Search Results for "ASIA".
Starwood’s Starpoints are already the most valuable loyalty program currency.
They have the most airline transfer partners where points transfer 1:1 and of course when you move Starwood points into 20,000 miles you get 5000 bonus miles. That gets you effectively a 1:1.25 transfer ratio with most airline partners.
Now, Starwood has added a new transfer partner and it’s a really useful one: Korean Air Skypass.
Christopher Elliott argues in the Washington Post that rewards credit cards aren’t worth it because of the ‘headache’.
He doesn’t just think you should avoid loyalty programs and credit card benefits (his usual tact). He thinks the government ought to step in (“it’s time for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to say, “Enough is enough.”).
The ability to transfer Starwood Starpoints at better than 1:1 to the most airline frequent flyer programs is what makes them the most valuable airline currency.
Here’s where you can move those points, the most valuable transfer partners to use, and the hidden pitfalls to avoid.
The more seats you need on the same planes, the harder it is to secure awards.
It’s easier to find business class awards for a family, generally, than it is to find first class awards. Sometimes you’ll need to split up (parents in first, kids in business, or taking two separate flights) or trade up (book business and change closer to departure).
But there are definitely airlines to focus on where there’s enough first class award availability for the whole family.
I haven’t spent as much time in Singapore as I have in Hong Kong or Bangkok, although it’s probably getting to be close. So many people tell me that they think of Singapore as ‘just a stopover’ or as ‘Asia light’ and I think they completely miss the point.
Japan Airlines has a really fantastic first class product, it’s one of the best with a fantastic mattress pad and excellent (very Japanese) service. I’d suggest they’re in the top seven (in no particular order: Singapore, Emirates, Etihad, Cathay Pacific, ANA, Asiana, JAL).
They’re switching the Tokyo – Sydney route to a Boeing 777-300ER and that means the route will get first class. Award space is widely available on the route, much better flying Sydney – Tokyo than it is flying Tokyo – Sydney.
With US Airways flights scheduled to be entirely on the American Airlines platform come October 17, and IT resources focused primarly on the merger integration, American AAdvantage is simply running out of time to make big changes for 2016.
I’ve made the point many times in the past that despite protests about subsidies received by the Middle East airlines Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar, that Delta doesn’t actually care about subsidies. They care about scoring political points as leverage to use the power of government to shut down competition.
Now Delta is buying a $450 million stake in China Eastern — which is the most state-subsidized Chinese airline. So Delta will benefit from a chunk of those subsidies.
United is offering a 72 hour flash sale (though July 30) on purchased miles.
You’ll have to provide your account number and password to reveal your offer. Some folks are receiving a 50% bonus on points purchased. I was offered a 35% discount. Both work out to the same cost per miles.
Buying Business Travel interviewed United Chairman and CEO Jeff Smisek who made several interesting comments about international first class, his competitors (!), and about the big Middle East airlines.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
