Central Asia: How to Get There Using Points and Miles

From Canada, there are no direct flights to Central Asia. The main gateways with a single layover from Canada are:

• Istanbul (IST) via Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance)
• Doha (DOH) via Qatar Airways (Oneworld)
• Dubai (DXB) via Emirates

These hubs offer direct connections to several cities in the region: Tashkent, Samarkand, Almaty, Nur-Sultan (Astana), Bishkek, Ashgabat, etc. However, it is also common to have a layover in Europe, although this might add an extra stop to your final destination. Indeed, several European cities are connected to Central Asia, but these routes are not necessarily operated by major alliances (for example, Paris-Tashkent on Uzbekistan Airways).

This setup favours two main loyalty programs: Aeroplan and Avios. Additionally, flexible travel points are useful for itineraries or very low fares that are not optimal for points. To find the best itinerary configuration, use a tool like Flight Connections to determine the precise routes available on your dates.

The Aeroplan program is the most versatile option for reaching Central Asia thanks to Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member whose hub is very well located between Canada and the region.

Turkish Airlines serves many cities in the region, including Tashkent, Almaty, Bishkek, and Ashgabat. From Montreal or Toronto, you can reach Istanbul, either directly from Montreal or via another European hub, then take a direct connection to your Central Asian destination.

Examples of cities served by Turkish Airlines from Istanbul:

Aeroplan fares are distance-based. For example:

• Montreal – Tashkent via Istanbul falls within the 6,001 to 8,000 miles range: thus 55,000 Aeroplan points in economy class (one-way) if you are able to book with a partner that has fixed pricing like Turkish Airlines.
• Turkish Airlines’ renowned business class is 90,000 points in this range.

Take advantage of the Aeroplan stopover on your way! For just 5,000 additional points, you can spend a few days in Istanbul or another European city before continuing on to Central Asia. It’s the perfect way to break up your trip and explore two destinations for the price of one.

If you dream of discovering Central Asia using your Aeroplan points, there are several simple and effective strategies to help you earn points faster. The most important is to subscribe to an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card. These cards regularly offer very generous welcome bonuses, sometimes the equivalent (or almost) of a full round-trip to Central Asia in economy class from the first year. Beyond this initial boost, you’ll continue to earn points on every dollar you spend on everyday purchases like groceries, dining, travel, and more.

Another method is to transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. This opens up even more possibilities, as American Express cards also offer high welcome bonuses. By taking advantage of this flexibility, you can combine the two points ecosystems and quickly increase your Aeroplan balance.

Finally, keep an eye out for occasional promotions offered by Aeroplan for buying points. The program regularly offers additional point bonuses during these campaigns. These opportunities can be particularly advantageous if you already have a precise itinerary in mind and only need a few more miles to make it happen.

The Avios program, used by the British Airways Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, is an excellent option for travelling to Central Asia, especially thanks to the partnership with Qatar Airways. From its Doha hub, Qatar Airways directly serves several major cities in the region and sometimes other destinations depending on the season.

According to my research, I found several availabilities between Montreal and Doha for 35,000 Avios points and between Doha and Tashkent, for example, for 17,500 Avios points in economy class. However, at the time of writing, it was not possible to get a combined result from this search. Using a tool like Roame can greatly help in these situations. Indeed, with a configured alert, Roame will simply send you an email when a flight matching your criteria becomes available if you don’t want to call to try and combine segments that appear separately.

You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards or your RBC Avion Rewards to Avios at a 1:1 ratio. This means that each point accumulated in these programs is equivalent to one Avios once transferred. American Express and RBC credit cards regularly offer significant welcome bonuses, allowing you to quickly build up a sufficient Avios points balance to cover strategic flight segments, for example, between Doha and Tashkent, Almaty, or Bishkek.

Even better: several times a year, RBC Avion bonus transfer promotions offer between 30% and 35% additional points. Specifically, if you transfer 55,000 RBC Avion Rewards points during such a promotion, you will receive up to 74,250 Avios, significantly reducing your actual cost in points.

For a trip to Central Asia, the cash price of an airline ticket generally ranges between $1,800 and $2,000, and can sometimes climb up to $2,500. This means you will need a significant number of travel points to cover these expenses.

Also, it should be noted that travel points (such as American Express Membership Rewards, RBC Avion Rewards, CIBC Aventura, NBC Rewards, Scene+, etc.) are often slower and more difficult to accumulate than Aeroplan or Avios points. The ease and speed of earning points are key factors to keep in mind.

However, sometimes cash fares can be competitive, especially if you’re travelling during the off-season. Otherwise, award seat availability may be limited, particularly if you don’t book well in advance. In these cases, you may need to pay cash for your ticket.

In these situations, using a travel points program offers several advantages:

• Book on any airline or itinerary
• Pay for the ticket with cash, then apply your points as a statement credit
• Additionally accumulate miles from the airline program linked to that flight

However, always compare the cash price and the points cost before booking by using Google Flights or Skyscanner. Depending on the season, availability, and fare, one option may offer better value than the other.

Air connections between Central Asian countries are often limited to regional national airlines, such as Uzbekistan Airways or Air Astana. These carriers are generally not part of major airline alliances, which complicates the use of programs like Aeroplan or Avios.

So, while it can be worthwhile to use Aeroplan or Avios points to get to Central Asia, travel points are generally more suitable if you want to visit several countries in the region during the same trip.

Travel points offer significant flexibility for your internal travel within Central Asia. Unlike traditional points programs, they are not tied to a specific airline alliance and can be used on any carrier, including often isolated national airlines. Their flexibility even extends beyond flights: they can also be used to pay for your train tickets, long-distance bus journeys, or certain excursions booked locally.

