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.
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.
