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The Best Ways To Fly to North Asia With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

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As many of us know already, it’s hard work to acquire the hundreds of thousands of points and miles required to plan a first class vacation. And many of these vacations involve flying to the countries that constitute the North Asia region of the world.

This isn’t surprising since North Asia is shared by the likes of Japan and South Korea. In this guide, we’ll be focusing on how to redeem points for max value on flights to North Asia, so you can get the very best value for the points you’ve worked so hard to earn.

As you’ll see, different frequent flyer programs treat regions differently, and North Asia is no exception to this. In general, North Asia refers to China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Let’s take a look at the best ways to get to North Asia with your points and miles.

Nonstop Flights Between the U.S. and North Asia

While South Korea and Japan are undoubtedly part of North Asia, most also accept that China, Taiwan, and Mongolia are part of the region as well.

Star Alliance and SkyTeam have strongholds in Taiwan, while Oneworld and Star Alliance generally split up market share in Japan. On the flip side, South Korea is shared by Star Alliance and SkyTeam. At the moment, no nonstop flights exist between the U.S. and Mongolia.

China is split fairly evenly with the vast majority of long-haul flights falling under the Star Alliance and SkyTeam umbrellas. There are a few Oneworld flights, mainly thanks to American Airlines, but the numbers don’t compare to what Air China, China Eastern, Delta , and United offer.

Hot Tip: Flight schedules involving mainland China may be incomplete due to the flight capacity, arrival, and departure restrictions that have been imposed from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we will include popular award travel routes to China in the next sections to give you some post-pandemic travel inspiration.

With all that being said, here are the major foreign airlines offering nonstop flights from the U.S. to North Asia:

Air Canada

  • Toronto (YYZ) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Toronto (YYZ) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • Vancouver (YVR) – Tokyo (NRT)

ANA

  • Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • New York (JFK) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Tokyo (HND)

Asiana Airlines

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Seoul (ICN)
  • New York (JFK) – Seoul (ICN)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN)

China Airlines

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE)

EVA Air

  • Houston (IAH) – Taipei (TPE)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE)
  • New York (JFK) – Taipei (TPE)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Taipei (TPE)

Japan Airlines

  • Boston (BOS) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Osaka (KIX)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • New York (JFK) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • San Diego (SAN) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT/HND)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo (NRT)

Korean Air

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Boston (BOS) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Houston (IAH) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Seoul (ICN)
  • New York (JFK) – Seoul (ICN)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Seoul (ICN)

Singapore Airlines

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (NRT)

And here are the major U.S. airlines offering nonstop flights to North Asia:

American Airlines

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND)

Delta Air Lines

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Atlanta (ATL) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Portland (PDX) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Beijing (PKX)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo (HND)

United Airlines

  • Chicago (ORD) – Beijing (PEK)*
  • Chicago (ORD) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND)
  • Denver (DEN) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • Newark (EWR) – Beijing (PEK)*
  • Newark (EWR) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • Newark (EWR) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK)*
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Chengdu (CTU)*
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul (ICN)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG)*
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Beijing (PEK)*

* Expected to start in spring 2022

Best Programs for Booking Flights

There are several fascinating ways to fly to North Asia with points and miles. With the growth of commercial aviation and stiff competition between carriers to fight for market share, the results are competitive business and first class products across the board and consumer-friendly ways to book award travel.

Generally, when you’re looking at flights to North Asia, you’ll notice plentiful award availability, amazing redemption “sweet spots,” and great onboard products, to boot.

Without further ado, take a look at our picks of the best frequent flyer programs you should use to book flights.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

ANA first class. Image Credit: Alex Miller

When talking about North Asia, a country that immediately comes to mind is Japan — one of the most culturally rich countries in the world, replete with top-notch food, culture, and amazing sights.

One of the world’s economic and cultural powerhouses, Japan has 2 global airlines: Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Japan Airlines first class has one of the best international first class products in the world and is roughly on par with its crosstown rival ANA.

Virgin Atlantic, though not in any airline alliance, has strategic partnerships with many airlines. Its loyalty program, known as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, is advantageous for points travelers because it provides excellent ways to redeem Virgin Points. In fact, one of the best ways to book ANA first class is by redeeming Virgin Points.

The Virgin Atlantic partners that would be useful for premium cabin flights to North Asia are All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Delta Air Lines.

