How I used Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles to fly enterprise class on Japan Airways and Starlux Airways

Whereas it is getting tougher to maximise your factors and miles and fly within the entrance finish of the airplane with out breaking the financial institution, it’s nonetheless very doable. In reality, I used to be simply capable of do it on a current journey to Asia.

I discovered some unimaginable long-haul award redemptions on Japan Airways and Starlux Airways, and I used to be capable of make my redemptions utilizing a extensively obtainable mileage foreign money: Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles.

I flew Japan Airways in enterprise class to Tokyo from San Francisco for simply 60,000 Mileage Plan miles. Whereas this specific award availability may be scarce, if you’re versatile, you possibly can typically duplicate this redemption to fly enterprise class and even top quality on Japan Airways utilizing both Alaska miles or, as I lately did once more, American Airways AAdvantage miles.

For my journey residence, I used simply 75,000 Mileage Plan miles to e-book a business-class seat on one in every of Alaska’s newer Asian airline companions, Starlux. It was my third time flying the Taiwanese airline, and I extremely advocate you add it to your AvGeek bucket checklist.

This is how I discovered these business-class airline awards and booked the flights … and how one can, too.

Reserving Japan Airways business-class awards

Though not as widespread as up to now, Japan Airways business-class awards are nonetheless lurking round, if you already know the place to look and tips on how to e-book rapidly.

Whilst you might exhaustively seek for awards on the Alaska Airways and American Airways web sites, checking the assorted U.S. airports to which Japan Airways flies, I like to recommend utilizing an award search instrument like PointsYeah or Seats.aero to see if you’ll find area on the lowest award ranges. Merely put in your metropolis pairs, after which you possibly can set some filters to look particular airways, together with Japan Airways, to generate outcomes that present which miles you should use to e-book the route.

I booked my business-class ticket for September for simply 60,000 Mileage Plan miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs, although I additionally might have redeemed 60,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles.

I lately discovered first-class award area on a Japan Airways flight from Chicago’s O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD) to Tokyo’s Narita Worldwide Airport (NRT) departing in September for simply 80,000 AAdvantage miles. For that very same journey, I booked enterprise class for 60,000 AAdvantage miles on the return from NRT to ORD, additionally on Japan Airways.

These redemptions are on the market and accessible, however, as I discussed, you need to be versatile with regards to your dates and departure airports. In case you discover availability, remember to bounce on it rapidly as a result of it disappears quick.

Associated: Journey to Japan with factors and miles: Greatest methods to redeem your rewards for flights and inns

What it was like flying Japan Airways enterprise class on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

I’ve flown Japan Airways earlier than, however I used to be once more blown away by the unimaginable service and the positive meals on the lengthy journey I lately took. I used to be booked on Japan Airways Flight 57 on a 9-year-old Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, ship (or registration) No. JA863J.

This 787 had 44 business-class seats organized in a 2-2-2 configuration, with the cabin break up into two sections of enterprise class. Bogs and a small galley had been obtainable between the 2 sections.

In contrast to a few of the different 787-9s in Japan Airways’ fleet, this one featured the service’s Sky Suite seats. Whereas they don’t seem to be essentially the most fashionable seats within the sky, they will really feel ultraprivate because of their staggered configuration.

There have been a blanket, a big pillow, headphones, slippers and a small amenity equipment ready at my seat.

Japan Airways is collaborating with the corporate Heralbony for its amenity kits. Whereas I help its mission of serving to these with mental disabilities, I have never been impressed with the kits lately. They’ve all of the fundamentals, together with a easy eye masks and pocket tissues, however they only do not have the attract of earlier Japan Airways kits from Porsche Design. The Heralbony equipment did have a USB charging cable and a cellphone cable, two pretty uncommon amenity equipment objects.

The seats are extensive and plush, turning into lie-flat beds with the push of a button. A flight attendant helped me put down a mattress pad earlier than sleeping.

