, you could work in any number of routes using this rule. 

Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines does not allow premium cabin partner award bookings. If you want to book Singapore Airlines’ flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong on its Boeing 777, you’ll need to use the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program, which we’ll cover later on in this post.

Here are the round-trip redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees you’ll pay for nonstop Air Canada and United flights from North America to Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassANA Miles CostFees
Economy60,000~$80 to $136
Business95,000~$80 to $136
FirstN/AN/A

Here are some example routes you can consider:

  • Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip for 95,000 miles and ~$136 in taxes and fees in United Polaris business class
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip for 95,000 miles and ~$136 in taxes and fees in United Polaris business class
  • Toronto (YYZ) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip for 95,000 miles and ~$85 in taxes and fees in Air Canada business class

Once you’re ready to book, follow these steps:

  1. Visit ANA’s U.S. website.
  2. On the homepage, click Award Booking in the search box.
  3. Log in to your ANA Mileage Club account.
  4. Fill in the search box with your airport pairs, departure and return dates, cabin class, and the number of passengers. Click Search.
  5. Find a suitable flight that matches your needs.
  6. Redeem your ANA miles, use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees, and confirm your ticket.

Hot Tip: Need help booking this award? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking business class award tickets on ANA.

Earning ANA Miles

Utilizing the ANA award program is made easier by the fact that ANA is an American Express transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner.

Amex points transfer to ANA at a 1:1 ratio in around 2 to 3 business days.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers to ANA at a 3:1 ratio with a transfer bonus of 5,000 extra ANA miles after transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once. Marriott transfers to ANA usually take around 4 business days.

Amex has many personal and business cards to choose from that earn Membership Rewards points, making it easy to accumulate the points necessary for a redemption.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)
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)

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 $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per $1 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, SiriusXM, 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.
  • $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)

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 $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per $1 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

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Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Recommended American Express Cards (Business)
OUR BEST OFFER
The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Business 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.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
120,000 points
$2,640
$695
19.49% - 27.49% 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 Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Pros

  • 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
  • Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
  • Statement credits on select purchases with your card
  • 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
  • Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
  • Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program

Cons

  • High annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)
  • Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
  • Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
  • Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
  • The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
  • $695 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR BUYING ADS
American Express® Business Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Business 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.

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
70,000 points
$1,540
$295
19.49% - 27.49% 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 American Express® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros

  • 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
    • NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses , and subways
    • NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
    • NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
    • U.S. purchases at gas stations
    • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
  • 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
  • Trip delay insurance
  • Car rental insurance
  • Cell phone insurance

Cons

  • $295 ($375 if application is received on or after 2/1/24) annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
  • MORE REWARDS: Get 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 select categories where your business spent the most each month. 1X is earned for other purchases.**
  • **4X points apply to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these 2 categories each calendar year.*
  • PAY OVER TIME OPTION: Decide whether you want to pay eligible purchases in full each month—or pay over time with interest.*
  • *Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business® Plus Credit 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.

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points
$330
No annual fee
18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
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 (670-840)

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros

  • 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
  • No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

  • No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
  • No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status
  • Charges foreign transaction fees
  • Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.49% - 26.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.
  • You’ve got the power to use your Card beyond its credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power.
  • *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 18.49% - 26.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

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Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Book Cathay Pacific first class round-trip to Hong Kong for only 140,000 Alaska miles! Image Credit: Alex Miller

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers some incredible value on premium award flights on a variety of carriers. We’re focusing on flying to Hong Kong today, so there are 2 options — Cathay Pacific and American Airlines. However, the real star is Cathay Pacific, a frequent pick of aspirational travelers.

Known for massage chairs, flawless service, Krug Champagne, and amazingly comfortable bedding, Cathay Pacific is definitely towards the top of the bucket list when it comes to first class. And its business class product is no slouch, either!

Though first class availability is difficult to book far in advance, economy and business award space is abundant. Sometimes you’ll find 5 to 7 business class seats per flight!

Booking Cathay Pacific flights through Alaska Airlines is the best way to get outsize value for your miles — here’s a look at the round-trip redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for nonstop flights from the U.S. to Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassAlaska Airlines Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy60,000~$40 to $275
Business100,000~$40 to $275
First140,000~$40 to $275

You’ll notice that Alaska Airlines offers extremely competitive redemption rates. In fact, these rates are the lowest you will find for flying in Cathay Pacific premium cabins to Hong Kong.

