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How to incorporate a One Way Korean Air award flight using Alaska Miles

a close-up of a seat

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I’m currently building a trip to Asia this fall/winter with my buddy, Dave. If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you know the two of us like to take crazy weekend trips ( Shanghai ), but this time we’re going to go for a bit longer. We’ve been circling a few different areas, and are currently thinking it’d be a good time to hit up Korea, work in some time in the Philipines, and angle back through Hong Kong. In all Miles’ crazy routing ideas, there is one thing Dave is insistent upon…Cathay First. He has good taste, nay, the man is a connoisseur of the finer things in life.  Caviar please and keep the bubbles flowing!  As you can see below, the last time we didn’t have fun at all. 🙂

two men sitting at a table with food on it

Cathay First sounds like an amazing idea, but I’d also like to try out a new product in the opposite direction.  Dave is looking to mainly use a combination of Amex and Chase points, but I’m earning quite a bit of Alaska miles this year in organic travel and would rather use those, if possible. So we need something that could be achieved with both currencies. The solution? A combination of Korean Business Class and Cathay First.

Korean Airlines can’t be booked as a one way on its own when using Alaska Miles, but can in combination with a partner, roundtrip.

I’m sure you heard that Korean Air redemptions must be roundtrip when using Alaska miles. While this is completely true, you can actually book Korean Air as a part of a roundtrip itinerary ( including a partner) and it’ll be priced at 1/2 the roundtrip price. However, if I were to book this as a roundtrip, and then drop the partner return, the roundtrip price would be charged.

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My Plan is to book JFK to ICN to Manila on Korean’s 747-8 upstairs and a return in Cathay business: MNL-HKG-JFK. With the plan to move into Cathay First when avail opens.

Korean has an outstanding business class featuring an Apex Suite. While I’ve never flown in an Apex Suite, the reviews are stellar. I’d love to compare it, and think the 747-8 would be a really cool way to give it a go, but any aircraft fitted with it would be great.

a close-up of a seat
Korean Airlines Business Class – courtesy of koreanair.com

Ultimately this should price out at 52.5k for the Korean business class leg, and then between 50k and 70k for the Cathay leg. An incredible trip, and a great opportunity to use Alaska miles at a high redemption rate, and utilize Dave’s Chase and Amex points for transfers into Asia Miles and Korean.

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13 Comments

  • […] Korean Airlines is 52.5k ( must be booked roundtrip, read this post for details ) […]

  • […] Airlines is 52.5k ( must be booked roundtrip, read this post for details […]

  • Tom September 17, 2018

    Hello: I just tried that booking one way on Korean Air and the return on Cathay Pacific. Alaska indicated Korean Air itin cannot be paired up with Cathay Pacific. I will call Alaska again to get a different agent to do this.

    • Miles September 17, 2018

      Tom – unless things have changed you should be able to get it booked – you may need to ask for their partner desk, or HUCA. Let me know how you fare

  • Jeff June 21, 2018

    JFK-ICN-Manila, isn’t that southeast asia? 60k not 52.5k?

  • PL June 21, 2018

    Miles thanks for the tip. how to book it? Do you have to call in or can do online? I tried online round trip but it won’t let me mix.

    • Miles June 21, 2018

      PL – yeah call in, shouldn’t be a problem. Thanks for reading!

  • Christian June 21, 2018

    Fabulous tip on the mixed Korean itinerary. Have you flown Korean on a A380? I was scheduled to fly in Business with my wife, but there was an equipment change to a 777, which was okay but hardly spectacular.

    • Miles June 21, 2018

      Christian – Thanks! You may have lucked out – check the cabin, but many of the new 773s have been retrofit with the new apex biz. the a380s are still featuring their old biz

      • Christian June 21, 2018

        Honestly, the walk-up bar is the real star. I regaled my wife with tales of old style glamour onboard, and it just didn’t happen. Before trying again, I’d like to make sure that I know what I’m talking about.

  • Thomas Bart Adams June 21, 2018

    Have you had much luck getting AS to waive fees for upgrading from J to F when the passenger is not MVP gold or higher?

    • Miles June 21, 2018

      Hey Thomas – Sorry I can’t give any incite, but I haven’t had any experience since AS changed their 60 day rule with non Golds+.

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