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The unique value of Starpoints is found in their versatility. Sure, they’re excellent for staying in Starwood hotels. And you can do awesome things with them like get a suite loaded with kosher food at Wrigley Field, Madison Square Garden, the US Open, etc. But they’re the only currency that transfers into airline miles at a permanent favorable ratio of 20K:25K. And you have a plethora of airlines to choose from including programs like American and Alaska that don’t participate in other major point transfer programs from AMEX, Citi, or Chase.
Today Starwood announced that Korean Airlines will be their 33rd airline transfer option. Currently Chase points transfer to Korean at a 1:1 ratio and now Starwood will as well with a 20K:25K ratio.
Korean has lots of positive things going for it:
-There are no close-in fees, no fees to change an award, and no fees to cancel an award and redeposit the miles.
-They have the best first class award availability of any foreign carrier and it’s very good. I reviewed it here.
A Korean First Class Kosmo Sleeper Class Suite between North America and Asia or between Tel Aviv and Asia is just 80,000 miles one-way, so you can fly all the way to Tel Aviv the long way in the only true international first class option the whole way from US to Tel Aviv. They serve delicious Hermolis kosher meals out of Asia and have a open self-service bar on the A380 with top-shelf drinks.
If you do stopover in Seoul (and take a tour of the DMZ) you can stay at the very highly rated Park Hyatt with your Chase points for just 20K points of 10K+$125 per night.
-They allow you to hold Korean award seats until 2 days before the flight.
-Korean miles don’t expire for 10 years.
-A round-trip flight from the US48 to Alaska on Alaska Air is just 20K miles in coach or 40K miles in first class with a free stopover.
-A round-trip flight from the US48 to Hawaii on Delta is just 25K miles in coach or 45K miles in first class with a free stopover.
-A round-trip flight from the US48 to Hawaii on Alaska or Hawaiian is just 30K miles in coach or 60K miles in first class with a free stopover if flying on Alaska.
-A round-trip flight from the US48 to Tahiti on Air France is just 60K miles in coach or 90K miles in business class.
-A round-trip flight from the Sydney to Auckland in a first class suite on an Emirates A380 with a shower spa onboard is just 75K miles.
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10 Comments On "Starwood Adds 33rd Airline Transfer Partner!"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Do they allow stopovers one one way awards ?
@Don:
They do for Korean flights.
Do they charge YQ on EK?
How much is JFK-DXB in F on EK?
@Eli:
Award charts for non Skyteam partners are here:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/21319
JFK-DXB/MLE will probably be much better with Alaska or JAL.
So I can fly KE first class nyc-icn-tlv one way for 80k ?
same question nyc-icn-tlv one way is 80k or 160k?
thx
@Don and Dov:
Its more than 80k, don’t think its the full 160k, don’t remember off hand. Someone will probably give you more accurate answer soon
What is the lap child costs on award tickets?
@Dov: It will be 160k if you book with KE. KE will look at it as two separate awards so you basically have to pay for two tickets.
@Dan, its worth mentioning that when you have an involuntary long layover (when flying F) KE will give you a free stay at the Hyatt Regency Incheon.