Here are some great example routes you can book:

  • Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class for 70,000 Alaska Airlines miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
  • Chicago (ORD) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class for 70,000 Alaska Airlines miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class for 70,000 Alaska Airlines miles + ~$19 in taxes and fees

Booking with Alaska Airlines requires a phone call:

  1. Visit British Airways’ site and log in.
  2. Select your route, travel dates, and class of service.
  3. Note the flight number, date, and time.
  4. Call Alaska Airlines at 800-252-7522.
  5. Ask them to search for first class award space on Cathay Pacific for the appropriate date (you may have to provide the flight number).
  6. Provide all necessary information to complete the booking.

Hot Tip: Alaska Airlines’ award tickets allow stopovers on one-way tickets, but you can only fly 1 partner per itinerary, limiting you to stopovers in Hong Kong when flying Cathay Pacific. Use this to construct trips that add even more value! 

Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking Cathay Pacific first class. If you don’t need first class but still want a lie-flat bed and awesome service, check out our guide for booking Cathay Pacific business class.

Earning Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

Unfortunately, the main drawback of the Mileage Plan program is its limited number of transfer partners. The best option you have for transferring points is from Marriott Bonvoy. You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines at a 3:1 ratio in approximately 3 business days. Also, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to Alaska in a single transaction, you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 Alaska miles.

Another way to earn lots of Alaska miles is by applying for its co-branded credit cards offered by Bank of America.

Finally, you can purchase Alaska miles if you have a specific redemption in mind. You can buy up to 150,000 miles per year, though you’re limited to 60,000 miles per transaction. Alaska often offers bonuses of up to 60% on purchased miles, so try to limit your purchasing to those times.

Bottom Line: Alaska Airlines offers the best redemption rates on Cathay Pacific from North America to Hong Kong. Redeeming 100,000 and 140,000 miles, respectively, for round-trip business and first class flights between the U.S. and Hong Kong makes it very difficult to beat Alaska Airlines!

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Book Cathay Pacific business class from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for only 140,000 Asia Miles and ~$247 in taxes and fees! Image Credit: Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific may have some of the best products in the sky, but its award chart is crazily confusing. Looking at it may be enough to overwhelm you, but we’re here to help!

Cathay Pacific has a distance-based award chart, which means the cost of a redemption is closely tied to the actual distance flown on a particular award flight.

You have 2 main options for booking nonstop flights between North America and Hong Kong using Asia Miles: American Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Oddly enough, the best place to book Cathay Pacific flights is not using the carrier’s own Asia Miles program if you’re looking for simple itineraries.

The main advantage of using Asia Miles is that you’ll be able to utilize its incredibly powerful (albeit confusing) routing rules.

Cathay Pacific has indicated different award redemption rules depending on which award chart you’re using for redemption. The program maintains separate award charts — 1 for flights on Cathay Pacific itself and 1 for flights on partner airlines.

For the Cathay Pacific award chart, here are a few of the most important rules:

  • For a one-way flight, up to 2 segments are allowed, with 1 stopover or 1 transfer.
  • If the first segment origin airport and the final segment destination airport are located in different cities, but all segments are within the same country or region, this itinerary is treated as a one-way flight.
  • If the first segment origin airport and the final segment destination airport are located in different cities but within the same country or region, and the first segment destination airport is located in a different country or region, this itinerary is not treated as a one-way flight (i.e. JFK-DFW-LAX is a one-way flight while JFK-LHR-IAD is not a one-way flight).

There are additional rules associated with award bookings. For more information, please visit Asia Miles’ dedicated page for flight award redemption terms and conditions.

Since American Airlines currently only flies from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG), let’s quickly examine the Asia Miles redemption costs on American Airlines flights:

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Asia Miles Cost for Redeeming on American Airlines Flights to Hong Kong
Cabin ClassDallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Economy94,000 + $247
Business180,000 + $247
First270,000 + $247

Let’s compare this to Cathay Pacific’s own flights:

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Asia Miles Cost for Redeeming on Cathay Pacific Flights to Hong Kong
Cabin ClassBoston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG)Chicago (ORD) – Hong Kong (HKG) Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) New York  (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG)San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Economy84,00084,00060,00084,00060,000
Business170,000170,000140,000170,000140,000
First250,000250,000220,000250,000220,000

You can search for award space on the Cathay Pacific website, which is where you’ll also book the ticket. Follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Asia Miles website.
  2. Log into your Asia Miles account.
  3. On the top banner, click Redeem awards, then Flight Awards.
  4. Enter your search details and click Search.
  5. Choose your cabin class, number of passengers, and travel dates.
  6. Find the flight you want to book, and confirm the ticket using Asia Miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.
    • If you’re booking American Airlines flights using Asia Miles, you’ll need to call Asia Miles at 866-892-2598.

