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Excellent Business Class Award Space Open to Taiwan

Feb. 25, 2017
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3 min read
Taipei, Taiwan evening skyline
Excellent Business Class Award Space Open to Taiwan
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If you're looking to burn miles for a premium cabin from the US to Asia, now's a great time to book as there are currently plenty of business seats available on both EVA Air (Star Alliance) and China Airlines (SkyTeam) to Taipei, Taiwan (TPE).

You can easily find the China Airlines space by searching with Delta's award calendar. China Airlines flies nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) and there are four business award seats open on many dates right now.

Return space from Taipei back to San Francisco is also excellent for four business class passengers...

You'll pay 80,000 Delta SkyMiles each way per passenger in business class to and from Asia, but you should be able to tack on a domestic leg to San Francisco for no additional miles if you can find the domestic low-level award space. Unfortunately that might be easier said than done depending on where you're originating, but if you can't find the extra space, you could also just buy a separate cheap positioning flight with cash or miles to get to and from San Francisco. You might also consider booking this award with Air France Flying Blue for 100,000 miles each way or Korean Air SkyPass miles at a price of 155,000 miles round-trip.

China Airlines flies a brand new A350-900 XWB on its San Francisco-Taipei route, an aircraft it just took delivery of this past September. The airline's 777-300ER have gotten great reviews and business class on the A350 looks very similar.

Over in the Star Alliance, there's a decent amount of business class space on EVA Air from multiple US cities, including New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD) and others. As an example, here's award space from Houston (IAH) to Taipei in May and June for two passengers (dotted lines on the calendar indicate premium class space, though note not all of this space is nonstop on Eva Air)...

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And here's a sample return from Taipei to New York (JFK), again for two passengers...

Some of this space is not nonstop on Eva Air, but a decent chunk of it is.

EVA Air flights to Asia can be booked via Star Alliance partners such as United MileagePlus for 80,000 miles each way, or Air Canada's Aeroplan for 75,000 miles each way. Either option has minimal fuel surcharges.

Even if Taiwan isn't your preferred destination in Asia, it's an easy jump from Taipei to Hong Kong, which is a little more than 90 minutes away. While Tokyo would be a pretty substantial backtrack, you could make it to Shanghai in just two hours or fly further west to Bangkok in less than four.

H/T: Windbag Miles via View From The Wing

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.