What Are Some Real (and Available) Sweet Spots Using Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles for Travel within Asia?

Despite being based in Singapore, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles used to be one of my favourite mileage programmes for redemptions within Asia - you used to be able to fly from Singapore to Tokyo and back to Kuala Lumpur (or a different city in Asia) for just 25,000 AS Miles in Business Class but that has changed over the years. While Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles are still decent in theory, the lack of (read: non-existent) award space makes it difficult to use them for any premium cabin travel for intra-Asia flights.

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Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific

Even though you used to be able to redeem a pseudo-return ticket (so long you do not fly back to the same city of departure) on Japan Airlines in Business Class for just 25,000 AS Miles, this amazing deal was made impossible back in late-2019. With the devaluation in 2019, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members were then required to spend 50,000 AS Miles for a return trip from Singapore to Japan on Japan Airlines in Business Class. At the time of writing, it now requires 100,000 AS Miles for the same flights. While there are various promotions throughout the year to purchase Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles at a discount, it has also gotten more difficult to use them over the years.

Is There Actual Award Space for Cathay Pacific Business Class?

One of the most commonly-quoted sweet spots under the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan programme is Business Class travel on Cathay Pacific - in theory, you can fly from Singapore to Tokyo/Seoul via Hong Kong for 22,500 AS Miles in Business Class. While I can confirm that this used to be widely available for redemption with some blackout periods, it seems like there is almost no availability right now.

I have tried looking for award space, but have not been able to find any for the next 12 months. I have also tried to look for flights to other cities in Asia via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific but have not been able to find any award space in Business Class except for only a handful to Taipei.

Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific

AS Miles Still Great for Cathay Pacific Economy Class

With that said, it is currently possible to redeem a flight in Economy Class from Singapore to Tokyo via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific for just 12,500 AS Miles (and approximately USD 76.50 in applicable taxes). This is still a phenomenal deal since it requires 27,000 KrisFlyer Miles to redeem a flight on Singapore Airlines in Economy Class with a Saver redemption. As you may already know, eligible fare classes for mileage accrual typically generate more miles when credited to the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan programme (and still earn PPS Value on top of AS Miles).

I do have quite a number of flights on Singapore Airlines coming up that are eligible for mileage accrual and I am quite torn between crediting them to the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan programme (and earn PPS Value), or simply crediting them to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer programme instead.