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Wonders of the world. Vibrant cities, beaches, and cuisine. Asia will wow you, but getting there…is half the fun.
There isn’t a region in the world that compares to the customer service you will receive in Asia. Forget the motto “the customer is always right,” in my experience…the customer is King. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many destinations across Asia and without exception I have fallen in love with each unique culture, vibe, and country. I’ve also been very fortunate to fly there in some of the world’s best business classes, and you can too! Here are 5 GREAT ways to fly to Asia in business class using points.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is well worth the trip. An incredible place to do an overnight cruise.
Cathay Pacific Business Class
These incredible business class seats have long set the standard for lie-flat comfort and privacy. Utilizing a reverse herringbone design and Zodiac Cirrus seats, this business class is tough to beat. Add in the renowned Cathay customer service and odds are you’ll become a certified Cath-a-holic.
How can you fly it?
- American Airlines
- US to Asia: 70k
- Alaska Airlines
- Us to Asia: 50k
- Other easy redemption options:
- Cathay Marco Polo and British Airways, both of which are mileage based programs.
EVA Business Class
EVA operates in and out of Taipei and offers a truly incredible business class. The seat is a fantastic reverse herringbone design that offers privacy and comfort. The service? Arguably the best in the sky for business class. You’ll get pajamas and top flight champagne as well.
How to book?
- Aeroplan
- US to Asia: 75k
- United
- US to Asia: 80k until 11/1 then 90k
- Singapore
- US to Asia: 87.5k
Singapore Airlines Business Class
Singapore Airlines is an award leviathan when it comes to customer service, and an experience you should definitely add to your bucket list. Don’t be fooled by the name though, Singapore operates flights from the west coast into Seoul, Hong Kong, and Tokyo making this a great option when traveling to Asia. It’s worth mentioning that Singapore doesn’t release much, if any, award space to partners. This is no problem because Singapore is a partner of Chase, Amex, Citi, and SPG making it one of the most accessible award currencies out there.
How to book:
- Singapore Airlines
- US to Asia: 82k to 98k
China Airlines Business Class
This Skyteam partner, not to be confused with Air China, gives EVA a run for its money. Featuring B/E Aerospace Super Diamond seats and Johnnie Walker Blue Label, top shelf whisky, this “other” Taipei based airline will make you wish the flight lasted a bit longer. They also offer great award availability, but the prices have gone up in recent times and now Korean represents the best way of booking these awards.
How to book:
- Delta
- US to Asia: 95k
- Air France
- US to Asia: 100k
- Korea Air
- US to Asia: 155k Roundtrip ( Korean only allows r/t awards on partners)
American Airlines Business Class 772 Super Diamond
Not to be outdone by all of the Asian carriers I’d offer up one of America’s own carriers as a superb business class. No you won’t get top flight champagne or pajamas, but you will get an incredible, and brand new, cabin. The 777-200 operating currently operating between the U.S. and Japan is a great way to cross the pacific in lie flat comfort.
I haven’t flown, but hope to soon:
Both of the following airlines, from what I’ve heard, could easily be on the above list.
Korean Air Business Class
Featuring private, all aisle seating, Korean Airlines offers great business class seats on SOME of their planes. Make sure you check the seat map if you’re planning to fly on Korean so you don’t end up with their old business class. The new 747-8i has the new seats across the board, and certain 77Ws also have the new seats. As far as I know, any A380 features the old product.
Both Alaska Airlines and Korean Air represent amazing opportunities for redemption. I will advise that Alaska requires r/t reservations.
Japan Airlines Business Class
Japan Airlines may offer the most variety in terms of business class seats and configurations of any carrier out there servicing Asia. There are two particular configurations that I would keep an eye out for, and specifically what I intend to fly.
The JAL Sky Suite
JAL Sky Suite III
How to book:
- Alaska:
- 60-65k
- American
- 60k to Japan.
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- Check out Viator for tours and organized excursions!
- I’ve used them for private Vatican tours, Great Wall of China, Ha Long Bay, and on and on.
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- I have used and Allianz, specifically TravelGuard for prior trips with my family and have been very pleased with the coverage and the ability to claim benefits when needed.
- Short on Points? You can shore up your balance here.
- With mileage and points sales occurring monthly this can create great value for your trip.
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I would argue that 16+ hours on AA in the 77W out of DFW to HKG in Business mini-cabin or even First Class is better than the AA 772. Good post though.
That’s a great product and I almost included it, but the problem is you can never find avail and the 772 routes to Japan and Korea have tons by comparison
While I haven’t tried the AA super diamond seats, my wife and I flew DFW-ICN in first last year, because I really wanted to try the Captain Kirk seats before they were gone. Long story short, it was awful. Service was appalling, food was mediocre at best, amenity kits were so-so, and lots of misc. problems. On the plus side, I thought the seats were cool, but my wife pretty much swore off domestic carriers for travel to Asia after those flights. If that was first, I just don’t have a lot of faith in business class on AA.
I know you have to edit the choices here, but you should definitely add Asiana to your list. Its A380s have their new business class seat (which I flew JFK-ICN-Hanoi last year), with all aisle access and service is awesome, a bit more relaxed that some Asian carriers.
CG – thanks for the tip, I’ll give it a look!
I’m having troube getting Cathay awards to show up in the British Airways search. Traveling from the US. Any typs?
Are you seeing them populate on Qantas?