The meals is the place Japan Airways actually shines, although, because the service provides the choice for a Japanese-influenced or Western-style meal served over a number of programs.

I selected the worldwide menu for this flight. A primary course of nuts and olives was adopted by a plate of hors d’oeuvres that included tuna tataki, poached shrimp and a salad with a inexperienced goddess dressing.

For my foremost, I had USDA Prime beef tenderloin, pumpkin conchiglioni pasta and seasonal greens. For dessert, there was a pumpkin mouse with granola accompanied by inexperienced tea.

The perfect half was a prelanding snack of ramen … one thing I’ve grown to look ahead to every time I fly Japan Airways.

As normal on Japan Airways, service was flawless on my lengthy transpacific flight.

Flight attendants got here by with frequent drink refills and supplied immediate service every time I requested for something, together with copious quantities of espresso earlier than touchdown.

I at all times love flying Japan Airways and look ahead to my subsequent flights this summer time.

Associated: Japan Airways’ A350-100 inaugural from New York to Tokyo: Similar nice service, fabulous new seats

Reserving Starlux business-class awards

Starlux is a comparatively new Taiwan-based airline that simply began service in 2020. It flies from Taiwan Taoyuan Worldwide Airport (TPE) in Taipei to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA), with flights to California’s Ontario Worldwide Airport (ONT) beginning June 2.

Though it’s not in an airline alliance, it companions with Alaska Airways, and redemptions in enterprise class begin at simply 75,000 miles every approach.

I reviewed enterprise class on the airline final 12 months, and it rapidly grew to become one in every of my favourite airways. I used to be desirous to strive it out once more.

I bought very fortunate and located a date that labored with my Japan journey in February on the airline’s route from Taipei to Seattle. I used to be capable of e-book it on the lowest price Alaska Airways Mileage Plan provides, plus a really affordable $19 in charges, taxes and surcharges.

There may be not a ton of availability, however you possibly can often snag it in the event you keep versatile and search steadily. I discover that awards are usually obtainable both very shut in (inside a couple of days of journey) or very far out.

A fast search I performed as analysis for this text discovered a number of availability for 175,000 miles every approach, however the 75,000 miles for enterprise class and 50,000 miles for premium economic system had been extra elusive. I did discover a couple of dates from LAX in premium economic system for 50,000 miles.

Once more, I like to recommend trying by way of an award search instrument.

What it was like flying Starlux enterprise class on the Airbus A350-900

Starlux has really supplanted Japan Airways as my new favourite Asian service. The 75,000 Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles I spent for this redemption made it one in every of my better of the 12 months.

My ticket bought me into the unimaginable Starlux Galactic Lounge in Taipei, which is designed to appear like a starship.

The lounge is full of references to outer area and comes stocked with an array of enjoyable meals and drinks, in addition to a number of cold and warm buffets and fridges full of drinks and even ice cream.

You too can order meals dropped at your desk by way of a QR code menu.

Starlux flies a fleet of Airbus A350-900s decked out in a starship-inspired design on its long-haul routes.

I used to be on a brand new A350 with the ship No. B-58507 and had seat 7A towards the again of the stylish cabin.

There was a single row of top quality on this airplane on the entrance of the business-class cabin, however it might have value $5,000 to improve from enterprise class, so I could not take one for the staff this time.

Starlux A350s have 26 business-class seats organized in a reverse-herringbone 1-2-1 configuration. There are six rows of 4 seats every, with solely two middle seats within the last row.

Starlux was the primary airline with Collins Aerospace’s new Parts suite, which I discover very snug and classy. As an added bonus, every has a closing door for privateness.

At my seat, I discovered a cornucopia of goodies, together with a well-stocked amenity equipment, an enormous pillow, a blanket and slippers. Within the seat’s cubby had been a pair of Starlux-branded headphones, Acqua Panna water and a face masks.