Hot Tip: Asia Miles has the distinct advantage of receiving access to award space about 12 months before departure. Additionally, Asia Miles has access to more Cathay Pacific award space, making it much easier to book through this program.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

One of the biggest upsides of the Asia Miles program is its abundant transfer partners, which means that earning Asia Miles is not difficult.

Unlike Alaska Mileage Plan (which only has a single transfer partner), Cathay Pacific partners with American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 ratio), Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1 ratio), Capital One (1:1 ratio), and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred).

Amex usually transfers in a few hours, while Citi transfers almost instantly. Capital One takes up to 36 hours, and Marriott Bonvoy takes up to 5 business days.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can also be earned directly by signing up for its co-branded credit cards offered by Synchrony Bank.

Bottom Line:Using the Asia Miles program is great for more plentiful award availability, leveraging award routing rules, or using the ability to earn through multiple credit cards. On the other hand, the award redemption rates are a bit higher, so it’ll cost you more miles.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® 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.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points
$960
$95
21.24% - 29.24% 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)

The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros

  • 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
  • Access to Citi transfer partners
  • Annual hotel credit
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Rewards+® 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 no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Rewards+® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $250 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
20,000 points
$320
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
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 Credit Recommended (670-840)
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
  • Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
  • The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
  • No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® 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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Double Cash® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
$0
19.24% - 29.24% 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.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Double Cash® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros

  • Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
  • Flexible redemption options
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No bonus categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fees
  • Lack of premium travel benefits
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® 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.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
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.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros

  • 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
  • No annual fee
  • Multiple redemption options
  • No redemption minimums

Cons

  • Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
  • Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

Etihad Guest Miles

Use 135,000 Etihad Guest miles to book American Airlines First Class on its flagship Boeing 777-300ER! Image Credit: Daniel Ross

Etihad Airways is known for its extravagant First Class Apartment and out-of-this-world Residence. And its loyalty program, known as Etihad Guest, actually provides one of the best ways to fly to Hong Kong.

Etihad’s sole partner that flies nonstop to Hong Kong is American Airlines, currently from its hub at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) only. And although Cathay Pacific’s premium cabin products are superior to American’s, its Flagship Business class is still an excellent way to get to Hong Kong.

Hot Tip: Basically, the only time you would want to fly American Airlines when Cathay Pacific is flying the same route is when you can’t book Cathay Pacific or if the same Cathay Pacific flight is way more expensive than American’s. This is one of those situations. 

American’s Flagship First product features a spacious open suite with swiveling chairs on board, Flagship First Dining access in private rooms within the airline’s Flagship Lounges, and more. It’s a great way to fly overall.

Here’s what it’ll cost you to book round-trip American Airlines flights to Hong Kong with Etihad Guest miles:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin Class (American Airlines)Etihad Guest Miles Price: DFW – HKG Round-TripFees
Economy75,000~$274
Business110,000~$274
First135,000~$274

With these prices, there is tremendous value to be had here! Etihad Guest, without a doubt, presents the absolute best way to fly to Hong Kong on American Airlines.

Booking with Etihad requires a phone call. In fact, it’s basically the same process to book, as you’ll see below:

  1. Visit British Airways and log in to your account.
  2. Select your route, travel dates, and class of service (British Airways can sometimes not show award availability; you’ll have to play with dates back and forth and keep refreshing the page if this happens).
  3. Note the flight number(s), date(s), and time(s).
  4. Call Etihad Airways at 877-690-0767. Press 1 for English, then press 4 (don’t press 2 for “first and business class” bookings). Press 1 to book or change a flight, and then press 1 again to book or change a flight using Etihad Guest miles.
  5. Ask the agent to search for first class award space on American Airlines for the appropriate date (you may be asked to provide flight numbers).
  6. Provide all necessary info to complete the booking.

Earning Etihad Guest Miles

You can earn Etihad Guest miles without ever setting foot on its planes.

Etihad is transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One.

Amex and Citi both transfer to Etihad Guest miles at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Capital One transfers at a 1:1 ratio in around 36 hours.

Bottom Line: Etihad Guest provides a nearly unbeatable way of booking American Airlines flights to Hong Kong. Unless you’re sitting on a pile of Marriott Bonvoy points, you’re going to get better value from Etihad Guest Miles. The ease of earning transferable points along with the amazing value could get you nearly 20 cents per point!