Using Virgin Points To Fly ANA

The best way to fly to North Asia using Virgin Points is undoubtedly on ANA. Here is the region-based award chart to redeem Virgin Points for round-trip flights on ANA:

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RouteEconomyBusinessFirst
Japan – Hawaii, India, or Indonesia45,00070,00090,000
Japan – Australia, Canada, and Western U.S.60,00090,000110,000
Japan – Europe or Central and Eastern U.S.65,00095,000120,000

For only 110,000 to 120,000 Virgin Points, you can fly round-trip from the U.S. to Japan in ANA first class, which is a ridiculously good deal. One-way flights require half the miles.

For reference, United MileagePlus charges more than that one-way, so you’re saving at least 50% over other partners for an amazing first class product.

Similarly, you can get round-trip tickets in business class for 90,000 to 95,000 Virgin Points and economy for 60,000 to 65,000 Virgin Points. The Western U.S. cities that will qualify for the cheapest prices are Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), and Seattle (SEA).

The Central and Eastern U.S. cities that are slightly pricier are Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD).

Finally, you can book round-trip flights between Hawaii and Japan using Virgin Points on ANA’s new A380 for 45,000 miles in economy, 70,000 in business, and 90,000 in first class.

Hot Tip: Need a one-stop-shop for ANA routes? Check out our definitive guide to ANA’s direct routes from the U.S

Once you’ve solidified your travel plans, here are the steps to follow for booking ANA first class using Virgin Points:

  1. Begin your search for award space by visiting United’s website.
  2. On the homepage, check the box that says Book with miles.
  3. Choose Round-trip or One-way.
  4. Type your origin and destination cities, outbound and inbound dates, and number of travelers.
  5. Click Find flights.
  6. After finding flights that you like, write down the flight numbers, dates, and times.
  7. Call Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500.
  8. Request an award hold for 24 hours with your specific flight.
  9. Transfer your points.
  10. Call back Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500 to confirm your booking and pay for taxes and fees.
  11. Write down the ANA Record Locator.
  12. Visit the Manage Reservation Page for ANA and enter your record locator and name.
  13. Select your seats and add any applicable meal preferences.

Using Virgin Points To Fly Delta

In addition to flying on ANA, you can redeem Virgin Points to travel on Delta Air Lines.

While Delta charges ridiculous prices for its Delta One Suites routes — often upwards of 320,000 SkyMiles one-way — you can redeem Virgin Points according to a distance-based award chart. Here’s what you can expect to pay for one-way flights:

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Distance Bracket (Miles)Main CabinDelta One/First Class
0 to 5007,50017,500
501 to 1,0008,50027,500
1,001 to 1,50011,50040,000
1,501 to 2,00012,50045,000
2,001 to 3,00015,00052,500
3,001 to 4,00022,50080,000
4,001 to 5,00027,500105,000
5,001 to 6,00035,000130,000
6,001+45,000165,000

Taxes and fees usually hover around $6 to $80 one-way. This is a pretty good deal, especially when you look at the shorter flights, particularly under 6,000 miles in flight distance one-way.

Your Delta booking can be performed completely online at Virgin Atlantic’s website. If you need more help, check out our post on the best ways to book Delta One for a step-by-step guide on booking Delta flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Follow these steps to book your Delta flight using Virgin Points:

  1. Visit Virgin Atlantic’s website.
  2. In the top-right corner, click Login.
  3. Log in to your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club account.
  4. On the homepage, you’ll see a search banner at the top of the screen.
  5. Enter your search details, choose Round trip or One way, and enter the travel date(s).
  6. Select the number of passengers, and expand the menu that says Advanced search. Click Points under Show Price In, and select Upper Class under Show Fares For.
  7. Click the checkbox that says Show flexible dates.
  8. Complete the search, and choose the itinerary you’d like to book. Redeem your Virgin Points and use a credit card for taxes and fees.

Bottom Line: Overall, Virgin Atlantic offers unprecedented value on North Asia flights, especially for ANA first/business class and Delta One Suites. If you don’t mind flying on a less premium product, try Delta One!

Earning Virgin Points

Perhaps the best part of Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is that its currency is ridiculously easy to earn. There are countless ways to earn Virgin Points, and Flying Club has transfer partnerships with most of the major transferable currencies.

Specifically, you can transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Chase, Amex, and Citi all transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantaneously. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio within 1 business day, and for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 Virgin Points, bumping up your total miles received from 20,000 to 25,000.

Additionally, both Amex and Citi offer transfer bonuses from time to time, typically ranging between 20% and 30%.

