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The bustling city of Hong Kong is known for its culture, food and vibrant economy. You can find anything from skyscrapers to temples, all night food and luxury accommodations. While small, Hong Kong is packed with stuff to do.
It’s central location in Asia makes it an ideal location for stopover of a couple of days. Airlines from all the major alliances, SkyTeam, Star Alliance, oneworld, fly to this major Asian hub.
There are tons of ways to get to Hong Kong on points and miles. Only a handful are worth considering. This article will cover those options as the best use of points and miles to Hong Kong.
Ways to book:
Air Canada Aeroplan
Alaska Airlines MileagePlan
American Airlines AAdvantage
ANA Mileage Club
Avianca Lifemiles
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
United Airlines MileagePlus
How to Earn These Miles
Best Use of Points and Miles to Hong Kong
Air Canada Aeroplan
The Canadian airline is one of the first places I’d recommend looking for Star Alliance award tickets. You can find award flights on the following airlines by booking through Air Canada: All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa, and United Airlines.
All have excellent economy, premium and business class cabins. If booking business, I’d recommend looking for ANA and Lufthansa awards.
Aeroplan award prices are based on the total distance flown. In addition, Aeroplan’s own flights are dynamically priced. From most airports in the United States, you can expect award prices below.
| Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 45,000 – 80,000 | 60,000 – 140,000 | 75,000 – 175,000 | 110,000 – 250,000 |
| 7,501 – 11,000 | 50,000 – 90,000 | 70,000 – 160,000 | 85,000 – 200,000 | 130,000 – 300,000 |
One-Way Redemptions using Air Canada Aeroplan| Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 50,000 | N/A | 75,000 | 110,000 |
| 7,501 – 11,000 | 60,000 | N/A | 85,000 | 130,000 |
One-Way Redemptions using Air Canada Aeroplan on Partner AwardsAeroplan miles are easy to earn. You can transfer in from Chase, American Express and Capital One.
Air Canada Business Class | Courtesy: Air Canada
Alaska Airlines MileagePlan
While Alaska Airlines doesn’t fly to Hong Kong, they have several partners that do. Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and American Airlines fly direct from several cities in the United States.
Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific have amazing business class products if you can’t find first class availability. I’ve found availability on Cathay in business easier to find flying into LAX. If flying first, you might want to focus on the JFK route.
You will need to call Alaska to book Cathay Pacific awards. Prices differ based on the airline you are flying to Hong Kong.
| Airline | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| AA | 35,000 | N/A | 70,000 | 110,000 |
| Cathay | 30,000 | 35,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 |
| Japan | 35,000 | | 65,000 | 70,000 |
One-Way Redemptions using Alaska AirAlaska miles are difficult to earn. They don’t partner with any of the major transferrable points programs.
Japan Airlines Business Class | Courtesy: Japan Airlines
American Airlines AAdvantage
The US flagship carrier does fly directly to Hong Kong from Dallas. Cathay Pacific Business Class awards are easier to find than their First-Class award space. Japan Airlines Business and First-Class award space can be difficult to find.
One of my favorite uses of AA miles is using on partner flights. Cathay Pacific First Class and Japan Airlines Business Class are two great options for redemptions to Hong Kong.
AA awards can be dynamically priced. When looking for awards, look for the below prices.
| Economy Off-Peak | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| AA | 32,500 | 35,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 | 110,000 |
| Partners | | 37,500 | 50,000 | 70,000 | 110,000 |
One-Way Redemptions using American AirlinesANA Mileage Club
All Nippon Airways is a fan favorite for this incredible first-class product. A perfect time to fly it is during a trans-pacific flight. You’ll need to make a pit stop in Japan on the way to Hong Kong. These are hard to find though.
You can also book fellow Star Alliance members such as United and Air Canada.
ANA uses a zone-based award chart. Any place you start your journey in the United States will cost the below amount.
| Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| 60,000 | 95,000 | 180,000 |
Round-trip Redemptions using ANA
All Nippon Airways Business Class | Courtesy: ANA
Avianca Lifemiles
While you can’t fly Avianca to Hong Kong, their miles are a solid use for Star Alliance partners. One downfall of Avianca is customer service can be lacking if changes are needed to a ticket.
Avianca doesn’t pass along surcharges on award bookings.
| Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| 70,000 | 150,000 | 180,000 |
Round-trip Redemptions using AviancaSingapore Airlines KrisFlyer
Singapore Airlines is a fantastic airline. With a great hard product no matter the class of service, you’ll be happy throughout your flight.
I recommend focus on economy redemptions with Singapore. But if interested in their first class offering. Booking direct is the only way to secure a seat.
| Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| 66,000 | 178,000 | 208,000 |
Round-trip Redemptions using Singapore AirlinesUnited Airlines MileagePlus
The Star Alliance all US flyers should recognize is United Airlines. If looking to fly first class, focus on ANA or Singapore for less points.
| Economy | Business | First |
|---|
| United | 60,000 | 180,000 | N/A |
| Partners | 66,000 | 198,000 | 308,000 |
One-Way Redemptions using American AirlinesHow to Earn These Points and Miles
Aeroplan miles are incredibly easy to earn. Cards earning Ultimate Rewards, Membership Rewards or Venture miles can all be transferred to Air Canada. These means cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited, The Platinum Card® from American Express and new Capital One Venture X can all help with Aeroplan redemptions. Chase and Air Canada are also due to launch a new co-branded credit card soon.
Alaska miles are hard to earn. They do partner with Bank of America for their co-branded personal and business card. You can also earn their miles from shopping and dining portals.
ANA miles are easy to earn. You can transfer from American Express. Cards like the American Express® Gold Card will help you book ANA awards.
Avianca miles can be earned in a variety of ways. Transfers can come from American Express, Citi and Capital One. With one card like the Citi Premier, you can have a round trip flight in economy to Hong Kong.
For Singapore Airline redemptions, you can transfer in from Chase, American Express, Citi and Capital One. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a great card to add to your wallet to help maximize your purchases.
Other than co-branded cards, United miles can be earned by transferring from Chase.
Best Use of Points and Miles to Hong Kong Bottom Line
Hong Kong is a steppingstone for many international destinations from the United States. But that doesn’t mean you should complete rule out the city as a vacation. Stay for a couple days on the way back to the US.
Make sure you save your miles though.
These opinions in this article are the author’s not those of a bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.