Recommended Capital One Cards

TOP PICK
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards 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 Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 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.
Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards 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.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 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 Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards 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 card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles
$360
$0
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
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)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Ability to use transfer partners
  • Access to Capital One Dining

Cons

  • Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
  • No luxury travel or elite benefits
  • $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
  • Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

American Airlines AAdvantage

Cathay Pacific first class seat on the Boeing 777. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Booking flights to Hong Kong through American Airlines offers 2 distinct advantages (pun intended): access to Oneworld airline partners and simplicity of booking awards.

And, you won’t be on the hook for paying fuel surcharges (except for flights on British Airways and Iberia). This will keep your out-of-pocket costs to a minimum.

If you’re looking to fly nonstop to Hong Kong with your AA miles, you have the option of flying either on American Airlines or Cathay Pacific. If the cost is the same, you’ll always want to choose Cathay Pacific. Plus, it has many more gateways from North America to Hong Kong than American does.

Here’s the AAdvantage award chart for round-trip flights operated by Oneworld partner airlines between North America and Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassAA Miles PriceFees
Economy75,000~$50 to $100
Business140,000~$50 to $100
First220,000~$50 to $100

You’re going to pay more miles than with some other programs, but you won’t be charged much in fees.

In some instances, you may find Web Special award tickets on AA-operated flights that can drop the mileage price.

Here are some example flights that can be booked with AA miles:

  • Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) nonstop round-trip for 220,000 AA miles + ~$60 in taxes and fees in Cathay Pacific first class
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Hong Kong (HKG) nonstop round-trip for 144,000 AA miles + ~$11 in taxes and fees in American Airlines Flagship Business class (Web Special)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Hong Kong (HKG) nonstop round-trip for 168,000 AA miles + ~$11 in taxes and fees in American Airlines Flagship First class (Web Special)

Follow these steps to book your AAdvantage award ticket:

  1. Visit American Airlines’ website.
  2. On the homepage, you’ll see a search box. Check off the box that says Redeem Miles and fill out the search details.
  3. Click Search.
  4. Find the flight you wish to book, redeem your American Airlines miles, and pay for the taxes and fees using a credit card.

Hot Tip: Looking for more information about finding award availability for American and its partners? Check out our guide to searching for Oneworld award availability.

Need help booking? See our step-by-step guide for booking American Airlines business class. The process for booking American Airlines first class is pretty much the same as business class, only the award availability will be more sparse.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

AAdvantage miles are easy to stockpile, as American has a variety of co-branded credit cards issued by both Barclays and Citi.

If you’re short on AA miles, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio.

Keep in mind that it can take up to 2 business days for transfers from Marriott Bonvoy to American AAdvantage to complete.

Bottom Line: American Airlines’ AAdvantage program is easy to understand, and the program is especially useful because it’s easy to miles through co-branded credit card bonuses, it’s easy to use, and you can book everything online. The main drawback is that your miles won’t get you as far as Etihad Guest miles or Alaska miles would.

Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank

A lie-flat seat with direct aisle access to keep you comfortable in business class. Image Credit: American Airlines

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is similar to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles in that it has a distance-based award chart with excellent routing rules. If you combine these 2 factors — and spend enough time planning itineraries and routes — you can get some serious value!

Mileage Bank is an excellent rewards program, without a doubt. However, it sits at the bottom of the list for booking Oneworld partner airlines for these specific routes and flights.

It’s very difficult to earn these miles (it only has a transfer relationship with Marriott Bonvoy and its co-branded U.S. credit card is a niche option that lacks bonus categories found on many other cards), and you can get some serious value out of these miles elsewhere, such as booking JALs’ first class product!

Hot Tip: Japan Airlines’ award routing rules allow up to 7 stopovers! We would not recommend using Japan Airlines miles to book Hong Kong routes due to the relatively poor redemption value and opportunity costs. Instead, you can use its miles for multi-segmented routes that can exceed $100,000 in value. 

Still, it is a possibility — and we’ll explore it here.

Award tickets on partner airlines are distance-based according to this chart. For more details on JAL’s award redemption rules, visit JAL’s dedicated page here.

