Delta saver award availability to Asia, especially for two or more passengers, can be challenging. Right now though availability for late fall and winter is outstanding on a variety of routes, for the whole family — in some cases 9 or more saver awards.

Specifically flights out of Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle, Atlanta and Los Angeles are bookable to Tokyo and to China (from Shanghai connecting options on China Eastern are good as well) for November through March. (HT: Nick Reyes)

Notably availability on the Detroit – Beijing, LA – Shanghai, and LA – Tokyo Haneda routes means flying Delta’s business class suites.

Credit: Delta

SkyMiles charges its own members 120,000 miles one way for saver award space, however here’s availability for four passengers flying Detroit – Beijing.

That price applies whether flying their business suite or standard business class. It’s insane that Delta’s saver award rate is 240,000 miles roundtrip to Asia.

Fortunately these saver award seats can be booked by partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic, and partners often charge less for the same seats. Here’s Virgin Atlantic’s search for Detroit – Beijing for four passengers in business class:

And Seattle – Beijing for four:

Atlanta – Shanghai:

Los Angeles – Shanghai:

Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita:

Availability is even better of course searching for fewer than four passengers, and in some cases availability exists for more than four and even for at least nine.

Here’s how to get these seats for just 47,000 points each way:

• Virgin Atlantic has access to these seats, and charges just 60,000 miles each way.

• American Express Membership Rewards currently has a 30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic running through July 1.

• That means 47,000 Amex points, transferred to Virgin Atlantic, is enough to book one way business class Delta One Suites between the US and Asia. (46,000 points would yield 59,800 — almost enough but not quite, so 47,000 would be necessary for a one way.)