best airline for adward travel USA to Bangkok?

[stealth96]

Just signed up for a chase adward card and a capital one card to pay for a ticket when I get enough points. Whats the best airline for availability and value? I'm flying out of Detroit but would fly out of anywhere in the usa if I had to. I would like to try to accumulate enough points to get a first-class flight but I'm willing to travel Economy also.

[bgtp]

Capital One 'points' or 'miles' are just like getting a cash rebate. One point or mile is worth $0.01 towards a travel expense like an airline ticket. Best to get a credit card that goes directly to earning points in some airline's frequent flyer program. Not sure which Chase card you have, but Sapphire Preferred earns points that can be converted into some frequent flyer programs or else used to pay for travel similar to the Capital One. Converting to the ff points is the better value. Kind of funny how Capital One advertises no blackout dates, etc. Well, that's because their card is essentially just like a cash rebate card.

[Patriotallday]

I only fly United Air and with their Star Alliance partners which include Thai Air and ANA Japan Air. Visit the United home page for their credit card details.

[jamduf]

And united has flts to your 1st stop. No need to land anywhere else in usa.

[sneradog]

For economy class it does not make much of a difference, but for premium cabins United has greatly devalued their points, whereas American has not done so yet, so it will take significantly less American Airlines miles than United miles to go round trip in first class from the US to Thailand. Specifically, that ticket will cost 260,000 United miles, but only 135,000 American Airlines miles for a round trip in first class.

[jamduf]

Us Air and American air are about to merge. Get a credit card from each.

[iluvasians/latins]

The most important item, NO FREE BOOZE on United for International flights.

[militryman]

Ymmv but go to the Web site the point guy and he has all the up to date info imho

[stealth96]

Thanks for the info everyone. Looks like im going to start saving for American Airlines first class award. Are there any non American carriers for first class award that are as cheap as American Airlines?

[sneradog]

Thanks for the info everyone. Looks like im going to start saving for American Airlines first class award. Are there any non American carriers for first class award that are as cheap as American Airlines?

Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and Japan Airlines to Tokyo are your two best bets. However, the second leg of the trip from Hong Kong or Tokyo to Bangkok will be in business class, as they do not offer first class cabins on those shorter flights.

[StrikeEagle]

I know that this does not directly address the original question, however, IMHO you're not setting your sights on the best target. Many people, myself included, would suggest that you not shoot for a free First Class flight. Rather, IMHO target a Business Class seat as your preferred award.

 

The award is more easily attainable, and for most passengers, the experience will be everything you could want out of a flight of 14 hours. I would suggest that you take a little time looking at reviews and video of first vs business class on your preferred airline.

 

Further, I'd suggest looking at the airline alliances, as opposed to specific airlines. The points cross over at full value, and this expands your options. 

 

Just my $0.02.

[wackyjacky]

You didn't mention which Chase card you got, but if you're using Ultimate Rewards the best transfer partner would be SQ. Their Biz is as good as most's !st. You really should listen to jamduf & get US & AA cards before they merge. Their own new biz class on the 777 looks world class now too. Lotsa MH availability up front these days. I'd fly 'em. Alaska has a good reward program with low redemption levels as well - CX, USA-BKK in Biz is 110K.

[Falcon_12]

The most important item, NO FREE BOOZE on United for International flights.

I've gotten free sake on the US to Japan flights before. Is this a recent change?

[simguy_jp]

Most USA airlines will change thier miles programs next yesr. You will only get miles for the cost of the ticket not the distance travelled. I get around 15000 miles for a trip to the USA and back to Japan but with the new policy I will only get around 2000 miles. Not good.

[BigVenz]

I only fly United Air and with their Star Alliance partners which include Thai Air and ANA Japan Air. Visit the United home page for their credit card details.

 

Just flew Star Alliance newest partner, Eva Air.

Best of them all.