Here are some example routes you can book:

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip in American Airlines Flagship Business class for 130,000 Japan Airlines miles + ~$11 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip in Cathay Pacific first class for 110,000 Japan Airlines miles + ~$39 in taxes and fees
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Hong Kong (HKG) round-trip in Cathay Pacific first class for 165,000 Japan Airlines miles + ~$39 in taxes and fees

You can book flights through Japan Airlines online by following the steps below:

  1. Go to Japan Airlines’ website.
  2. Log in to your JAL Mileage Bank account.
  3. Select JAL International Award Ticket Reservation.
  4. Select round-trip or one-way.
  5. Select your desired Area of Departure and Area of Arrival.
  6. Select your travel dates, departure and destination airports, and class of service.
  7. Select Designate Date if you have to travel on specific dates, or Award Reservation Calendar if you have flexible travel dates.
  8. Click Next.
  9. If you selected Designate Date, you’ll be taken directly to your flight options.
    • Make sure the flights you select have seats available and do not require waitlisting.
  10. If you selected Award Reservation Calendar, you’ll see 7 dates for departure and 7 for return. Select the dates and you’ll be taken to your flight options for the selected dates.
  11. Confirm the Mileage Bank miles and taxes/fees required.
  12. Select your desired flights and hit Next (assign seat now) so you can select your seat and complete the booking process.

Hot Tip: When you select your flights, make sure there actually is availability, since Japan Airlines will also list flights you can be waitlisted for.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and then transfer those to JAL at a 3:1 ratio. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra 5,000 JAL miles bonus. Transfers take around 2 business days.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

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.
  • 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

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 3 Free Nights after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases (each night valued up to 50,000 points) within the first 3 months from account opening.
Up to 3 Free Nights
$1,050
$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 over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
  • DoorDash DashPass subscription
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 3 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.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

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)

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 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership
85,000 points
$595
$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 85,000 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.
  • 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 Gold Elites 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. 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

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)

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 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
95,000 bonus points
$665
$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 95,000 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 access 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

Bottom Line:Unless you have a huge stockpile of Marriott Bonvoy points, we don’t suggest using this method to book flights to Hong Kong. If you wanted to fly American Airlines, you can utilize the Etihad Guest Miles method above. If you wanted to fly Cathay Pacific (as you should), you can utilize the Alaska Airlines miles method above. 

Avianca LifeMiles

Air Canada Signature Class is bookable with Avianca LifeMiles. Image Credit: Air Canada

Avianca’s LifeMiles program has proven to be very useful for booking Star Alliance award flights. And it’s no different for flights to Hong Kong — the cost of business class seats booked with LifeMiles for flights to Hong Kong is indeed very competitive. Since we’re looking at nonstop flights between North America and Hong Kong, you have 2 main options for flights: Air Canada and United Airlines.

You can earn LifeMiles through several different avenues, as LifeMiles has transfer partnerships with a number of transferable points programs, has its own co-branded credit card, and even offers the option to purchase LifeMiles!

It sometimes can be easiest to just purchase the miles necessary for a redemption and then complete your booking with those purchased miles. However, this method does involve spending more than $1,000 on purchased miles, so we wouldn’t suggest it unless you have a specific redemption in mind.

Another advantage of the LifeMiles program is that you could save a significant amount of miles round-trip over Aeroplan if you’re planning to fly first class to other parts of Asia.

Here’s the award chart for round-trip flights between North America and Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassLifeMiles CostFees
Economy70,000~$121
Business150,000~$121
First180,000~$121

Hot Tip: LifeMiles does not pass on any fuel surcharges — a huge advantage!

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

  • Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 75,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$61 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 75,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$61 in taxes and fees
  • Toronto (YYZ) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 75,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$61 in taxes and fees
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 75,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$61 in taxes and fees

Here are the steps to take if you’ve decided on redeeming LifeMiles for nonstop Air Canada or United flights between North America and Hong Kong:

  1. Visit LifeMiles’ website.
  2. In the top-right corner, log into your LifeMiles account.
  3. On the main banner, click Fly.
  4. Once you’re on the search page, fill out the trip details, and perform the search.
  5. Enter your desired travel dates and finalize your search.
  6. The next screen shows award availability and costs for those dates. Scroll through the dates and choose the best options for you.
  7. Redeem your LifeMiles, pay for taxes and fees using a credit card, and confirm your ticket.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles has a transfer relationship with Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Brex, Capital One, and Citi transfer at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

Amex, Citi, and Capital One transfers should process immediately, while Brex and Marriott Bonvoy usually take 1 business day to transfer.

The last resort would be to purchase LifeMiles. There are periodic sales that offer bonuses of up to 200%, so be sure to take advantage of that if you can.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Signature Class on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Image Credit: Air Canada

Let’s move on to Aeroplan, the loyalty program associated with Air Canada. Aeroplan is typically one of the first options we think of when the objective is to book Star Alliance flights.

