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Getting to Asia with points and miles can be an intense and frustrating experience. With increased popularity and waning award availability, finding that perfect award flight is part science, part art. But once you’re there, getting around doesn’t have to be nearly as complicated.
Luckily, there are plenty of options to use miles for intra-Japan as well as Japan to Korea flights. The awards are easier to book and can often be found on the cheap.
Here are a few places to start when looking to save some cash and fly around Asia using miles.
Intra-Japan Flights From 6,000 Miles
Japan's two main airlines — Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) — fly to all corners of the Japanese islands. You can book these flights with U.S.-based partners with relative ease. Here are a few examples.
Japan Airlines flights
Japan Airlines flights throughout Japan can be booked for as low as 7,500 American AAdvantage miles. This Fukuoka (FUK) to Sapporo (CTS) flight gets you from Kyushu Island in the south all the way to Hokkaido Island up north for only 7,500 miles in economy and 15,000 in business. Notice the almost unheard of $0 taxes and fees on this flight too.
These same JAL flights can also be booked through Alaska Atmos Rewards, often at similar award rates. However, puzzlingly, Alaska charges taxes and fees on these same awards.
No matter your route around Japan, it is worth looking at these award flights and even comparing them to the same travel via train.
Now that Bilt Rewards (1:1 transfer) and Capital One (2:1.5 transfer) convert to JAL airlines, it's worth noting the pricing to book direct with JAL. The same city pairs above come in at 9,500 miles for economy and 11,500 miles in business with only $3 in fees.
This is more miles for economy but cheaper in business than when booking through American or Alaska. However, when Bilt offers a transfer bonus, this award can be much cheaper and thus a better deal.
ANA flights
As a member of Star Alliance, ANA flights can be booked through its partners as well. This Tokyo (HND) to Osaka (KIX) flight can be booked with United MileagePlus for 6,000 miles and about $6.
ANA is an Amex transfer partner and offers domestic awards starting at 6,000 miles. However, these are limited to low-season flights of just 300 miles or less — where a train is often the better option. However, this pricing tier can come in handy when hopping between Japan's main island of Honshu and Hokkaido. The 370 yen of taxes and fees on this award currently equates to just US$2.39.
Whether looking to fly JAL or ANA, you can explore the country with cheap award flights.
Japan to Korea Flights From 7,000 Miles
Korean Air operates flights from both Tokyo airports — Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) — to Seoul’s Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP) airports. Or, you can fly between a wide variety of other Japanese and Korean airports. FlightConnections currently tracks 64 unique routes between the two countries:
As part of the SkyTeam alliance, you can book Korean flights through partners like Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines. Through a partnership with Alaska Airlines, you can use Atmos points as well. This same flight from Tokyo (HND) to Seoul (ICN) has similar prices across programs.
The prices are not much different, but having options based on the points and miles you have, plus the ability to time a transfer bonus (namely to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club), could sway your decision about which program to book through. Plus, it's best to consider the cancellation policies of each program if you need your plans to be more flexible.
These are great options for hopping around Asia — even 15,000 miles in lie-flat business class is pretty reasonable.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- Economy: 7,000 miles and 4,330 yen (about $27)
- Business: 15,500 miles and 4,330 yen (about $27)
Virgin Flying Club is a transfer partner of many transferable point currencies:
Alaska Atmos
- Economy: 7,500 points and $39
- Business: 15,000 points and $39
You can transfer points to Alaska from the following programs:
Delta SkyMiles
- Economy: 7,500 miles and 4,330 yen (about $27)
- Business: 15,000 miles and 4,330 yen (about $27)
Delta partners with the following major transferable currencies:
Related: The Best Points and Miles for Free Flights to Tokyo
Book Cheap Flights Through Travel Portals
While many programs offer cheap award rates intra-Japan and between Japan and Korea, the cheapest way to book might be using a travel portal. Flights within Japan can be shockingly cheap — even on full-cost airlines. So, rather than transferring points to an airline and booking an award flight, the better play may be to just book the flight through your bank program's portal.
Plus, by booking a revenue fare, you'll earn credits toward earning elite status.
Related: Travel Portals vs. Booking Direct: When It’s Worth It (and When It’s Not)
Best Credit Cards for Japan and Korea Flights
In the tables above, you'll notice that Amex and Citi points programs transfer to multiple of the best options for booking award flights intra-Japan or between Japan and Korea.
ANA, Delta, and Virgin Atlantic are all Amex Membership Rewards transfer partners. Here are some cards that you can get to grow your Amex point balance:
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
(Terms apply)
- U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
Or you can build your Delta SkyMiles balance directly by getting a Delta credit card:
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Both American Airlines AAdvantage and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club are Citi transfer partners. The best options for building your balance of Citi ThankYou Points are:
- 5X – Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ via cititravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- 3X – Earn 3 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent at Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on Select Transit purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent at Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 2X – Earn 2 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent at Restaurants
- 1X – Earn 1 ThankYou® Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
- 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
Bottom Line
It's nice to be able to transit around Asia for a very modest amount of points and miles — starting at 6,000. With low taxes and multiple alliance options, award travelers can rest easy knowing they can save money and preserve their points with these flights.
Once you’re in the region, your miles can go a lot further than you might expect.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), American Express® Business Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Citi Strata℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
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