[BigVenz]

For economy class it does not make much of a difference, but for premium cabins United has greatly devalued their points, whereas American has not done so yet, so it will take significantly less American Airlines miles than United miles to go round trip in first class from the US to Thailand. Specifically, that ticket will cost 260,000 United miles, but only 135,000 American Airlines miles for a round trip in first class.

 

You can find 1/2 mile saver awards on United if you are a little flexible on dates and itinerary.

I went IAH-BKK on two day notice before Labor Day and got it for 80,000 round trip economy.

Business class can be found for 70,000 each way

[Bob33065]

Ck out Delta airlines with their Skymiles program and try for the American Express card. You get early boarding and an extra suitcase automatically with the card.

[wackyjacky]

Delta preemptively devalues their 'Sky Pesos' way before everybody else & the charge you more miles than almost everybody else. Decent Airline - bad FF program. If you're taking any extra bag to Thailand and you're not moving there - you're bringing WAY too much useless crap with you. You can wash clothes and wear them again you know. You'll be in shorts and T-shirts most of the time. Depending on sign up bonuses, the only Amex card worth having is the Starwood or maybe the Centurion if you travel all the time, for the lounge access. Forex fees are a bitch.

[hioctane]

Why are you trying to go for business class? It will cost you almost double.

 

Get an AA card, 50,000 points with spend.

Get Amex SPG card, 25,000 points with spend and can transfer to AA.

 

Get a free economy class ticket for 70,000 points.

[itchief]

Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong and Japan Airlines to Tokyo are your two best bets. However, the second leg of the trip from Hong Kong or Tokyo to Bangkok will be in business class, as they do not offer first class cabins on those shorter flights.

HKG to BKK is not a big deal in business class, only 3 hours. NRT to BKK is almost 8 hours so the business class seat does make a difference.

 

The good thing about Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines is that you can redeem your American Airlines miles, 135000, for First on both of these airlines. I have done it 4 times, 2x to BKK 1 to DPS and 1 to SIN. The inter-Asia business class is not bad. If you look around there are some Inter-Asia flights that have 1st class on them, maybe just 1 per day.

[itchief]

Why are you trying to go for business class? It will cost you almost double.

 

Get an AA card, 50,000 points with spend.

Get Amex SPG card, 25,000 points with spend and can transfer to AA.

 

Get a free economy class ticket for 70,000 points.

Why not. You will feel much better when you hit the ground after flying in a seat that lets you sleep lying down. YMMV.

[wackyjacky]

Why are you trying to go for business class? It will cost you almost double.

 

Get an AA card, 50,000 points with spend.

Get Amex SPG card, 25,000 points with spend and can transfer to AA.

 

Get a free economy class ticket for 70,000 points.

Econ is a huge waste of miles. I ALWAYS pay for it. I ONLY use them to sit up front. Say your flight costs $1000 (right now $800 is possible) and you use 70,000 miles instead - you're getting $ 0.014/mile. If I use 120,000 for a $6000 Business seat - I'm getting $0.05/mile. 160K for a $12K seat in First - $0.08/mile. Get it now ? Short haul Biz isn't worth it either. It's a far inferior product to long haul and I can take any torture for 3 or 4 hours.

[Luv2Phuket]

Sorry I'm late to the party -- a "credit card miles whore" thread...I am so excited that I can hardly sit still!  

(that is NOT sarcasm -- some of the BMs who responded can confirm how crazy I am about playing the miles game....sometimes OCD can be a good thing!  LOL!)

 

I'll pick up where the thread has made it - 

 

First, what I think is the BIGGEST/BEST piece of advice out there:

do NOT get travel reward cards unless you can afford to pay the balance off in full each month.  The interest charges and fees will quickly offset the perks you are getting.  I have an absurd number of cards, but -- setting aside one that is on a 0% offer -- none have a single penny of revolving debt.

 

I LOVE Cathay...I fly them to BKK all of the time using AA miles or US Air miles, but it's not easy to book them -- they have availability about a year before travel, then fill up quickly, but they tend to open up dates as the travel date draws closer (within 2 weeks).