Technically, you can use Aeroplan points for flights on Oneworld member Cathay Pacific, but only between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Cebu, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Phuket.

Today, of course, we’ll be focusing on booking long-haul nonstop flights between North America and Hong Kong, which means flights will be operated either by Air Canada or United Airlines.

The one-way award redemption rates are based on the total distance flown as shown here:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Flight Distance (Miles)Operating AirlineEconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
0 to 5,000Air Canada35,000 to 65,00045,000 to 120,00055,000 to 150,00090,000 to 200,000
Partner Airlines35,000N/A55,00090,000
5,001 to 7,000Air Canada45,000 to 80,00060,000 to 140,00075,000 to 175,000110,000 to 250,000
Partner Airlines50,000N/A75,000110,000
7,001 to 11,000Air Canada50,000 to 90,00070,000 to 160,00085,000 to 200,000130,000 to 300,000
Partner Airlines60,000N/A85,000130,000
11,000+Air Canada65,000 to 110,00080,000 to 180,000105,000 to 250,000140,000 to 350,000
Partner Airlines75,000N/A105,000140,000

Air Canada will not charge fuel surcharges on any award flights, which is fabulous news!

Here’s the award chart for Aeroplan redemptions to Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassAeroplan Points CostFees
Economy100,000 to 120,000~$50
Business150,000 to 170,000~$50
First220,000 to 260,000~$50

Check out some of our recommended flight redemptions with Aeroplan points:

  • Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$41 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 75,000 Aeroplan points + ~$41 in taxes and fees
  • Toronto (YYZ) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 85,000 Aeroplan points + ~$41 in taxes and fees
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Air Canada Signature Class for 75,000 Aeroplan points + ~$41 in taxes and fees

Hot Tip: If you’d like to treat Hong Kong as an intermediate destination and spend a few days there en route to your final destination, you can book Aeroplan award tickets over the phone and add a stopover for just 5,000 miles extra!

Follow these steps to book your ticket:

  1. Find award availability on United.com.
  2. Write down all of the flight details.
  3. Visit Aeroplan’s website.
  4. Log in to your Aeroplan account in the top right corner.
  5. On the homepage, toggle the slider button that says Points.
  6. Fill in the search details and complete the search.
  7. Find the flight options that work for you.
  8. Enter your traveler information, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning Aeroplan Points

You can acquire the co-branded Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card, which earns 3x points per $1 spent on dining, groceries, and Air Canada, as well as 1x point per $1 spent everywhere else.

Aeroplan is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate RewardsCapital One, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Chase, and Capital One transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from those 3 programs are almost instant.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred at once. Transfers from Marriott take 5 business days to complete.

Recommended Chase Cards

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 Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (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 Ultimate Rewards 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
  • Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

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, and 2x on all other travel 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.
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 points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 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 via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 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 Ultimate Rewards®
  • $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 Ultimate Rewards® 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 Ultimate Rewards®. 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

Bottom Line: If you’re booking flights to Hong Kong and have Chase points, you’ll get great value from the Aeroplan program!

United MileagePlus

United Polaris business class is a great way to relax and unwind in the sky. Image Credit: United Airlines

Now let’s have a look at United Airlines’ frequent flyer program, MileagePlus, and how you can use it to book flights to Hong Kong from around North America.

The pros and cons are simple here: the main advantage is the ease of booking and no fuel surcharges, while the disadvantage is high award costs.

Here’s a look at what you can expect to pay for round-trip nonstop flights on United or Air Canada when booking through MileagePlus:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassUnited AirlinesAir CanadaFees
EconomyFrom 80,00088,000~$6
BusinessFrom 180,000198,000~$6
FirstN/A (United and Air Canada don’t offer international first class)~$6

As you can see, there’s a 10% difference in pricing between United and Air Canada flights. In either case, your out-of-pocket costs are at a minimum here because fuel surcharges are not passed on.

Hot Tip: When using United Airlines’ search engine for awards, be sure to use the award calendar. You can book awards completely online using United Airlines. 

For those who are set on flying United Airlines, here are the best redemptions to fly on United Airlines to Hong Kong:

  • Newark (EWR) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 90,000 United miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in United Polaris business class for 90,000 United miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees

Follow these steps to book your MileagePlus award ticket:

  1. Visit United’s website.
  2. On the homepage, you’ll see a search box. Check off the box that says Book with miles.
  3. Fill in the search box and complete the search.
  4. Log in to your United MileagePlus account.
  5. Find your desired flights, redeem your United miles, and pay for taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards that can then be transferred to United. In many cases, this method will be the fastest way to earn lots of United miles.

