Deal Alert: Business Class to China From $2,172 Round-Trip
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz or Expedia’s courtesy cancellation if you’re unable to get the time away from work or family.
These days it's pretty easy to score a cheap flight to China — in economy. But, with shrinking coach seats and a long ride over the Pacific, some travelers might skip the destination altogether due to it being so far away. Enter great business-class fares to China — score a ticket from the US to China from just under $2,200 round-trip. Even better, you can fly some spectacular products:
Unless you book a flight to a third country, you can’t take advantage of China’s “visa-free transit” policy. So, make sure you get the right visa before traveling or you won’t even be able to get on the plane. TPG recommends using a third-party service like Allied Passport & Visa and if you mention The Points Guy on your order form, you’ll get a $5 discount.
There are no tricks needed to find these fares — just pick the dates you want by searching with Google Flights. While these are great deals, it's still a significant cash outlay. So, it's particularly important to remember your options for booking these flights:
- American Express Platinum Card: book directly with the airline or through Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Book with this card to earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards, or redeem points for this purchase at 1.5 cents per point (from 144,800 round-trip)
Airline: American, Delta, United, Japan Airlines
Routes: BOS/EWR/ORD/RDU/IAH to PEK
Cost: $2,172+ round-trip in business class
Dates: March-May
Booking Link: Orbitz, Expedia or directly with the airline
Pay With: The Platinum Card from American Express (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige (5x on airfare plus excellent trip delay insurance) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
Here are a few examples of what you can book:
Boston (BOS) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,172 round-trip on Japan Airlines via Expedia:
The above flight earns 24,093 EQMs, 2,249 EQDs and 11,243 award miles (before elite bonuses) with American Airlines.
Boston (BOS) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,209 round-trip on United:
The above flight earns 29,558 PQMs, 2,117 PQDs and 10,585 award miles (before elite bonuses).
Boston (BOS) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,209 round-trip in the brand-new Delta One Suites:
The above flight earns 29,056 MQMs, 2,117 MQDs and 10,585 award miles.
Newark (EWR) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,261 round-trip on American Airlines via Expedia:
The above flight earns 31,288 EQMs, 2,170 EQDs and 10,850 AAdvantage miles (before elite bonuses).
Chicago (ORD) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,414 round-trip nonstop on American Airlines via Expedia:
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,442 round-trip on American Airlines via Expedia:
Raleigh/Durham (RDU) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,442 round-trip in the brand-new Delta One Suites:
Houston (IAH) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,534 round-trip on United:
Houston (IAH) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,538 round-trip on American Airlines via Expedia:
Denver (DEN) to Beijing (PEK) for $2,594 round-trip on American Airlines via Expedia:
Maximize Your Purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as the American Express Platinum Card (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Citi Prestige (5x on airfare) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.