If you leverage a transfer bonus, your first class round-trip flight on ANA from the West Coast could drop to as few as 85,000 points — an absurdly low cost.

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

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Japan Airlines business class on the 777. Image Credit: Stephen Au

The next best way to book flights to North Asia is a fan favorite: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. The West Coast-based airline might not come immediately to mind when thinking about flights outside of North America, however, its loyalty program is extremely valuable for booking award flights. Alaska has individual partnerships with certain airlines and offers the ability to book flights with those partners with its miles.

For North Asia flights, the best airlines to leverage are:

  • American Airlines
  • Hainan Airlines
  • Japan Airlines
  • Korean Air (round-trip flights only)

Each of these airlines has an extensive network of routes in the U.S., which drastically increases your chances of snagging a coveted business or first class award flight.

Using Alaska Airlines Miles To Fly Japan Airlines

Let’s first discuss Japan Airlines. To redeem Alaska miles on Japan Airlines flights from the U.S. to Asia, you’ll need to follow this chart:

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Cabin ClassContinental U.S. and Alaska to AsiaContinental U.S. and Alaska to Southeast Asia
Economy35,00040,000
Business60,00065,000
First70,00075,000

In this case, Asia includes South Korea, Japan, and India, while Southeast Asia encompasses every other country in Asia. You can spend as few as 70,000 miles for a one-way first class flight between the U.S. and North Asia. Taxes and fees are around $38.

Here are some great examples of Japan Airlines routes you can take:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND/NRT)
  • New York (JFK) – Tokyo (HND/NRT)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (HND)

Japan Airlines’ direct U.S. routes are plentiful and booking Japan Airlines first class is an easy process.

Hot Tip: For 5,000 additional Alaska miles, you can take advantage of the stopover allowance and visit Japan en route to a Southeast Asian country such as Singapore!

Using Alaska Airlines Miles To Fly American Airlines

For American Airlines flights, the award chart is as follows:

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Cabin ClassContinental U.S. and Alaska to Asia Zone 1Continental U.S. and Alaska to Asia Zone 2
Economy32,50035,000
Business60,00070,000
First80,000110,000

2 separate regions split the North Asia area:

  • Asia Zone 1: Japan, Korea
  • Asia Zone 2: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Here are American Airlines’ routes to North Asia:

  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Seoul (ICN)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Tokyo (NRT)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND)

If you want to keep your mileage cost as low as possible, you’ll want to stick to Tokyo or Seoul for your award flights, as it costs only 60,000 miles in business class, plus ~$38 in taxes and fees.

Using Alaska Airlines Miles To Fly Hainan Airlines

The next partner is unique: Hainan Airlines, whose U.S. routes are all over the place.

Before the pandemic, there were numerous point-to-point routes, such as from New York (JFK) to Chongqing (CKG) — we’ll see if these are reinstated as the global reopening progresses.

Here are the mileage prices for Hainan Airlines flights using Alaska miles:

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Cabin ClassContinental U.S. and Alaska to Asia
Economy30,000
Business50,000

Taxes and fees would be an additional ~$38.

As you can see, Hainan Airlines business class flights booked with Alaska miles are very cheap, especially if you build in a stopover to your itinerary.

Here are some great examples of routes you can take when utilizing the stopover policy (note these routes are pre-pandemic, but we believe they will resume when restrictions are lifted in China):

  • Chicago (ORD) – Beijing (PEK) – Bangkok (BKK)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Changsha (CSX) – Sanya (SYX)
  • New York (JFK) – Chengdu (CTU) – Guangzhou (CAN)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Shanghai (PVG) – Xi’an (XIY)

Hainan Airlines is focused primarily on connecting China to other countries, so you’ll likely either want to focus your trip on China or include it in your itinerary if you decide to book a Hainan flight.

Using Alaska Airlines Miles To Fly Korean Air

Lastly, let’s touch on Korean Air.

Korean Air is an Alaska Airlines partner, but its one-way award prices are the same as round-trip prices, so you’ll want to book a round-trip flight to avoid paying ridiculous mileage for just 1 flight.

The good news is that you can book a stopover in both directions.

Here’s Alaska’s chart for award travel on Korean Air, with taxes and fees ~$38:

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RouteEconomyBusiness
Continental U.S. and Alaska to China70,000105,000
Continental U.S. and Alaska to Japan70,000105,000
Continental U.S. and Alaska to Korea70,000105,000
Continental U.S. and Alaska to Mongolia70,000105,000
Continental U.S. and Alaska to Southeast Asia85,000120,000
Continental U.S. and Alaska to Taiwan70,000105,000

There are a lot of Korean Air routes you can take, so be creative when planning your travel. Unfortunately, you can’t book first class flights on Korean Air using Alaska Airlines.