The amenity equipment was by a model known as “Three” and contained a plastic comb-brush combo, earplugs, socks, a toothbrush, Ora2 toothpaste and toilette wipes, in addition to Three-branded lip balm, oil serum and moisturizer. Flight attendants additionally introduced out pajamas for the lengthy flight from Taipei to Seattle.

Once I was able to sleep, a flight attendant helped me make up the mattress with a mattress pad for additional padding. Absolutely flat, the seat was about 77 inches lengthy.

Service was top-notch, from boarding to deplaning, with flight attendants doing common sweeps by means of the cabin to see if passengers wanted something.

The meals on Starlux is nice, too, with plentiful menu choices that embrace one thing for everybody. Like on Japan Airways, you possibly can preorder meals in enterprise and top quality.

Meals on this specific flight was very good, with a starter of a lemon-scented scallop served with Japanese ikura (salmon roe), a tomato salsa and crunchy seaweed. This was adopted by a roasted crimson pepper tomato soup course and a alternative of contemporary bread. Subsequent up was a foremost course of grilled iberico (Spanish) pork ribs and potatoes.

For dessert, I had a lightweight ardour fruit sorbet with a sea salt milk gelato sprinkled with some sort of candy Taiwanese cracker. There was additionally a piece of seasonal contemporary fruit.

And that is not all. As a prelanding snack, there was extra bread, a Caesar salad and a “pizza” that was a bit like an open-faced tartine with cheese and beef ragu.

I did not get to strive the midflight snack menu, however I might have additionally requested braised beef noodle soup or a rooster kebab. Because it was, I virtually rolled off the airplane.

It was one other fabulous flight with an early arrival into Seattle. Starlux actually needs to be in your checklist. I can not wait to fly the service once more (once I can discover that saver award area once more).

The worth of Alaska Airways miles

Each of those redemptions level to the worth of Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles, as this system continues to be probably the greatest methods to e-book premium-class airline awards between the U.S. and Asia, because of its many Asian airline companions.

Proper now, there are a number of methods to earn extra Alaska miles. Alaska presently has two cobranded playing cards with Financial institution of America. The Alaska Airways Visa Signature® bank card is presently providing a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles, plus Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23) after making $3,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, after account obtain a 30% low cost code for a future qualifying flight. The Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise card can be providing 60,000 bonus miles and Alaska’s Well-known Companion Fare ($99 fare plus taxes and costs from $23), although that supply requires making $4,000 or extra in purchases inside the first 90 days of account opening.

As a result of Alaska is within the strategy of merging with Hawaiian Airways, you can even join two Hawaiian Airways bank cards with the power to switch these HawaiianMiles to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio.

Moreover, you possibly can switch factors from Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy to Alaska Airways and not directly ship American Specific Membership Rewards factors to Alaska Airways by way of the HawaiianMiles program, although the latter is simply obtainable by means of June 30.

Associated: You could wish to switch your Amex factors to HawaiianMiles (after which to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan) quickly

One last solution to earn Alaska miles is on the horizon. Alaska will quickly have a premium card in its bank card portfolio. Whereas we do not but know the way excessive the welcome bonus will likely be, we do know the cardboard will include a $395 annual price.

Alaska has confirmed that it’ll additionally earn 3 miles per greenback spent on all eligible international purchases, enable clients to waive a $12.50 award reserving price on companion award bookings and embrace a shortcut to elite standing.

Backside line

All in all, I had two unimaginable flights on two of the world’s finest airways that had been (nearly) all paid for with miles. It simply goes to point out there stays actual worth in amassing factors and miles, even when ongoing modifications to loyalty packages are making it more durable to search out distinctive awards.

It additionally speaks to simply how useful the Alaska Airways Mileage Plan program may be. I am excited to use for the brand new premium Alaska bank card when it turns into obtainable. Hopefully, I can use the sign-up bonus to fund my subsequent flight on Japan Airways or Starlux.

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