Via The Points Guy, you can fly from 5 US cities to Beijing in coach starting at just $447 round-trip in coach!
I found flights from Boston to Beijing $484 on March 24, 2017. This fare is valid for travel through April 2017.
Here are the details. And how to search for deals from your city!
How to Book It
Link: ITA Matrix
Link: Google Flights
Link: The Points Guy
Five airlines have released big sales to Beijing from 5 US cities. You can currently fly to Beijing in coach from:
- Boston (starting at $484 round-trip)
- Chicago (starting at $508 round-trip)
- San Diego (starting at $523 round-trip)
- San Francisco (starting at $483 round-trip)
- Seattle (starting at $447 round-trip)
There are plenty of available dates open through April (and a FEW in May) 2017. Even if you aren’t interested in visiting Beijing, this could be a cheap way to fly to Asia and buy cheap airfare to another destination.
You can check The Points Guy for how to book. Or see my posts for how to use Google Flights and ITA Matrix to find sale dates.
Then book directly on the website of the airline you want, or a site like Orbitz, Expedia, etc.
If you book a ticket with an online travel agency like Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline you may be eligible for a refund within a short time of booking your ticket. Check out my post on cancellation policies for airlines and online travel agencies for more details!
Folks with the Southwest Companion Pass could fly to these departure cities very cheaply. That’s because with the Companion Pass, your companion flies with you for almost free on both paid and award tickets. So even if you aren’t in these 5 cities, you can get there for cheap!
Delta Tips
Folks with AMEX Delta SkyMiles cards can get 1 free checked bag for yourself and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
Note: You can cancel a Delta booking by midnight the day after you bought your ticket and get a full refund.
United Airlines Tips
Don’t forget to use your Chase United Explorer card to pay for your tickets if you want your first bag checked for free.
The free bag applies to the cardholder and 1 traveling companion, but you have to travel together on the same reservation.
Note: You can cancel a United Airlines booking 24 hours after you book to get a full refund.
Hotel Information
If you book a sale flight, remember there are lots of ways to get cheap or free hotel rooms with points from credit card bonuses and spending.
Check out my favorite Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Starwood hotels in Asia!
To find hotels that can be booked with points, I use Hotel Hustle (which even shows you if rooms are actually available!) or AwardMapper.
Remember, you can transfer flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards to different hotel programs.
Note: If you prefer to book paid stays, check out discount sites like Orbitz, Expedia, or TravelPony for deals. But remember you won’t get stay credits or points (and might not have your elite status recognized!).
Airbnb is another terrific way to save money on accommodations, especially for longer stays. Here are some tips on how to negotiate a better Airbnb price, and how to find a safe and comfortable Airbnb.
Use a Credit Card That Earns Bonus Miles & Points
These cards earn bonus miles or points for paid airfare:
| Card Name | What It Earns |
|---|---|
American Express® Gold Card | - Earn 3X American Express Membership Rewards points for airfare purchased directly from airlines - $100 Airline fee credit. Up to $100 a year for incidental fees with your selected airline - Terms apply |
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | - 3% cash back on airfare purchased directly from airlines on the first $50,000 when you choose this as your 3% cash back category - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | - Earn 5X American Express Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel - $200 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at 1 airline - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard | - Earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases - Use miles for travel statement credits (minimum 10,000 miles for $100) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | - Earn 3 miles per $1 on travel and dining - $300 statement credit for travel purchases per calendar year (including hotels, airfare, etc.) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | - Earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel, including airfare - Here's my review of the card |
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | - Earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, including airfare each year - Here's my review of the card |
| Or pay with an airline credit card for specific perks! |
And if you book a hotel, don’t forget to use one of these cards:
| Card Name | What It Earns |
|---|---|
| SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | - 3% cash back on hotel rooms purchased directly from hotels on the first $50,000 when you choose this as your 3% cash back category - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard | - Earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases - Use miles for travel statement credits (minimum 10,000 miles for $100) - Here's my review of the card |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | - Earn 3 miles per $1 on travel and dining - $300 statement credit for travel purchases per calendar year (including hotels, airfare, etc.) - Here's my review of the card |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | - Earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel, including hotels - Here's my review of the card |
| Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | - Earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, including airfare & hotels each year - Here's my review of the card |
| Or pay with a hotel credit card for specific perks! |
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