 

Now, a little bad news -- Chase has no cards affiliated with American Airlines, so that card you have right now is not going to build AA miles.

 

That said, I do NOT think that you wasted your time getting whatever Chase card you got (assuming you got a Sapphire Preferred, Ink business or United card....any other card very well may have been a waste!  LOL).  

 

One of the BEST things about the miles game IMHO is that you can use United to book one way on Star Alliance and AA to book on oneworld the other (you can book oneworld using US Air, but they do not permit one way bookings...well...they DO, but they charge the same miles as a RT ticket!).

 

With regard to class of service, I'm dead on with Wackyjacky -- pay for economy; use miles for business or first class.  I haven't flown economy (or even premium economy) in years, and, if you play the credit card games correctly, there's no reason to do so.  At the end of this month, I will be finishing up my 5th RT to Asia in the past 13 months - only one paid trip; the rest were miles and all were business or first class (the paid ticket was on somebody else's tab and they were required to fly me biz class).

 

As you start out in the credit card miles game, you are limited on the cards you can get, as you don't want to stack too many minimum spends -- failing to hit the minimum spend renders the card essentially useless, as you get ZERO bonus miles).  

 

Since AA is linked with Citibank and United/Star Alliance is linked with Chase, I would suggest getting a card from Chase to build United (which it sounds like you may have) AND a Citi AA card.  Think about the US Air card through B of A (I think), as it has little, if any, minimum spend; it is with a different bank; and the miles will eventually (early to mid 2015) become AA miles.

 

Start with some basic reading -- the Points Guy's blog has been suggested (http://thepointsguy.com/); I REALLY enjoy View from the Wing (http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/) and One Mile at a Time (http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/).  Also, IMHO, Million Mile Secrets (http://millionmilesecrets.com/) continues to have the best summary of reconsideration lines (including the numbers to call).  I go back to it time and again.

 

As noted out the outset, I have OCD on this stuff -- I revel in building miles (like the 60k+ Korean Sky Miles I snagged with 2 recent cards) or finding loopholes (like using Chase UR points on British Air to book USA domestic flights on AA for thousands of miles less than through AA or US Air....BUT BA's distance-based award chart is prohibitively expensive for international travel, so be careful!)....there are layers to be peeled every day.  

 

I would urge you to continue to "dip your toe into the water" by reading the blogs and getting another card or 2 to build for your first trip.  If you REALLY like it -- as I do -- continue to find angles and other cards to acquire.....I'm at 21 active card accounts, but plan to close a few soon....although that's only so I can open MORE!  LOL!

 

Feel free to PM if this raised more questions than it answered....

[wackyjacky]

All good stuff Footy. I forgot about BA for short haul Econ - it's the exception to the rule & a good deal. I can only disagree on one point. I'd much rather move UR Points to SQ than UA since we're talking Thailand here and you can assuage your loss of CX with SQ availability..

[Luv2Phuket]

All good stuff Footy. I forgot about BA for short haul Econ - it's the exception to the rule & a good deal. I can only disagree on one point. I'd much rather move UR Points to SQ than UA since we're talking Thailand here and you can assuage your loss of CX with SQ availability..

 

Agree 100%, but thought he may have a Chase United card or some United miles laying around.  

 

I think Korean is 90,000 miles for first class each way, which is high, but still better than United.  I plan to top off my Korean Sky Mile account from my UR points when I'm ready to book it for a one way ticket there or back.

 

Re BA short haul, I used BA to fly LAX-AUS on AA for a last minute meeting.  AA was 25,000 and $112 in taxes; BA was 20,000 miles and $11 in taxes (fare was over $600, so I still got about .03/mi).  PLUS, I saved my AA miles for Cathay to BKK!  LOL   The REALLY short flights can be absurd deals: 4500 miles from LAX-LAS (but only as a last minute, "I don't want to pay full fare" option)