How To Book Partners With Alaska Airlines Miles

All 4 of these Alaska Airlines partners we discussed can be booked 100% online, so follow these steps to continue:

  1. Visit Alaska Airlines’s website.
  2. Sign in using your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan number and password.
  3. Type in your city pairing, dates of travel, number of passengers, and check the box that says Use miles.
  4. Click Find flights.
  5. Choose the flights you’d like and confirm the reservation by spending your Alaska miles and paying for any taxes/fees.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Earning Alaska Airlines miles is very easy. Although it only has 1 transfer partner, Marriott Bonvoy, there are still several ways to earn Alaska miles.

Bank of America issues co-branded Alaska Airlines credit cards that allow you to earn Alaska miles directly.

The best way, however, to earn Alaska Airlines miles is by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy. You have plenty of options to earn Marriott Bonvoy points that transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Alaska Airlines. Transfers can take around 2 business days, and you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer. You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a day, which means you can earn up to 100,000 Alaska miles per day transferring from Marriott Bonvoy.

Finally, Alaska frequently offers mileage sales, where you can bonuses of up to 60% on purchased miles. These are exceedingly good deals that can result in first class tickets at a fraction of the cost.

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

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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

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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)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

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

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

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

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Marriott Bonvoy

Bottom Line: Alaska Airlines has some extraordinarily useful airline partners such as Japan Airlines and American Airlines. By strategically spending your Alaska miles, you can redeem for some awesome flights bound for North Asia. 

All Nippon Airways Mileage Club

ANA business class. Image Credit: Stephen Au

ANA is known primarily for being a top-notch airline, no matter what cabin class you’re flying. Further, it’s also known for delivering amazing value with its frequent flyer program, ANA Mileage Club.

Because of ANA’s membership in the Star Alliance, there are plenty of different airlines to fly to Asia, too.

There are a lot of ways you can redeem ANA miles to save thousands of dollars. This is primarily because its award chart, especially in business class, is at the top of the industry.

Just how good is it? Let’s take a look. Before we do that, however, here’s a list of the carriers that will be most useful for North Asia flights:

  1. All Nippon Airways (ANA)
  2. United Airlines
  3. Air China
  4. EVA Air
  5. Asiana Airlines

Using ANA Miles To Fly ANA

ANA has 2 award charts:

One condition of ANA Mileage Club is that you’ll need to book round-trip or open-jaw flights to book award travel using ANA miles.

Here’s the division of regions for flights operated by ANA:

SCROLL FOR MORE
ZoneZone NameConstituent Countries and Territories
Zone 1JapanJapan
Zone 2South KoreaSeoul
Zone 3Asia 1Beijing, Dalian, Shenyang, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Manila
Zone 4Asia 2Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Jakarta, Mumbai, Delhi, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh, Chennai
Zone 5HawaiiHonolulu
Zone 6North AmericaLos Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Jose, Washington, D.C. (IAD), New York, Chicago (ORD), Houston, Vancouver, Mexico City
Zone 7EuropeLondon, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Vienna
Zone 10OceaniaSydney, Perth

As you can see, North Asia is split into Japan, South Korea, and Asia 1, which adds a level of complexity.

Here’s the award chart for ANA-operated round-trip flights from North America by low, regular, and high seasons:

SCROLL FOR MORE
RouteSeasonEconomyPremium Economy BusinessFirst
North America – JapanL40,00062,00075,000150,000
R50,00072,00085,000150,000
H55,00076,00090,000165,000
North America – South KoreaL45,00066,00080,000165,000
R55,00076,00090,000165,000
H60,00081,00095,000180,000
North America – Asia 1L45,00066,00080,000165,000
R55,00076,00090,000165,000
H60,00081,00095,000180,000

ANA uses seasonality only for ANA flights, depending on what region you’re flying to. You can find out more on ANA’s site — click Seasonality and Required Mileage Charts.

Spending ANA miles on ANA-operated flights always makes the most sense because you’ll pay much more for partner awards.

If you decide to fly to Japan, you can do so round-trip in business class from North America for only 75,000 miles! Considering flights can be as long as 14 hours each way, this is a huge bargain.

