If you want to go to Asia with the family in business or first class, there’s one airline that’s got you covered and even one best route though there are several good routes.
Star Alliance member Asiana simply offers fantastic award space. The United website is great for seeing this quickly at a glance. Their award calendar will show you which dates have availability — in this case non-stop availability from Los Angeles to Seoul for four passengers. Dates with solid lines have coach award space and dates with dotted lines have premium cabin award space.
Notice that in March and April there is a straight line and a dotted line every single day meaning there’s coach and business class award availability for four passengers Los Angeles – Seoul every single day during those two months.
Los Angeles – Seoul availability for four passengers in January and February is almost as good.
And by the way it’s not just business class that offers four or more award seats. First class does too on many dates.
First class is offered on their Airbus A380s. Los Angeles availability is great because it’s the only US route regularly served by an A380 and it’s served with double daily A380s.
Seattle – Seoul has always been one of my ‘go to’ routes for award space. When nothing else is available Seattle – Seoul almost always is. And right now is no exception. You’ll find four or more business class award seats much of the time — January through May and again in July.
Here you see four business award seats available every single day at the saver level:
San Francisco has good availability for two passengers in business class in January and February, but appears more sparse at other times.
Once you get to Seoul you can connect onward using Asiana’s flights to other destinations in Asia, or flying other Star Alliance airlines in the region like Air China, Singapore, and Thai.
Business class award costs through various mileage programs:
- United MileagePlus: 80,000 miles one way (Chase transfer partner)
- Avianca LifeMiles: 75,000 miles one way
- Aeroplan: 75,000 miles one way (Amex transfer partner)
- ANA Mileage Club: 95,000 miles roundtrip (Amex transfer partner)
First class award costs through various mileage programs:
- United MileagePlus: 120,000 miles one way (Chase transfer partner)
- Avianca LifeMiles: 90,000 miles one way
- Aeroplan: 105,000 miles one way (Amex transfer partner)
- ANA Mileage Club: 180,000 miles roundtrip (here’s how to book one way awards with ANA, Amex transfer partner)
Of course if you’re connecting beyond North Asia award prices will vary.
I had no idea. Thanks for flagging this. Flew Asiana once in first class, and it was very nice, aside from somewhat limited English language capabilities by the flight attendants and limited movie selections on their very big in-seat screens.
March & April 2019
How about December 2018 & January 2019?
How does the business class stack up against EVA?
This WAS a pretty good sweet spot for chase transfers, which I expect will disappear shortly, ala’ the Korean Airlines partnership with chase and the abuse thereof. Oh well…thanks Gary
You should mention that they have blackout dates. They’re worthless in June, for instance, for US-Asia
Christian
Of the different Business Class flights I have been taken, I consider EVA to be the best.
So while Asiana does not measure up to EVA but it is not bad and a good value. I think that the seats are fine but if someone is very tall or wide it might be a little cramp when sitting or sleeping. I feel that their service is the best part. The purser and the FA both thanked me for flying with them. But the entertainment choices and food…I went Korean dishes all the way…were either average or below average. And I have not been to a lounge run by a Korean airline that is anything but below average…true in Korea as well as Japan. I would rank Asiana as the worse of the Asian airlines……but then it is still way better than any US airline and probably most European airlines.
@Steve That doesn’t make any sense.
JFK-ICN-SYD is a nice award with convenient connections. ICN-SYD is angle-flat J but not bad if you’re full of champagne from JFK-ICN in F, available most days,
Has everyone forgotten the SFO airport landing or lack thereof?
There is a reason there is great award space
There used to be a ton of space from Ord (and onto Australia) but I don’t see it very often anymore. Will take another look.
Can i book these Asiana flights you mention with Areoplan through my Air Canada flight rewards? I never see Asiana on the Areoplan site although it is a Star Alliance member. Do I need to call them please?