← Back to the HubBest Way to Book It
Pick a route. We'll show you some of the ways you can book it with points, ranked by typical miles cost — with cash fees and the catches inline. Coverage expands as we add programs; if a program you expect isn't here yet, it's on the roadmap, not missing on purpose.
Heads up: pricing here comes from published partner award charts, not live availability. Always confirm the seat on the operating airline's site before transferring miles in.
Los Angeles (LAX) ↔ Tokyo (NRT)
5,439 miles · US ↔ Japan / Korea · Business
5 airlines fly this · cheapest first
🥇Fly on United MileagePlus
Star Alliance5 ways to book · from 50k miles
US to Japan (one-way equivalent of 100k RT chart)
Still absurdly good if you can plan like an adult.
Low fuel surchargesHas hoopsApproximate
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the ANA Mileage Club award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
Routing rules
Round-trip required. 100k Avios RT total.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
What breaks this deal
Round-trip required.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $100–250 in cash fees per direction. JP + US taxes (~$200-500 RT).
US to Japan / Korea
Great when it tickets. Annoying when it does not.
No fuel surchargesHas hoops
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Avianca LifeMiles award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
What breaks this deal
Booking can stall — call to confirm before transferring.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $40–120 in cash fees per direction. US + JP taxes.
North America to Pacific 5500-7500 mi (Japan / Korea)
Not the cheapest, but much easier than ANA round-trip restrictions.
No fuel surchargesApproximate
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Air Canada Aeroplan award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $60–120 in cash fees per direction. $60-120 in taxes.
US to Japan / Korea
Solid fallback when ANA space disappears.
Low fuel surchargesApproximate
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Singapore KrisFlyer award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $50–150 in cash fees per direction. $50-150 in taxes.
US to Japan / Korea
Polaris is great. The pricing is less emotionally stable. ANA 50k one-way equivalent crushes this.
No fuel surchargesDynamic — expect upper end
How to book this →
Fly on ANA Mileage Club
Star Alliance1 way to book · from 52.5k miles
US to Japan via ANA (Virgin Atlantic partner award)
VS √ó ANA J: 47.5k WC / 60k EC. No surcharges, one-way allowed. The most famous transpacific sweet spot.
No fuel surchargesHas hoopsWorth a search
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club award engine for ANA Mileage Club-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Reality check
Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
Fly on Japan Airlines
Oneworld2 ways to book · from 60k miles
North America to Asia (Japan / Korea)
60k AA J on JAL is the best fixed rate in the game for US-Japan. Don't sleep on it.
Low fuel surcharges
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the American AAdvantage award engine for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $50–130 in cash fees per direction. US + Japan gov't taxes. Low fuel surcharge in J/F.
US to Japan via JAL
Atmos √ó JAL J to Japan: 60k West Coast / 75k East Coast. Legendary value.
Low fuel surchargesWorth a search
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Atmos Rewards award engine for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Reality check
Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
Fly on Cathay Pacific
Oneworld1 way to book · from 75k miles
US to Asia via Cathay (Japan / Korea routes)
Atmos × Cathay J on Asia routes — chart-computed by distance band.
Low fuel surchargesWorth a search
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Atmos Rewards award engine for Cathay Pacific Asia Miles-operated flights.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Reality check
Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
Fly on American Airlines
Oneworld2 ways to book · from 90k miles
AA long-haul
Strong for complex long-haul J with stopovers. Online booking is partial - some routings need a phone call.
Low fuel surcharges
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles award engine for American AAdvantage-operated flights.
Routing rules
Multi-carrier oneworld itineraries are supported, including stopovers.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $10–80 in cash fees per direction. Low fuel surcharges + gov't taxes. Higher on premium long-haul.
AA long-haul (round-trip)
Solid long-haul J round-trip when AA J availability lines up both ways.
No fuel surchargesHas hoopsApproximate
How to book this →
Where to search
Search on the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank award engine for American AAdvantage-operated flights.
Routing rules
Round-trip required.
Inventory requirement
Needs saver-class spaceon the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
Cash co-pay
Expect roughly $12–60 in cash fees per direction. ~$5.60 each direction (RT required). No fuel surcharges on AA metal.