Taxes and fees will run a total of around $300 to $400 round-trip. ANA’s routes consist mostly of large U.S. hubs, so you’ll be best served to depart from a city like Los Angeles (LAX).

If you decide to fly in first class, you’ll pay as few as 150,000 miles round-trip. Economy tickets require as few as 40,000 miles round-trip, which is significantly cheaper than its partners.

Using ANA Miles To Fly Partners

If you’ve already tried ANA business class and want to check out another airline, you can book partner travel with ANA miles, too. As mentioned above, the most useful partner carriers are United Airlines, Air China, Asiana Airlines, and EVA Air.

Here’s the partner award chart for round-trip flights:

SCROLL FOR MORE
RouteEconomyBusinessFirst
North America – Japan50,00085,000150,000
North America – South Korea60,00095,000180,000
North America – Asia 160,00095,000180,000

You’ll notice 2 things right away: there are no seasonality rules or premium economy redemptions on partner award bookings with ANA.

Using ANA Miles To Fly United

If you wanted to fly United Polaris, you can do so on these routes:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo (HND) round-trip or 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • Denver (DEN) – Tokyo (NRT) round-trip for 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • Houston (IAH) – Tokyo (NRT) round-trip for 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo (HND/NRT) round-trip for 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • Newark (EWR) – Tokyo (NRT) round-trip for 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Osaka (KIX) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul (ICN) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip for 95,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo (NRT) round-trip for 85,000 miles + $20 in taxes and fees

Using ANA Miles To Fly Air China

Your best bet for flying first class with ANA partners to North Asia is Air China. Although the product isn’t spectacular, it’s still a spacious option with excellent award availability (pre-pandemic, at least). All of Air China’s direct U.S. routes are to Beijing (PEK), which means you’ll either connect onwards to your final destination or spend some time vacationing in China.

Here are some examples of routes you can fly with Air China:

  • Houston (IAH) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 95,000 miles in Air China business class + $82 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip for 180,000 miles in Air China first class + $82 in taxes and fees

Using ANA Miles To Fly EVA Air

Although the status of Taiwan as a part of North Asia is somewhat disputed, we’ll be including it in our analysis. Taiwan is home to 2 of the best Asian Airlines in the world: China Airlines and EVA Air. China Airlines is a SkyTeam partner while EVA Air is a Star Alliance member.

Flying on EVA Air is spectacular. The airline is at the top of our best international business class airlines in the world, so it’s worth trying if you are able.

EVA’s hub, Taipei, falls into Asia 1, which means that round-trip economy, business, and first class flights cost 60,000, 95,000, and 180,000 miles, respectively. EVA Air doesn’t offer a first class product, but its business class is actually better than many international first class products out there.

You can fly directly to Taipei (TPE) from Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA).

From Taipei, you can then continue to cities in Asia 1, including Beijing-Capital/Daxing (PEK/PKX), Guangzhou (CAN), Guilin (KWL), Hong Kong (HKG), Macau (MFM), Manila (MNL), Shanghai (PVG), and Tianjin (TSN) by employing a stopover.

Fuel surcharges are going to be around $100 to $150 for a round-trip flight in economy or business class.

Using ANA Miles To Fly Asiana

The last Star Alliance partner to consider is Asiana Airlines, South Korea’s smaller airline (SkyTeam airline Korean Air is larger).

Asiana Airlines provides the Star Alliance with an excellent means of flying to North Asia its hub at Seoul (ICN). Asiana Airlines U.S. routes are plentiful, though you should note the airline has ceased the sale of first class suites. Flying to South Korea on Asiana costs 60,000 miles in economy and 95,000 miles in business round-trip.

You can fly directly to Seoul (ICN) from these U.S. cities: Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA). From Seoul, you can proceed to other destinations including Beijing-Capital/Daxing (PEK/PKX), Cebu (CEB), Changsha (CSX), Fukuoka (FUK), Hangzhou (HGH), Hong Kong (HKG), Manila (MNL), and Shanghai (PVG) by using a stopover.

The taxes and fees on Asiana Airlines flights will run around $300 round-trip when booking through ANA Mileage Club.

