Economy the play 9,000 pts Cathay Pacific own metal from HKG, distance-band award (2,068 km, Cathay-operated chart)
Cathay Pacific oneworld
Cathay Pacific own-metal Seoul→Hong Kong. Cathay passes fuel surcharges on Asia Miles awards - the published Standard award miles are cabin-only. Cathay's own footnote reads 'Required Asia Miles do not include fuel surcharges and taxes.', so budget a separate cash component on top of the miles priced here — heaviest on the Europe and North America long-hauls. A valid Cathay Pacific routing is assumed.
Feed it: 18,000 Amex Membership Rewards (2:1) · 9,000 SBI Travel Credits (1:1) · 54,000 RBL Reward Points (6:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy)
SkyTeam metal, Flying Blue (dynamic) — China Airlines via TPE, or China Eastern via PVG, or Vietnam Airlines via HAN
China AirlinesChina EasternVietnam Airlines SkyTeam
Flying Blue prices dynamically — no fixed chart. Air France/KLM pass carrier (YQ) surcharges on own metal — typically €90–110 economy / €200–300 business one-way long-haul; intra-region SkyTeam ~€15–40. Typical one-way economy runs 5.5k–12k; award space and travel date drive the real number.
Estimate Dynamic program — estimate is the typical one-way level for this region-pair (range 5.5k–12k); not a fixed chart price, and never crowned THE PLAY.
Feed it: 7,500 HDFC Reward Points (1:1) · 3,750 Axis EDGE Miles (1:2) · 7,500 HSBC Reward Points (1:1)
Star Alliance partner metal, Aeroplan distance-band award (2,068 km) — or Air China via PEK, or Asiana Airlines nonstop, or EVA Air via TPE
Air ChinaAsiana AirlinesEVA Air Star Alliance
Aeroplan prices Star partner awards by total distance FLOWN. This row is the direct great-circle band; a connecting routing that flies farther can land in the next band up. A valid Star routing (nonstop or via a Star hub within the maximum permitted mileage) is assumed.
Feed it: 7,500 Axis EDGE Miles (1:2) · 15,000 SBI Travel Credits (1:1) · 37,500 Axis EDGE Reward Points (5:2)
Korean Air own metal from ICN, region award
Korean Air SkyTeam
Korean Air own-metal Seoul→Hong Kong. Korean passes low-to-moderate carrier surcharges on its own-metal awards — noticeably milder than Turkish or British Airways, but not zero: expect a modest YQ plus government taxes, heaviest on long-haul and on Japan/Europe departures. A valid Korean Air routing is assumed.
Feed it: 30,000 HSBC Reward Points (2:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL)) · 60,000 HDFC Reward Points (4:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL)) · 150,000 Axis EDGE Reward Points (10:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL))
oneworld partner metal, AAdvantage region award
oneworld
AAdvantage prices partner awards on a fixed region-to-region chart. A valid oneworld routing is assumed.
Feed it: 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards (3:1 via Marriott Bonvoy) · 120,000 RBL Reward Points (6:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy) · 40,000 RBL Reward Points (Nova/Lumière) (2:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy)
Business the play 22,500 pts Korean Air own metal from ICN, region award
Korean Air SkyTeam
Korean Air own-metal Seoul→Hong Kong. Korean passes low-to-moderate carrier surcharges on its own-metal awards — noticeably milder than Turkish or British Airways, but not zero: expect a modest YQ plus government taxes, heaviest on long-haul and on Japan/Europe departures. A valid Korean Air routing is assumed.
Feed it: 45,000 HSBC Reward Points (2:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL)) · 90,000 HDFC Reward Points (4:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL)) · 225,000 Axis EDGE Reward Points (10:1 via Accor Live Limitless (ALL))
Business ~20,000 pts est. SkyTeam metal, Flying Blue (dynamic) — China Airlines via TPE, or China Eastern via PVG, or Vietnam Airlines via HAN
China AirlinesChina EasternVietnam Airlines SkyTeam
Flying Blue prices dynamically — no fixed chart. Air France/KLM pass carrier (YQ) surcharges on own metal — typically €90–110 economy / €200–300 business one-way long-haul; intra-region SkyTeam ~€15–40. Typical one-way business runs 18k–30k; award space and travel date drive the real number.
Estimate Dynamic program — estimate is the typical one-way level for this region-pair (range 18k–30k); not a fixed chart price, and never crowned THE PLAY.
Feed it: 20,000 HDFC Reward Points (1:1) · 10,000 Axis EDGE Miles (1:2) · 20,000 HSBC Reward Points (1:1)
Cathay Pacific own metal from HKG, distance-band award (2,068 km, Cathay-operated chart)
Cathay Pacific oneworld
Cathay Pacific own-metal Seoul→Hong Kong. Cathay passes fuel surcharges on Asia Miles awards - the published Standard award miles are cabin-only. Cathay's own footnote reads 'Required Asia Miles do not include fuel surcharges and taxes.', so budget a separate cash component on top of the miles priced here — heaviest on the Europe and North America long-hauls. A valid Cathay Pacific routing is assumed.
Feed it: 54,000 Amex Membership Rewards (2:1) · 27,000 SBI Travel Credits (1:1) · 132,000 RBL Reward Points (4.89:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy)
Star Alliance partner metal, Aeroplan distance-band award (2,068 km) — or Air China via PEK, or Asiana Airlines nonstop, or EVA Air via TPE
Air ChinaAsiana AirlinesEVA Air Star Alliance
Aeroplan prices Star partner awards by total distance FLOWN. This row is the direct great-circle band; a connecting routing that flies farther can land in the next band up. A valid Star routing (nonstop or via a Star hub within the maximum permitted mileage) is assumed.
Feed it: 15,000 Axis EDGE Miles (1:2) · 30,000 SBI Travel Credits (1:1) · 75,000 Axis EDGE Reward Points (5:2)
oneworld partner metal, AAdvantage region award
oneworld
AAdvantage prices partner awards on a fixed region-to-region chart. A valid oneworld routing is assumed.
Feed it: 90,000 Amex Membership Rewards (3:1 via Marriott Bonvoy) · 180,000 RBL Reward Points (6:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy) · 60,000 RBL Reward Points (Nova/Lumière) (2:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy)
First the play 40,000 pts oneworld partner metal, AAdvantage region award
oneworld
AAdvantage prices partner awards on a fixed region-to-region chart. A valid oneworld routing is assumed.
Feed it: 120,000 Amex Membership Rewards (3:1 via Marriott Bonvoy) · 240,000 RBL Reward Points (6:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy) · 80,000 RBL Reward Points (Nova/Lumière) (2:1 via Club ITC → Marriott Bonvoy)
Star Alliance partner metal, Aeroplan distance-band award (2,068 km) — or Air China via PEK, or Asiana Airlines nonstop, or EVA Air via TPE
Air ChinaAsiana AirlinesEVA Air Star Alliance
Aeroplan prices Star partner awards by total distance FLOWN. This row is the direct great-circle band; a connecting routing that flies farther can land in the next band up. A valid Star routing (nonstop or via a Star hub within the maximum permitted mileage) is assumed.
Feed it: 25,000 Axis EDGE Miles (1:2) · 50,000 SBI Travel Credits (1:1) · 125,000 Axis EDGE Reward Points (5:2)