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I am visiting Taipei this summer (2024), using travel miles and points.
Taipei is one of my favorite Asian metropolitan cities.
With its night markets, bustling streets, and rich cultural heritage, it’s a must-visit destination for any traveler.
One of my favorite things about Taipei is the food scene.
From street vendors selling delicious fried snacks to restaurants serving dim sum, boba, and traditional dishes, there’s something for every palate.
I’m looking forward to this trip- it will be my second visit to this vibrant city.
In this blog post, I’ll share details about how I booked my return flight from Taipei back to the West Coast of the US using travel miles and points.
Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group
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Hat Tips
Thanks to @passionforpoints from Lets Get To The Points, I found an aspirational award redemption on Starlux, Taiwan’s newest airline, from San Francisco to Taipei, using Alaska miles.
Unfortunately, I have been unsuccessful in finding a flight back home to San Francisco.
Despite monitoring award availability for months, I have found no decent flights between Asia and the West Coast for Summer 2024.
Meanwhile, I booked a round-the-world itinerary as my backup plan using a combination of Flying Blue and American Airlines miles instead.
This itinerary would involve flying from Taipei to Amsterdam, where I plan to stay for a few days. Then, I would continue across the Atlantic back to San Francisco.
However, this route would have cost a whopping 137,500 miles and approximately $400 in taxes.
After seeing several alerts on Instagram (hat tip to @travelmugpoints and @findflightsforme) that China Airlines released business class award seats between Taipei and the West Coast, I quickly searched for available space for my August 2024 dates.
I was thrilled to find available China Airlines business class award space between Taipei and Seattle for just 83,000 Flying Blue miles and about $114.40 in taxes.
I finally found a flight that would not only take me home but also save me a lot of time, money, and miles.
How I Booked?
Since China Airlines is Air France/KLM’s Sky Team partner, I knew I could use my Flying Blue miles to book China Airlines award flights.
I initially searched for flights to SFO, my home airport, but it would have cost over 150,000 Flying Blue miles for a non-direct option.
I also considered flights from TPE to LAX and ONT, which were around 93000 miles.
When I saw that the Taipei to Seattle business class seats required only 83,000 Flying Blue miles, I booked it immediately.
The images below show how my search looked using the Air France app.
I earn my travel points and miles from credit card welcome offers. Almost my entire stash of Flying Blue miles was from credit card transfer bonuses. We announce transfer bonuses in the Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group.
The Flight Details (FAQS)
| Redemption | Details |
|---|---|
| Miles Used | Flying Blue Miles |
| Airline | China Airlines |
| Aircraft | A350 |
| Number of Miles | 83,000 Flying Blue Miles |
| Taxes | $115 |
| Cabin | Business Class |
| Booked on | March 2024 |
| Departure Date | August 2024 |
| How to Earn Flying Blue Miles | Transfer Bank Points to Flying Blue |
| Which Bank Points | Specific Credit Cards from Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi & Bilt |
| How to Book | Air France app Air France website Air France agent 1 (800) 237-2747 1 (800) 375-8723 |
| Seat Selection | Call Air France at 1 (800) 237-2747 |
Itinerary Map
| Flight | Route | Miles | Airline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SFO-TPE | 75,000 Alaska Miles & $18.10 in Business Class | Starlux |
| 2 | TPE-SEA | 83,000 Flying Blue Miles & $115 on Business Class | China Airlines |
| 3 | SEA-SFO | 5,000 Alaska Miles & $5.60 on Economy | Alaska |
| Total | 163,000 Miles & $138.70 |
Seat Selection
| Seat Selection | Datapoint |
|---|---|
| How to Select | Air France can choose the seats even though they will first ask you to call China Airlines. Air France: 1 (800) 237-2747 |
| Aircraft | A350-900 |
| Seat Selected | 10K (Bulkhead) |
| Confirmation | I got an email confirmation that my seat was successfully selected. |
Credit Cards that Earn Flying Blue Miles (Air France/KLM)
One way to accumulate Flying Blue miles is by transferring points from travel credit cards.
This is arguably the easiest method to earn Flying Blue miles.
The table below summarizes some of the best credit cards that transfer directly to Flying Blue.
| Travel Credit Cards |
|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
| American Express Membership Rewards 1 American Express Membership Rewards Points = 1 Flying Blue Miles |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express The Platinum Card® from American Express American Express® Gold Card American Express® Business Gold Card The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
| Capital One Venture Miles 1 Capital One Venture Mile = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Business Capital One Spark Miles for Business |
| Bilt Rewards 1 Bilt Rewards Point = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Bilt Rewards Points |
| Citi Thankyou 1 Citi Thankyou Point = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Citi Premier® Card |
Stacking Opportunities
Stack 1: Transfer Bonuses
Flying Blue transfer partners like Chase, American Express, BILT, Citi, and Capital One frequently provide transfer bonuses.
These bonuses can quickly boost your Flying Blue miles, allowing you to accumulate a significant stash in no time.
We announce transfer bonuses in the Travel Miles & Points Facebook Group.
It’s free to join!
| Current Transfer Bonus | Transfer | With Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| 25% bonus: Chase to Flying Blue | 67,000 | 83,750 |
Stack 2: Free Stopovers
Flying Blue has recently introduced a fantastic new feature for award flights – free stopovers!
Now, you have the opportunity to explore multiple destinations in one trip, adding an exciting twist to your travel plans.
Of course, this is all subject to award space availability.
Stopovers can now be booked on all Flying Blue partner airlines up to 365 days before the last segment of the flight.
To take advantage of this perk, give Flying Blue a call at 1 (800)-375-8723, and their agents will be able to assist you in adding stopovers to your itinerary.
| Example Itineraries with Stopovers |
|---|
| SFO-TPE (free stopover in Taipei for a week or a month) TPE-MNL (final destination) |
| JFK-AMS (free stopover in Amsterdam for 2 weeks or longer) AMS-TPE (final destination) |
| TPE-SFO (free stopover in San Francisco for 3 days) SFO-JFK (final destination) |
Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Miles earned from flying and transferred from credit cards will expire after two years.
However, you can extend their validity by taking another flight and crediting those miles to your Flying Blue account.
Remember, flights operated by Air France, KLM, or any of their partner airlines qualify for this extension.
Additionally, if you make purchases using an eligible co-branded credit card, the expiration of your miles will be extended by two years.
This way, you can make the most of your earned miles and enjoy the rewards for longer.
Since Flying Blue miles expire, we do not recommend transferring speculatively unless you have a flight redemption in mind.
Final Thoughts
One of the benefits of learning how credit card points work is the ability to use travel points and miles to fly business class on different airlines.
This China Airlines redemption from Taipei to Seattle using Flying Blue Miles exemplifies how credit card points can be maximized to fly luxuriously without breaking the bank.
Overall, taking advantage of travel rewards programs through credit cards can significantly enhance your travel experience while saving you a substantial amount of money.
So, the next time you plan a trip, consider using travel points and miles for a more affordable yet luxurious journey.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE – Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. The content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