How To Book With ANA Miles

To book with ANA Mileage Club, you can follow these steps:

  1. Go to ANA’s homepage.
  2. On the top-right side of the homepage, click ANA Mileage Club.
  3. You’ll want to book an international award reservation, so first click International, then click Award Reservation.
  4. You’ll be prompted to enter your ANA login information.
  5. Select your origin and destination cities, travel dates, number of passengers, and desired cabin class. Click Search.
  6. After locating an itinerary that works for you, you’ll want to transfer your points. Points transfers to ANA aren’t instant, so be proactive in booking your award tickets as soon as the transfers are completed. If not, your award flight may not be available any longer.
  7. Finish your booking and pay for taxes and fees using a credit card.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

There are loads of ways to earn ANA miles. ANA has transfer relationships with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex Membership Rewards is the best option here, as the transfer ratio is 1:1 and Amex points are easy to earn. Amex points take around 3 business days to transfer to ANA.

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to ANA. The maximum number of Bonvoy points you can transfer in 1 day is 240,000, which would net you 100,000 ANA miles. Transfers may take upwards of 7 days.

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)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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

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

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

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per $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)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

American Express® Gold Card

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

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

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

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

Pros

  • 4x points per $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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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

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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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American Express Membership Rewards

Bottom Line: ANA has the best business class redemption prices in the business, particularly for round-trip flights to Japan on its own metal. ANA is a Star Alliance member airline with tons of useful partners that can connect you to other countries in North Asia as well, adding to the tremendous value. Best of all, ANA is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. 

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air first class. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

If you’d like to fly first class on Korean Air, there’s only 1 show in town: Korean Air SKYPASS.

Korean Air is a SkyTeam member, and it is also the flag carrier of South Korea. Booking first class on SkyTeam partners is an extremely difficult endeavor, and redeeming Korean Air SKYPASS miles is one of the only straightforward ways to do so.

Booking one-way flights using SKYPASS is allowed only when flying Korean Air. Otherwise, you’ll need to book round-trip tickets if you intend on flying with partners such as Vietnam Airlines.

The Korean Air award chart for flights between China, Japan, and South Korea is as follows for one-way flights operated by Korean Air:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassOff-Peak SeasonPeak Season
Economy35,00052,500
Business62,50087,500
First80,000120,000

Paying 80,000 Korean Air miles is a great deal for Korean Air first class during off-peak dates. Taxes and fees will be around $150 each way. Here are the step by step instructions to book Korean Air first class:

  1. Go to Korean Air’s website.
  2. On the top of the page, click Login.
  3. Enter your user ID or SKYPASS number followed by your password.
  4. In the middle of the page, click the Award Booking button.
  5. Choose One-Way or Round-Trip.
  6. Type in your origin and destination cities coupled with departure and return dates.
  7. Select the Passengers.
    • Korean Air is very restrictive when it comes to who you can book award flights for. The way to get around the piles of paperwork needed to book for others is to create a SKYPASS account for each traveler.
  8. Choose your Cabin Class.
  9. Under Advanced Search, click USD.
  10. Click Find Flights.
  11. After you’ve located award availability, call Korean Air at 800-438-5000 to request a 30-day award hold.
    • This step is crucial because Korean Air miles transferred from Marriott Bonvoy can take upwards of 3 weeks to complete.
  12. After the miles are transferred successfully, call Korean Air again at 800-438-5000 to ticket the reservation and pay ~$150 in taxes and fees per person.

Hot Tip: Need help booking? Check out our best ways to book Korean Air first class with points.

Earning Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

There are many avenues to earn Korean Air miles, but the most sensible route for most U.S. travelers is to transfer them from Marriott Bonvoy.

Since there are a host of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards out there, from both Chase and Amex, you won’t run out of options to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.

Marriott points transfer to Korean Air at a 3:1 ratio and the maximum you can transfer in 1 day is 240,000 points.

Remember, transfers usually take 3 business days, but can be lengthy on occasion, upwards of 3 to 4 weeks at times. Mitigate the risk by requesting an award hold.

Delta SkyMiles

Korean Air business class Prestige Suites. Image Credit: Korean Air

We briefly introduced the notion of leveraging strong SkyTeam airlines to North Asia with Korean Air, but we haven’t done a deep dive into the merits of using SkyTeam partners.

That’s all going to change now with our discussion of Delta SkyMiles, one of the most useful currencies for SkyTeam flights bound for North Asia. We’ve already established the fact that the best frequent flyer program for booking Delta flights to Asia is Virgin Atlantic, due to the exorbitant prices that Delta SkyMiles charges for its own flights.

The true value of Delta SkyMiles on flights to North Asia comes from these key partners:

  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern
  • Korean Air
  • Xiamen Air

Unfortunately, first class flights aren’t available for redemption using SkyMiles, but business class is no laughing matter.

