Emirates

Emirates, Thai, ANA: a week in Bangkok with points

To the point Find out how I use Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy points to travel on Emirates, Thai and ANA and stay in Southeast Asia.

The goal: try Emirates business class with Aeroplan points

The purpose of this trip was mainly to try out Emirates’ business class, now that it is possible to use Aeroplan points (and even book First Class).

So when I left Montreal for Nice just before the holidays, it was actually my first flight segment. The second one was in direction of Singapore, a little more than 30 days later.

To book a one-way flight from Montreal to Nice via Munich (a distance of 4,224 miles) would cost me 70,000 Aeroplan points ( North America-Atlantic Flight Reward Cahrt):

aeroplan – amerique nord – atlantique v2 – fr

It made more sense for me to make the most of the Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart by taking advantage of the Aeroplan North America – Pacific Flight Reward Chart (maximizing the 11,000-mile band) AND adding an Aeroplan stopover in Europe for up to 45 days for only 5,000 Aeroplan points:

aeroplan – amerique nord – pacifique v2 – fr

Thus, my trip Montreal – Munich – Nice – Dubai – Singapore has a total distance of 10,833 miles as indicated by GC Map:

yul-muc-nce-dxb-sin – gcmap

The itinerary booked in this way, including the Aeroplan Stopover, allowed me to make “2 trips in 1” while costing me only 97,500 Aeroplan points:

  • 87,500 points for flights between North America and Pacific (up to 11,000 miles)
  • 5,000 points for the Aeroplan Stopover

This means that my flight from Nice to Singapore via Dubai with Emirates only cost me 27,500 Aeroplan points, including the stopover in Nice!

Emirates B777 Classe Affaires-31
Emirates - B777 - Classe Affaires

What’s more, it fulfilled my goal of reviewing on two different Emirates business class experiences:

Aeroplan pricing for Emirates

Please note that since the booking of this flight (December 2022), Emirates-specific Aeroplan pricing has come into effect. This may result in a higher Aeroplan points rate.

Other flights: Using Aeroplan points and a pricing error

Then, to leave Asia, I looked for points fares with Aeroplan, Alaska Mileage Plan, British Airways Executive Club and Asia Miles.

However, my attention was drawn to an unbeatable fare from Jakarta (Indonesia) to New York (USA): $760 US in business class with All Nippon Airways (ANA). This would allow me to test the ANA experience in its relatively new business class, The Room. The requirement is that I had to make the booking with United Airlines.

ana business class the room
ANA - The Room
ana business class the room cabine
ANA - The Room

It was perfect timing: for the past 3 years, I had been using my $250 annual credit from my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to fund my United Travel Bank. So I was able to use $750 US from this travel bank to book this flight!

The same flight would have cost 87,500 Aeroplan points had it been available on my travel dates.

cgk-nrt-hnd-jfk – ana – aeroplan

For the rest, knowing that Thailand is becoming more and more accessible for Canadians (thanks to the new Air Canada flight from Vancouver), Bangkok was a destination of choice in my eyes to “create content”.

So I used Aeroplan points for my flights with Thai Airways between Singapore and Bangkok, then Bangkok and Jakarta. Again, mixing business and economy to relate the different experiences.

sin-bkk – thai – aeroplan
bkk-cgk – thai – aeroplan

Finally, from New York JFK, I chose to book a cash flight with Delta Airlines to Montreal, which will be credited to Flying Blue to eventually allow me to reach Platinum status more easily (allowing me to use Flying Blue Miles to book Air France La Première).

It would have cost me more (and wasted time) to take a cab to La Guardia or Newark to fly with Air Canada or United with Aeroplan points.

Finally, after a week of business meetings in Montreal, I will fly back to Nice on Swiss in business class for 60,000 Aeroplan points.

Here is a summary of the flights made during this trip around the world:

Flight Airline Cost Review
Montreal – Munich – Nice Lufthansa – A350 – Business 92,500 Aeroplan points Review
Nice – Dubai Emirates – B777 – Business Review
Dubai – Singapore Emirates – A380 – Business Review
Singapore – Bangkok Thai Airways – B789 – Business 20,000 Aeroplan points Coming soon
Bangkok – Jakarta Thai Airways – A350 – Eco 12,500 Aeroplan points Coming soon
Jakarta – Tokyo NRT All Nippon Airways – B789 – Business 760 US$ Review
Tokyo HND – New York JFK All Nippon Airways – B777 – Business Review
New York – Montreal Delta Airlines – Business 150 US$ Coming soon
Montreal – Zurich – Nice Swiss – Business 60,000 Aeroplan points Review
yul-muc-nce-dxb-sin-bkk-cgk-tyo-jfk-yul – gcmap

How to earn Aeroplan Points

Other flight options in Asia

Hotels: all ranges of Marriott Bonvoy properties

More and more of you are reading Milesopedia. Whether in Canada, the United States, France or elsewhere in the world! Our hotel reviews – including Marriott Bonvoy – are particularly popular. Yes, we’ll always tell you that it’s best to use points at high-end properties to get the best possible value. However, your needs are different when you travel with your family or are only looking for a classic room.

Thus, via our hotel reviews, we try to answer as well as possible to each need! This trip is a perfect illustration of this with a mix of inexpensive hotels, upscale properties or accommodations suitable for long stays or families:

Hotel Location Cost Review
Element Dubai Airport United Arab Emirates $75 Coming soon
The Westin Singapore Singapore 30,000 points Review
Aloft Bangkok Sukkhumvit 11 Thailand $128 Review
Le Méridien Bangkok Thailand 30,000 points Review
W Bangkok Thailand 30,000 points Review
Sathorn Vista, Bangkok – Marriott Executive Apartments Thailand $130 Review
The St Regis Jakarta Indonesia 32,000 points Review
Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim Indonesia $80 Review
Sanco Inn Grande Tokyo Hamamatsucho Japan $85 Coming soon

 

How to get Marriott Bonvoy points

On-site expenses

No foreign currency conversion fees

5 points per dollar for restaurants

In some situations, it may be worthwhile to pay a 2.5% conversion fee. This is the case with the American Express Cobalt® Card. With this credit card, you can earn 5 points per dollar for purchases made at grocery stores, restaurants and bars.

Although American Express states that purchases must be made in Canada, in reality, the 5 points per dollar earning rate also apply to foreign purchases.

So, knowing that my valuation of Membership Rewards points is around 2 cents per point, 5 points per dollar equals, in my eyes, a return of 10 cents, or 10%. In this case, I agree to be charged a conversion fee of 2.5%!

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
4.2 Milesopedia Rating
Jean-Maximilien Voisine
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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