Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used...
Edited by: Kellie Jez
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
25 comments
Ethan
February 05, 2019
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for another great article! I enjoy reading your pieces especially ones that features any premium seats to Asia! With that said, I would like to know which of the above mentioned airlines have best availability from/to US (NYC) to Asia? We are a family of 3 (with a baby). I know generally speaking, it’s really difficult for 3 F’s, but I know it’s possible (eg JAL). Thanks! Also, would love to see similar blog on business class (if not already written)!
Stephen Au
February 05, 2019
Hey Ethan! As always, thanks for reading. If flying from NYC to Asia, you’ll want the best compromise between award availability and quality of first class product. You have tons of options flying out of JFK. It all depends too on what level of risk you’d be willing to take in terms of how close to departure you feel comfortable waiting.
Personally, I always like booking something confirmed and then follow award availability closely. I use ExpertFlyer, KVS, and basically every tool imaginable to do that 🙂
If you want something almost guaranteed from NYC to Asia, here’s a few options:
1. Asiana (huge seats, loads of availability, lots of ways to book)
2. Korean Air (huge seats, loads of availability, can only book with Marriott points transferred to KE)
3. Air China (ok product, tons of availability, lots of ways to book)
4. Japan Airlines (phenomenal product, sparse availability in advance unless you book when schedule comes out and close-in award availability is best, lots of ways to book)
5. Cathay Pacific (best F product, close-in availability plentiful from JFK, lots of ways to book)
6. ANA (fantastic product, great availability far in advance, nearly no predictable availability close-in, huge sweet spots with ANA)
I’m writing the business class guide as we speak, so stay tuned! 🙂
Ethan
February 06, 2019
Thanks Stephen for the great feedback options. Of the 6 mentioned, I would love to fly JAL, CX & ANA (I have mainly Chase UR & Amex MR)! I know CX would be next to impossible as I heard they don’t release more than 1 F’s at a time, so probably not gonna hold my breath on that. I have a couple of follow up questions if I may:
1) When you said, “Personally, I always like booking something confirmed and then follow award availability closely. I use ExpertFlyer, KVS, and basically every tool imaginable to do that”–Do you mean you book the seats (F) first and look at these (eg. ExpertFlyer) to change seats or dates (any extra cost to change dates on same rountes)?
2) Is it possible or recommended to book 1 CX F when there’s availability and 2 J’s at same booking, then use ExpertFlyer to see if any other F’s open up and if so, switch 1 or 2 of the J’s to F’s? If so I would have to call AA to make the change (assuming I’ll be using AA miles) and pay the miles difference along with any fees (if any), right?
Thanks again and really looking forward to the business class version!
Stephen Au
February 06, 2019
Ethan,
1) Yes. For example, I booked SJC-NRT on NH J because that was the best-case award availability close to LAX at the time. I’ve set flight alerts for LAX-NRT on NH J/F because my home airport is LAX. I paid for a cheap LAX-SJC flight on Southwest just in case, but I’d rather not have to take the positioning flight. The certainty makes me feel better, especially when traveling with parents.
2) Yes you can do that. Keep in mind you’ll need to pay applicable change fees on AA, which you find out about here:
/airline-award-cancellation-change-fees/
Also, remember AA allows 5 day award holds. However, be almost certain you want to book the trip because there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to see any award availability if you don’t follow through on the award hold.
Ethan
February 06, 2019
Stephen, wow, thanks again for the very insightful tips! I especially like how you would book a flight outside of your home airport with a position flight if necessary just to fly/experience a certain flight! Much appreciated once again!
Teodora Pavlovic
February 08, 2019
Hey! Thanks for this amazing review!
Is it possible to book new Emirates first class suite on 777-300ER with mileage programs or only with cash?
Stephen Au
February 09, 2019
Hey Teodora!
Thanks for reading! Unfortunately, you can’t currently book the new Emirates First Class Suite with points and miles. The best way is to search for some cheaper cash fares, such as Colombo (CMB) – Dubai (DXB) – Brussels (BRU). Thanks again!
hanchicago
May 06, 2019
EK releases some new F seats on the 777-300ER a few days before the flight for award booking, according to other bloggers.