Here’s how much SkyMiles redemptions would cost on partners to North Asia:

SCROLL FOR MORE
Class of ServiceOne-Way Cost
EconomyFrom 40,000
BusinessFrom 120,000

Remember that while Delta employs variable/dynamic award pricing for Delta flights, the mileage cost is consistent for partners. As far as fuel surcharges go, Delta selectively passes on fuel surcharges as follows:

SCROLL FOR MORE
AirlineOne-Way Fuel Surcharges
China Airlines$6
China Eastern$333
Korean Air$26
Xiamen Air$190

As you can tell, flying on China Airlines is the most advantageous from the perspective of minimizing out-of-pocket costs. Indeed, China Airlines is probably the best choice, as it ranks near the top of our best international business class airlines. The Taiwan-based carrier sets an industry-wide example in award availability, which is excellent.

Although China Airlines’ direct routes from the U.S. are typically limited to mega-hubs such as Los Angeles (LAX), this is not the case for China Eastern or Korean Air.

Xiamen Air is one of the smaller Chinese airlines, and its pre-pandemic route network included Los Angeles (LAX) – Qingdao (TAO) or Xiamen (XMN), New York (JFK) – Fuzhou (FOC), and Seattle (SEA) – Shenzhen (SZX). Except for the LAX-XMN route, Xiamen Air’s focus has consistently been on lucrative point-to-point routes. Also, its business class product is known to be excellent, certainly near the top of Chinese airlines.

With such a strong presence in China, the SkyTeam alliance is extraordinarily useful in planning trips to North Asia using points and miles. As long as you avoid China Eastern, you’ll only be responsible for low surcharges, as shown above. The appeal of Delta SkyMiles is at its peak when redeeming for solid partners like China Airlines in business class.

Here are some great example routes you can fly:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern business class for 120,000 miles + ~$333 in taxes and fees.
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Xiamen (XMN) one-way in Xiamen Air business class for 120,000 miles + ~$190 in taxes and fees.
  • Ontario (ONT) – Taipei (TPE) one-way in China Airlines business class for 120,000 miles + ~$6 in taxes and fees.
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Seoul (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 120,000 miles + ~$26 in taxes and fees.

Hot Tip: Delta assesses a business class SkyTeam partner award price of 140,000 to 165,000 miles (instead of 120,000 miles) for reserving tickets within 21 days of departure, so avoid close-in bookings to save SkyMiles. 

Follow these steps to book SkyTeam flights using Delta SkyMiles:

  1. Visit Delta’s website.
  2. The top banner will have a search bar. Enter your origin and destination cities.
  3. Select Round-Trip, One-Way, or Multi-City.
  4. Choose your travel date(s).
    • Check the box that says Flexible Dates to see what availability looks like for +/- 3 days.
  5. Select the number of passengers.
  6. Click the button underneath the number of passengers that says Advanced Search.
  7. Click Show Price In Miles and Best Fares For Delta One.
  8. Click the red arrow to execute your search.
  9. You can also click Price Calendar to show 5 weeks’ worth of award availability.
    • If you get an error, it means there’s no award availability in the 5-week range.
  10. You can also click the button that says Filter and show only Nonstop flights.
  11. Enter your traveler information, pay with Delta SkyMiles, and use a credit card to pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Earning Delta SkyMiles is easier than ever. With an abundance of co-branded Amex credit cards and 2 transfer partners, you can earn 100,000 Delta SkyMiles in 90 days fairly easily.

Delta SkyMiles also has transfer partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex transfers instantaneously at a 1:1 ratio to Delta SkyMiles. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred. It takes around 2 business days for Marriott Bonvoy points to transfer to Delta. You can transfer a maximum of 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per day, which yields 100,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Recommended Delta SkyMiles Cards

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Gold 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.

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
40,000 miles
$480
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
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)

Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let’s dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Bonus earning on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights
  • 20% back on inflight purchases

Cons

  • Moderate annual fee
  • Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards
  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
  • Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
50,000 bonus miles
$600
$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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning free flights and other valuable rewards.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
  • 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual companion certificate
  • Complimentary checked bags
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Discount on Delta Sky Club visits (Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family when traveling on a Delta flight from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Delta Platinum Card, up to two times through 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

BEST FOR DELTA LOUNGES
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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.