Chase transfers to United at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, and Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to United at a 3:1.1 ratio in around 3 business days. When you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once to United, you’ll get a bonus of 5,500 United miles!

Another great way to earn United miles is to use any of the co-branded credit cards issued by Chase.

Recommended United Cards

United℠ Explorer Card

United℠ Explorer 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.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
60,000 bonus miles
$720
$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)

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
  • 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
  • First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion
  • 25% statement credit on United inflight purchases
  • Priority boarding
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
  • 2 United Club 1-time passes each year
  • Premier upgrades on award tickets
  • Travel and purchase protections

Cons

  • $0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
  • Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
  • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
  • Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
  • Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United ClubSM with 2 one-time passes each year
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

United Club℠ Infinite Card

United Club℠ Infinite 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.

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
90,000 miles
$1,080
$525
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)

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros

  • 4x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
  • Complimentary United Club membership
  • Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
  • United Premier Access
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
  • Expanded award availability
  • Up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points
  • $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
  • Trip protections like trip delay insurance, lost and delayed luggage insurance, and rental car insurance
  • Shopping protections like return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection
  • $70 discount on CLEAR membership, plus 10,000 bonus miles
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit
  • Avis President’s Club elite status
  • 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada

Cons

  • $525 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
  • Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
  • 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
  • Earn up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

NEW OFFER
United Quest℠ Card

United Quest℠ 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 United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
70,000 miles
$840
$250
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 newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros

  • 3x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
  • $125 annual United credit
  • 2 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits
  • Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
  • Expanded award availability
  • Up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points
  • Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
  • Travel and shopping protections including trip delay insurance, lost/delayed luggage insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection

Cons

  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Does not offer airport lounge access
  • $250 annual fee
  • Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
  • Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
  • Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year - terms apply
  • Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

NEW OFFER
United Gateway℠ Card

United Gateway℠ 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 United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
30,000 miles
$360
$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)

The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
  • 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
  • Rental car insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty coverage

Cons

  • If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
  • It does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 30,000 bonus miles
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Club℠ Business Card

United Club℠ Business 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 United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
75,000 miles
$900
$450
20.74%-27.74% 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 United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.

From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
  • 1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Complimentary United Club membership
  • Free checked bags
  • Premier Access travel services
  • Discount on inflight purchases
  • Upgrades on award tickets
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • Travel and purchase protections

Cons

  • $450 annual fee
  • Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
  • Earn 2x miles on United purchases
  • Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • United Club membership — up to a $650 value per year. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more
  • Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.74%-27.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Bottom Line: United Airlines offers an easy, completely online method of booking award flights. Though the award prices are higher than in some other programs, you’re virtually paying nothing out of pocket and it’s easy to earn miles. Partner awards are much more expensive, but they may be worth it unless you’re flying routes that feature United’s Polaris business class product.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 first class. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Singapore Airlines keeps it very simple when it comes to Hong Kong: you can only fly premium cabins on Singapore Airlines if you book through its KrisFlyer program.

Furthermore, there’s currently only 1 nonstop Singapore Airlines route between North America and Hong Kong: a fifth-freedom flight between San Francisco (SFO) and Hong Kong (HKG).

The SFO-HKG route is operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, not the Airbus A380. This means you won’t get to experience the famous Singapore Suites on this route, though you’ll still get a very nice inflight experience with one of the most sought-after airlines on earth.

See below for the award chart for round-trip tickets on the SFO-HKG flight:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin Class (SFO-HKG)KrisFlyer Miles CostFees
Economy73,000~$107
Business201,000~$107
First234,000~$107

As you can see, there’s just a small difference in the rates for business and first class (and, you’ll notice you’ll only pay a minimal amount of taxes and fees). If you had lots of KrisFlyer miles, we would recommend flying first class to experience it on Singapore Airlines.

Here are a couple of great redemptions we really like:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 100,500 KrisFlyer miles + ~$5.60 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 117,000 KrisFlyer miles + ~$5.60 in taxes and fees

Booking first class and business class is very easy — just follow these steps:

  1. Visit the Singapore Airlines website.
  2. Select Redeem Flights.
  3. Select your desired travel dates and route.
  4. Select Business as your cabin of choice.
  5. Hit Search.
  6. Select your flight.

Hot Tip: When possible, be sure to use Singapore Airlines’ “Book the Cook” option that allows you to select from a wide variety of meals in advance! 

