As my Premier 1K era with United Airlines reaches its end, I decided to redeem expiring PlusPoints by taking the scenic route between Los Angeles and Chicago…via East Asia, though even that required some last-minute improvisation thanks to flights that unexpectedly filled up.
The Long Way From Los Angeles To Chicago On United Airlines, EVA
Rather than fly from Los Angeles to Chicago nonstop, I will fly via Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Taipei…as one does.
Do you know that a last-minute one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Chicago ($458) was more expensive than a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Bangkok via Hong Kong ($319) on United? I didn’t have time to visit Hong Kong or Bangkok, but I was wiling to take an extra day to fly to Chicago via Asia because 1.) I enjoy flying, 2.) I had expiring PlusPoints, United’s upgrade currency, 3.) the flights appeared wide-open, and 4.) it’s a profit-generating business write-off…I always gather great content for the blog on these trips.
The key word there is appeared. Just three days before Los Angeles – Hong Kong (served twice daily by United) was wide-open, with at least nine seats for sale and 17 seats unassigned the cabin. I was sitting at #1 on the upgrade list. All of a sudden, the flight filled up. I thought United must have cancelled its flight (or maybe Cathay Pacific), but nope…I guess business travelers do indeed book last minute.
I was about to scrap the trip, but rebooked from Burbank – San Francisco – Hong Kong – Bangkok and was able to confirm the upgrade from SFO-HKG, a 15.5 hour flight. Whew.
That forced an overnight in Hong Kong, but then I’d continue on to Bangkok the following morning and turn right around and fly Bangkok – Hong Kong on the same aircraft, then Hong Kong – Los Angeles – Chicago.
Only that didn’t work either, as the Hong Kong – Los Angeles flight (and the Hong Kong – San Francisco) flight filled up on United in business class. So did service from Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Mainland China. Sorry folks, but I’m not flying that long in economy class on a trip that isn’t necessary in the first place. So much for using all of those expiring PlusPoints…
Instead, I used 87.5K Aeroplan miles to book Bangkok – Taipei – Chicago back on EVA Airways in business class, giving me an opportunity to review EVA just a few months after my Starlux trip.
As I continue publishing installments from that prior trip report, I’ll share my first impressions of the flights on this latest adventure. I’m excited to fly United Polaris and even more excited to fly EVA Airways again, plus I plan to put a bookend on a travel incident that occurred in Hong Kong nearly 20 years ago and also spend the night in Taiwan at the Hyatt Regency Taoyuan International Airport.
Stay tuned.
You should try and review some nice non-US chain Taipei hotels, like the Grand Hotel.
I’m looking forward to Hyatt TPE this trip. Looks like a nice airport hotel.
“as one does.”
Matt, the fact that you actually were able to use PlusPoints for confirmed long-haul international J is HUGE. This truly must have been last-minute, because I’ve rarely if ever seen anything but Waitlist in my years as a 1K and Platinum.
Safe travels! Can’t wait for your posts and reports.
I see you posted (on VFTW I think?) that your United status was extended unexpectedly. Congrats!
Matt, it’s odd. Now I got 40 PlusPoints and have no idea what to do with them. LOL. I’ll attach them to whatever upcoming bookings I have, but I highly doubt they’ll clear.
are you getting the new EVA product on their chicago route? i know they fly their new planes to Seattle…either way the soft product will be stellar.
No, it’s the old 777 on both segments. There was award space to Seattle and I thought about doing it, but do you know that there are no redeyes from SEA-ORD? It would have forced an overnight in SEA and I don’t have the extra day. I will try to do the 787-10 on a future trip, even if just shorthaul like HKG-TPE.
You can add it to Brisbane. It’s great. Or do Brisbane tpe (Europe) Chicago to add even more spice for 111k miles.
sad you’re losing your 1k status. Without at least that your treated like garbage and will be in the back of the bus.
I will miss the 1K status, but I wasn’t receiving any upgrades anyway (this trip was a thankful exception), so if I want first class, I’ll buy first class.
Exciting! Love reading these trips. I’m thinking about putting together an aeroplan rtw trip with some long layovers and a stopover.
41k miles joburg to sao Paolo seems a good way to connect two of the more dangerous cities in business class! Seems like quite a lot of eva space atm which is great. Brisbane TPE. TPE North America. Finding long haul space on United on a partner program is virtually non existent. But buying aeroplano points for 1.5c and flying for 87.5k miles is a steal anyways.
Would be fun to do SYD-JNB on QF, then JNB-GRU on SA!
It used to be a great United redemption to fly ORD-GRU—JNB (or Cape Town) for like 50k points. 2017esque
Wow to save $130 in you have an extra 2 days on your trip. They must not be paying you too much at this rag.
Haha. The beauty of it is all these posts about this trip will bring in significantly more than $130…
I did STL-TPA-BWI/BWI-PWM one day to take the scenic route to Maine and save a whopping $20 over the STL-BWI-PWM routing. Av-geeks, right?
This looks like a long and fruitful series of air travels.
I just finished reading and watching the history of the relationship between EVA (Evergreen Group) and Starlux. An amazing story even for non avgeeks. It would make for a nice Netflix series.
You’re visiting China who are supporting Russias war in Ukraine?
Shouldn’t you be skipping that country completely?