Star Alliance member airlines United, Air China, ANA and Asiana have low fares to several southeast Asia airports at $447 to $599 round trip. Singapore, available at $475 round trip with Air China, is probably the destination least often on sale at ticket prices anywhere near this low.
Departure Dates: September to December 2016
- Bangkok $447 Air China
- Singapore $475 Air China
- Hong Kong $516 Asiana; $470 (China Eastern-Skyteam Alliance)
- Ho Chi Minh City $599 ANA/United; $478 (China Eastern-Skyteam Alliance)
- New Delhi $506 China Eastern-Skyteam Alliance
- Manila $468 China Eastern-Skyteam Alliance
$475 Air China Los Angeles – Singapore
Air China Los Angeles LAX – Singapore SIN
$474.32 Tue Oct 25 – Wed Nov 9
LAX-PEK-SIN-PEK-LAX = 18,060 flight miles.
Low fares to Bangkok and Singapore book in Air China Economy L. This fare class earns 25% redeemable miles in United Mileage Plus and most Star Alliance frequent flyer programs.
$447 Air China Los Angeles – Bangkok
Air China Los Angeles LAX – Bangkok BKK
$447.26 Sat Nov 19 – Sun Nov 27 (Thanksgiving Week)
Two exceptions for maximizing Air China Economy L flights are Star Alliance airlines Aegean (Greece) and Avianca (Colombia), who both offer 100% redeemable miles. These airlines also offer a fast route to Star Alliance Gold membership for international lounge access. Both of these programs require flights on their own airline for high elite, so if you go for miles and elite in Aegean or Avianca, keep in mind that you need to fly a minimum number of segments or miles with their own airline operated flights during the year to qualify. This condition probably makes Avianca the easier airline to earn status for a California based flyer.
Avianca LifeMiles Star Alliance Gold = 40,000 flight miles, including 10,000 flight miles on Avianca during calendar year.
Aegean Miles+Bonus Star Alliance Gold = 48,000 tier miles, including 4 Aegean flights in 12 months. Renewal requires 24,000 tier miles on any Star Alliance airline.
Asiana $517 Los Angeles LAX – Hong Kong HKG
Sunday Sep 11 – Saturday Sep 24 (Priceline)
LAX-ICN-HKG-ICN-LAX = 16,406 flight miles.
These flights book in Asiana Economy T class and earn 50% miles in United Mileage Plus, 70% miles Avianca and 0% in Aegean.
United $599 Los Angeles LAX – Ho Chi Minh City SGN, Vietnam
Monday Sep 5 – Tuesday Sep 13
$496 base fare for Mileage Plus.
Loyalty Traveler curated Airfare Deals and Google Flights and Kayak Explore tutorials.
Loyalty Traveler – Hotel Promotions Guide May 2016.
