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Starlux Airlines is one of the most intriguing new airlines in the transpacific market. Based in Taipei (TPE), the carrier has built a reputation for stylish cabins, polished service, and a premium onboard experience.
The catch? Starlux isn’t part of a major airline alliance, and its own COSMILE loyalty program isn’t especially easy for most U.S.-based travelers to use.
Thankfully, you don’t need COSMILE miles to book Starlux awards. A few partner programs offer access to Starlux-operated flights, with Alaska and Hawaiian’s Atmos Rewards program currently standing out as the best option for most travelers.
Starlux already serves several U.S. gateways — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Ontario, and Phoenix — and its North American footprint continues to grow. Here’s how to book Starlux flights with points and miles, what award prices look like, and where to search for availability.
What Is Starlux Airlines?
Starlux took its first flight in 2020, just before the pandemic (great timing, right?), but quickly expanded with a premium-forward offering. Focusing on elevated experiences, hip and cool cabins, and top-notch cuisine, it quickly became a darling in the Asia travel space.
Currently, Starlux flies to Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), Phoenix (PHX), Los Angeles (LAX), and Ontario (ONT).
Its network within Asia is much more robust, with over two dozen destinations from Japan to Indonesia and beyond.
Starlux has some big ambitions, even potentially eyeing a partnership with one of the big three alliances like Oneworld — but that's still a ways off.
Finding awards for flights within Asia is much easier than finding flights to the United States, but it's not impossible. Let's break down how much the awards cost, how to book them, and how to search for space.
Best Way to Book Starlux Awards: Atmos Rewards
The absolute best way to book Starlux award flights is by using Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines' Atmos Rewards program. Atmos Rewards is currently the only U.S.-based airline loyalty program that allows mileage redemptions for Starlux-operated flights.
Alaska Airlines has had a robust partnership with Starlux ever since its first flights to the U.S. From Alaska's hub in Seattle, you can connect to more than 20 cities all over the United States.
Intra-Asia redemptions
Starlux flights between Taipei and many Asian cities start at the following prices:
- 7,500 Atmos Rewards for Economy
- 10,000 Atmos Rewards for Premium
- 15,000 Atmos Rewards for Business
Note that I say “starting at” because award prices vary based on seats available, and Starlux often only releases one seat per cabin on each flight.
You'll also see that only one seat is available, even on those economy segments. Start your search looking for two seats, because you never know. But, pro tip, if you don't see anything available for two seats, search for one instead, and then you might be able to get the other seat at a slightly higher points price.
Flights to the United States
Getting flights to and from the United States is a bit challenging.
Actually, let me rephrase that.
Getting flights to the United States at a good price is challenging. Alaska Airlines will happily sell you a seat on Starlux for 200,000 points or more, but flights do start out much lower.
- Economy flights starting at 37,500 Atmos Rewards
- Premium seats starting at 50,000 Atmos Rewards
- Business-class seats starting at 75,000 Atmos Rewards
We were able to find two business-class seats for ourselves out of Ontario, but most flights only have one seat available. Luckily, if someone does cancel a ticket, that seat goes back into inventory immediately. If you're searching for flights, you should consider checking regularly to see if more seats open up.
We had to cancel a flight to Taipei from Phoenix, and the two seats we were holding popped right back up. We had a friend of ours waiting on standby, and he was able to snag those seats for himself the second we canceled them.
You can see on the flight below between Taipei and Los Angeles that there are plenty of seats available in economy and just two seats left in Premium. If you want a flight in business class, Alaska will sell you a seat on this route for a mere 175,000 rewards. While the standard price is only 75,000 for business class, this is a perfect example of how the price will go up if there are no discounted seats left for sale.
The best way to find awards on Starlux to and from Taipei is either as soon as the schedule opens or within a week or so of travel. As people's travel plans change, you'll find those last-minute awards open up.
Also, if you're able to plan 330 or so days in advance, you can snag a deal. This recently happened for me when I found two seats on the Ontario to Taipei flight in 2027. We snagged those two seats and will try our best to make it, but you never know, we might just cancel them a couple of weeks before the trip, too.
How to get more Atmos Rewards points
Don't have enough Atmos Rewards yet? Luckily, there are a couple of easy ways to top off your balance.
The easiest option is to transfer Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio to Alaska. This is an exceptional way to top off your balance, especially if you find award space. Transfers are generally instant, so you should have the miles in your account in no time.
Alternatively, you can transfer a variety of hotel points to Atmos Rewards, but at a sub-par transfer ratio:
Alaska Airlines also offers periodic sales where you can buy Atmos Rewards. While this can be pricey, there are often bonuses of up to 100% or more when purchasing Atmos Rewards. If you only need a few extra miles to complete your redemption, this can be a quick and easy way to top off your balance.
Related: How to Leverage Buy Miles Promotions to Score Incredible Deals on Travel
The Niche Option: Etihad Guest
Etihad and Starlux also have a strategic codeshare partnership, but redeeming miles for Starlux flights with Etihad might be more expensive and niche than it's worth.
While technically it is possible to use your Etihad miles to book Starlux flights, they all seem to be in conjunction with another Etihad flight in or out of Abu Dhabi. The one flight I found from AUH–TPE was available for 75,000 points in business class using Etihad's nonstop, but over 600,000 points with a one-stop connection in Bangkok.
Feel free to play around with destinations and different routes, but in many cases, you might find the price to be a bit out of reach.
Bottom Line
I love seeing airlines team up with new and unique partners, especially outside of the typical alliances. Alaska's partnership with Starlux is a win for West Coast travelers and points and miles enthusiasts alike. Finding space can be a challenge, but when you do snag that unicorn, there's no better feeling.