But I’m guessing such awards are difficult to book. And of course, you’d have to be awfully flexible and already in DXB or the destination cities in Europe or Asia.
I flew CMB-DXB-GVA in the old and new F on the 777-300ER, and while pricey, it was well worth the splurge.
Stephen Au
May 07, 2019
Hey hanchicago. Thanks for reading and sharing your own experiences. We appreciate the feedback!
Jls2rt
October 04, 2019
What about booking the older Emirates first class seats with points and miles? I’m planning a trip from Orlando Florida (MCO) to Bali Indonesia (DPS) next October.
Thanks!
Jen
Stephen Au
October 08, 2019
Hi Jen,
If you’re asking about how to book these seats with points and miles, check out my guide here.
/best-ways-to-book-emirates-first-class/
Jin Kim
March 22, 2019
Thank you for this blog post. How does KE Kosmo Suites 2.0 experience stack up to the other Asian carriers? I’m flying IAD-ICN next month and am super pumped. The hard product seems pretty great, though not as flashy as the middle eastern carriers, like you stated.
Stephen Au
March 22, 2019
Hey Jin,
Congratulations! Your experience will be very private and spacious. The hard product is excellent and you will not be disappointed at all. The soft product is great as well, but the lounge and ground experience is lacking. However, the in-flight experience is more important! Have fun on your trip.
hanchicago
May 06, 2019
I’m guessing Malaysia Airlines’ business suites (which were previously their first class product on their A350s and A380s) will be covered in your business class version of the rankings.
You may want to update the post with news that Asiana may be dropping First Class altogether after August 2019. It’s no longer bookable on their site beyond August.
Stephen Au
May 06, 2019
Hey hanchicago,
Check out our 25 best international business class airlines in the world. Unfortunately, Malaysia Airlines did not make it into our rankings. Keep in mind that these are not necessarily in any particular order.
Thanks for reading.
George
May 17, 2019
The statement that the ANA first class can only be booked with a return ticket is not entirely accurate (I guess it could depend on the partner airline).
Stephen Au
May 21, 2019
Hey George,
Thanks for reading. The sentence stated that booking directly with ANA is the best bet. It is true, as of recently, that you can only book round-trip tickets using ANA miles. Yes, there are programs such as United MileagePlus that can book one-way tickets, but the mileage cost and availability is best with ANA or Virgin Atlantic.
Thanks for reading.
Kim Gunter
July 18, 2019
Great article with tons of information. Two couples trying to find First Class flights from Atlanta to Sydney in March or April of 2020. Any suggestions as this is going to be a long haul and we want the best possible flights with the ability to sleep and move around.
Stephen Au
July 21, 2019
Hi Kim,
Thanks for reading. Honestly, booking flights to Australia in first class is a unicorn. This is especially true for anything more than 1 person flying. The next best bet you can try is to book a connecting flight via Singapore Airlines in first class. The cost will be steep, but it’s a realistic expectation to have. One other option can be Korean Air, which is a Marriott transfer partner.
dapojave
October 04, 2019
Go Business. More leg room, wider seats, and obsequious flight attendants.
And for me, comfort is most important for a long flight.
Kyon Teo
October 06, 2019
Is it true that the water in planes are not very clean?
Ryn Smith
January 02, 2020
I enjoyed reading this, and it was helpful, but maybe you could add one or two from USA to Canada? Thanks!
charlene nangpuhan
January 12, 2020
My husband and I are trying to find the best and cheapest international flight to the Philippines next year. Any advice for the best first class airline? My husband is disabled due to his illness and he has limited mobility. We are trying to find an airline that has an ADA Accessible bathroom if possible, or one that is wider where I would be able to help him. thank you
Jarrod West
January 13, 2020
Hi Charlene,
There are many airlines that offer ADA compliant bathrooms, as far as which would be cheapest that can really depend. Do you have any points and miles you’re hoping to use for the flight? Or are you planning to pay cash?
For a more comprehensive list of airlines, and their plane types, that offer ADA bathrooms, I’d suggest this blog post: https://wheelchairtravel.org/air-travel/wheelchair-accessible-lavatories/
ANNA
November 25, 2022
There is a 777 Emirates that flies to the USA! I flew ATH-EWR last month in First and it was amazing.
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