Earning Singapore KrisFlyer Miles

KrisFlyer miles are very easy to earn, as the program is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Brex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi all transfer at a 1:1 ratio. These programs take anywhere from 1 to 2 business days to process transfers.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 KrisFlyer miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a single transaction to Singapore Airlines. Marriott transfers to Singapore Airlines take around 2 business days.

Bottom Line: Singapore KrisFlyer has solid redemptions for its SFO-HKG route, but not much else for Hong Kong. You can earn miles through any of the transferable programs. This is also the only way to fly Singapore Airlines from North America to Hong Kong in business/first class

Lufthansa Miles and More

United Airlines boasts an impressive business class known as Polaris on Hong Kong routes. Image Credit: United Airlines

Lufthansa’s Miles and More Program is only useful in this case for booking Star Alliance flights.

The only way to earn Lufthansa miles readily is its co-branded credit card, the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® issued by Barclays.

With Miles & More, you will be able to book on Air Canada and United Airlines if you’re looking for nonstop flights. Lufthansa also passes on fuel surcharges, which you’ll be responsible for paying.

Here’s a look at what you’ll pay for round-trip nonstop flights from North America to Hong Kong:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassLufthansa Miles CostFees
Economy80,000~$325
Business142,000~$325
First222,000~$325

Technically speaking, Lufthansa presents a good deal for Star Alliance redemptions, behind only ANA.

However, miles are difficult to come by and fuel surcharges are high, which is why we hesitate to recommend it highly for booking these flights.

Hot Tip:You’ll want to search close-in for award space in a premium cabin. Based on a recent search, we did not find availability 10 to 11 months out in the calendar. 

To book a Miles & More award ticket, follow these steps:

  1. Perform your award search on United’s website.
  2. Write down the flight details of the itinerary you located.
  3. Call Miles & More at 800-581-6400.
  4. Give the agent your flight details, and confirm that the flight is available on their end.
  5. Book the ticket using your miles and a credit card for taxes and fees.

Earning Lufthansa Miles & More Miles

You can earn Miles & More miles by applying for its Barclays co-branded card.

There aren’t many other ways to snag lots of Lufthansa miles besides sign-up bonuses on credit cards. For more information, check out the best ways to earn lots of Lufthansa miles.

Bottom Line: Lufthansa business class awards on partners are a decent “sweet spot” at 142,000 points round-trip. However, because the miles are so difficult to earn and Lufthansa passes on fuel surcharges, we would suggest looking toward ANA for the equivalent routes. 

Final Thoughts

We’ve explored every valuable avenue of flying to Hong Kong from North America.

There are a total of 5 airlines offering nonstop flights from North America to Hong Kong. These are:

  • Air Canada
  • American Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Singapore Airlines
  • United Airlines

Overall, there are plenty of ways to fly to Hong Kong on points and miles. Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines are Star Alliance partners, so we would look first at ANA Mileage Club for the most competitive redemption costs. Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines’ premium cabin products can only be booked using its own miles, so that’s the only option for flying Singapore Airlines business or first class.

American Airlines and Cathay Pacific are in the Oneworld alliance. For booking American Airlines, look no further than Etihad’s Guest program, which offers first and business class flights on American at the same price! Cathay Pacific is best booked with Alaska Airlines miles, but you can look at Japan Airlines, American Airlines, or Asia Miles for some great rates, too.

There’s a lot of value and variety to be had when flying to Hong Kong. Now that you’ve got the full picture, it’s time to put your points to good use and book your tickets!

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.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® 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 Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, 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

Which airlines include carrier-imposed surcharges on award flights to Hong Kong?

Lufthansa passes on all fuel surcharges from its partners.

Air Canada, Avianca, Cathay Pacific, and United do not impose fuel surcharges on any award flights.

What is the fewest number of miles you can use to book an economy class award flight to Hong Kong?

ANA offers round-trip economy class flights on its partners for 60,000 miles.

What is the fewest number of miles required to fly business class to Hong Kong?

ANA charges 95,000 for round-trip business class tickets on partners (Air Canada and United in the case of nonstop flights between North America and Hong Kong). The runner-up is Alaska Airlines at 100,000 for round-trip business class on Cathay Pacific.

What is the fewest number miles required to fly first class to Hong Kong?

You have 3 first class flight options when flying to Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. Using Etihad Guest miles on American Airlines will cost 110,000 miles round-trip, using Alaska miles on Cathay Pacific will cost 140,000 miles round-trip, and using Singapore Airlines miles will cost 208,000 miles round-trip.

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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