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
60,000 miles
$720
$550
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 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its lounge access, status boost, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver
  • Annual Companion Certificate
  • Access to Complimentary Upgrades and Upgrade Priority
  • Free checked bags
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Travel and purchase protection

Cons

  • $550 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No bonus categories other than Delta purchases
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Eligible Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $550 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

Bottom Line: This completely online process makes booking with Delta SkyMiles a seamless experience, which is one of the benefits of using the program. Couple that with the deep network of airlines and routes from SkyTeam, the attractive redemption rates, and the ease of earning to realize the tremendous value of using Delta SkyMiles for flights to North Asia.

United MileagePlus

A comfortable lie-flat seat, fantastic food and beverage offerings, and even pajamas are what you can expect in EVA Air business class. Image Credit: EVA Air

United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program is useful for Chase loyalists. You can use United miles to fly on Star Alliance partners. The most useful ones are (as previously stated above):

  • ANA
  • Asiana Airlines
  • EVA Air
  • Air China

United charges the following prices for one-way partner awards to North Asia:

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Class of ServiceOne-Way Cost
Economy38,500
Business88,000
First132,000

Countries included in North Asia are Mainland China, South Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan. While redemptions to North Asia are costlier when using United miles compared to other programs, the benefits are threefold:

  • Simple booking process (100% online)
  • Low/no fuel surcharges
  • Chase transfer partner and co-branded credit card opportunities

Here’s how to book your award using United miles:

  1. Go to United’s homepage.
  2. Type the city pairs you desire.
  3. Choose your travel dates, number of travelers, and class of service.
  4. Click Find flights.
  5. Log in with your United MileagePlus number and password.
  6. Once you’ve located flights you like, simply select the flight, pay with your miles, and finish your reservation by paying for taxes and fees.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

There are lots of different ways to earn United miles. The best ways are to transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards or transfer from Marriott Bonvoy, or directly via Chase co-branded United credit cards

Chase transfers instantly at a 1:1 ratio to United. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 3 business days at a slightly improved ratio of 3:1.1 to United. Also, you’ll get a bonus of 5,500 miles when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United. This brings your total to 27,500 United miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.

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

Final Thoughts

We’ve gone over the top ways to fly to North Asia using points. There are several notable sweet spots you can leverage to fly on some of the best airlines in the world, including All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines.

Creativity is your best friend, so be imaginative when thinking about how you’re going to use points to build a dream itinerary to this vibrant part of the world. Happy redeeming!

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.

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.
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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which airlines include carrier-imposed surcharges on award flights to North Asia?

Generally speaking, you’ll see fuel surcharges on ANA, China Eastern, and Xiamen Air.

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

You can pay as few as 40,000 ANA miles round-trip during low season, 50,000 miles during the regular season, and 55,000 miles during high season from North America to Japan on ANA flights.

Other options include spending 50,000 ANA miles for partner flights between North America and Japan, such as United’s flight between Los Angeles and Tokyo.

What is the fewest number of miles required to fly business class to North Asia?

The single, cheapest business class redemption is from the U.S. to Japan using ANA miles, which would cost as few as 75,000 miles round-trip during low season.

You can also pay 60,000 Alaska miles for a one-way flight on Japan Airlines or 90,000 to 95,000 miles round-trip using Virgin Points.

What is the fewest number miles required to fly first class to North Asia?

Without a doubt, the fewest number of miles required to fly first class to North Asia is 110,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles, which will get you a round-trip ticket in ANA first class from the U.S. West Coast to Japan.

Very few other redemptions come close, but another option is to use 70,000 Alaska miles one-way for Japan Airlines first class or 80,000 Korean Air miles for a one-way flight in Korean Air first class.

What are the best business class airlines to fly to North Asia?

The best airlines for flying business class to North Asia include ANA, China Airlines, Delta, EVA Air, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.

What are the best first class airlines to fly to North Asia?

The best airlines for flying first class to North Asia are ANA, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air.

Which airline is the best to fly to Japan?

The best airline to fly to Japan is hotly debated. While both Japan Airlines and ANA are among the top airlines in the world, Japan Airlines wins out by a small margin.

Which airline is the best to fly to South Korea?

The best airline to fly to South Korea is Korean Air. There is another Seoul-based airline, Asiana Airlines, but Korean Air is generally regarded as the better pick.

Which airline is the best to fly to China?

For business class, flying Delta One Suites is a great option. If you’re flying a Chinese carrier, opt for Xiamen Airlines in business class.

Which airline is the best to fly to Taiwan?

The 2 top airlines are China Airlines and EVA Air. Both of these are based in Taipei and regarded as top-notch carriers, but EVA Air is known to have a slight edge over China Airlines.

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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