AJK broke the news to the internets earlier today on DDF that Asiana had opened an unprecedented amount of first class award availability between JFK and Seoul, South Korea. Now it’s finally bookable on United.com It won’t last long.
If you want to fly in your own first class suite with doors that close before United devalues their miles this is a great opportunity. You can read more about the First Class Suite experience here.
The cost to fly in first class from JFK to Asia is 70,000 United miles each way. Come February 1st and this same award will cost 120K each way. Though if you book now you can make date changes after 02/01 without paying more miles.
Normally it’s tough to find even 1 award seat but here is the United.com calendar for 2 seats. Everything in blue has at least 2 award seats on the nonstop Asiana flight. This is applicable for most months that I look at.
Of course you don’t have to go to South Korea, you can pick another destination and continue on to there. Just search for nonstop flights only from JFK-ICN to first locate availability for your desired dates and then search for the whole trip you want to take, such as JFK-Hong Kong, JFK-Chiang Mai, etc, etc.
Worth noting that you can also use 80,000 Korean miles to fly in a Korean First suite nonstop from Seoul to Tel Aviv. You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points instantly to both Korean and United.
nice find ajk! and thanks for the post dan.
what are some good options besides Thailand to go onward from ICN? theres no avail to mle or dps…
any of those type destinations?
@Ellen:
No, Lucky got it from AJK.
Just look at the end of Lucky’s post, he gives the HT to AJK. And it wasn’t a few days ago, it was yesterday.
Dan, you should HT to Lucky , AJK should have mentioned he got this info from Lucky who posted this a few days ago!!!
@smay: The fee to change the date is $75 for non-elite. Everything else would be pure speculation, but I can’t imagine this availability will last.
I want to try first class but the dates are unsure. I’m not an elite what would I pay if I book a date and then change it? Is there likely going to be more availablity bc of the rate increase to later choose from? What would be the downside if I knew I’d want to go to Hong Kong or Thailand at some point?
Thanks, Dan: What are the fees for children under 2 years old for one way or round trip?
@chaim:
I said Korean flies ICN-TLV.
You’d have to call Korean to book that in first class.
Or you can use Delta miles to fly Korean in coach or business.
What dates are available from icn-tlv? cant seem to find any?
no need to answer – i get it now 🙂
Is it a problem to get off in Taipei and travel onto Thailand from there – discarding the TPE-ICN leg?
I booked a trip to Siem Reap for next January. Can’t wait.
Interesting. Yesterday night, I found a lot of availability to GIG during World Cup from several US markets in J. Granted, they’re on COPA with old reclining seats but just a few days ago, there was absolutely nothing for June and July. Is United trying to make up for the bloodbath?
I have a write up on it here:
http://lazytravelers.net/spend-your-devalued-united-miles-on-an-award-flight-to-the-world-cup-in-brazil/