Each country has its national airline(s):

• Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan Airways
• Kazakhstan: Air Astana, SCAT Airlines
• Kyrgyzstan: Air Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan: Somon Air
• Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan Airlines

These carriers are not affiliated with a major global alliance, which prevents booking them directly with your Aeroplan or Avios miles.

So, simply use your travel points to purchase tickets with these airlines directly on their websites or through travel rewards platforms, such as Expedia for TD. For example, here’s how you can use TD Rewards Points for a flight on Uzbekistan Airways between Tashkent and Bishkek:

Travel points, such as TD Rewards points, are very easily obtained through credit card subscriptions. Indeed, the TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card consistently offers a generous TD Rewards Points welcome bonus.

In some countries, the train is an essential alternative, for cost, comfort, and cultural experience alike:

• Uzbekistan: The Afrosiyob high-speed train connects Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara in just a few hours
• Kazakhstan: Extensive rail network connecting major cities
• Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan: Some international train routes are available (e.g., Almaty to Tashkent)

Tickets are often affordable ($20 – $50 CAD) and can be purchased online or locally. Travel points allow you to reimburse this type of purchase if the transaction is recognized as “travel” by your card issuer. Also, this type of booking is often done in foreign currencies. Therefore, use your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card to avoid them and to use your Scene+ points to cover these expenses. This is what we did during our trip to Uzbekistan.

The hotel offering in Central Asia mainly consists of independent hotels, small local chains, and a few international establishments in the capitals. Marriott Bonvoy is present, but very limited: mainly Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). For the rest of the region, you will have to make do with independent accommodations, guesthouses, and lodges.

If you have Marriott Bonvoy points, you can use them mainly in Tashkent and Bishkek. These properties can offer good value for your points, especially if you take advantage of the fifth night free benefit with the Bonvoy program. Since the cost of living is low in Central Asia, hotels are also not very expensive in points. However, Bonvoy options outside the capital cities are almost non-existent.

If you are planning a long trip, use your Free Night Award certificate (if you have one from the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^® Card or the Marriott Bonvoy^® Business American Express^® Card) for a stay in Istanbul, Doha, or Europe to break up your journey and add extra comfort to your travels. This certificate can be redeemed at hotels costing up to 35,000 points (or more with points top-up), and often saves you several hundred dollars, delivering much greater value than the card’s annual fee. This is often the best way to maximize the value of your certificate, as hotels in Europe can be very expensive.

Both Marriott Bonvoy American Express cards currently offer generous welcome bonuses, perfect for booking your accommodations in Central Asia or for a night on the way. Check out the current offers here:

In Central Asia, most accommodations consist of guesthouses, small family-run hotels, or independent hotels. As these establishments are generally not affiliated with major international hotel programs, the most practical solution is to use your travel points. You can book via platforms like Booking.com, or directly with the establishment, pay with your travel rewards card, and then apply your points as a statement credit.

This approach offers several advantages. It allows you to choose from a wide variety of accommodations, including unique or rural options such as yurts for a truly local experience, while often enjoying more flexible pricing and cancellation policies. In addition, if you book through a partner platform like Expedia for TD or Scene+ Travel by Expedia, you may also be able to earn additional points.

Regarding on-site payments, it’s important to know that in many secondary cities or rural areas, cash remains the norm. Credit cards are mainly accepted at major hotel chains or establishments located in the capital cities. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is therefore advisable to travel with a reserve of US dollars or local currency, such as the som, tenge, manat, or somoni, depending on the country. For larger expenses, like a private transfer or more expensive accommodation, it’s best to use a card with no foreign transaction fees, such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card. This allows you to minimize transaction fees and maximize your rewards.

When we think of travel points or credit cards, we often imagine airfare. However, it’s also possible to maximize your rewards to book your activities, excursions, and tours once you’re there.

Not only can you save by redeeming your existing points, but you can also continue to earn more if you pay for your activities with the right credit card.

Central Asia is a destination where distances are vast and infrastructure can be limited. That’s why small group tours are very popular, especially for exploring remote regions:

• The Pamir Highway: One of the most spectacular roads in the world, crossing mountains and valleys of Tajikistan
• The Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan with its famous “Door to Hell” (Darvaza crater)
• The Tian Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan for hiking and alpine lake enthusiasts

Agencies, such as G Adventures, offer comprehensive itineraries that cover several countries (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan). Payments made on these platforms are generally eligible as travel expenses with many points programs (NBC Rewards, Scene+, CIBC Aventura, etc.).

You can therefore book a tour, then apply your points as a statement credit, thus significantly reducing the cost of your adventure.

If you prefer to book your activities as you go, platforms like Civitatis or GetYourGuide offer a wide variety of options in the main cities of Central Asia.

Bookings made on these platforms are usually recognized as travel expenses by most card issuers.

These experiences can easily be booked before departure or on the spot, depending on your itinerary. And since they’re often flexible and highly rated, it’s a great way to enhance your trip while maximizing the value of your points.

A trip to Central Asia requires special preparation. Among the essential elements is good travel insurance.

Healthcare systems in the region are often limited, especially outside major cities like Almaty or Tashkent. In case of a medical emergency, it’s not uncommon to need to be transferred to another country to receive adequate care, which can lead to astronomical costs. Furthermore, with sometimes complex air travel and long distances to cover, the risks of delays, cancellations, or lost luggage are higher than elsewhere.

That’s why travelling without insurance in Central Asia is strongly discouraged.

Many Canadian credit cards already offer travel insurance when you pay for part or all of your expenses with the card. This can be a good starting point to protect yourself during your stay in Central Asia.

Here are the most common coverages:

• Emergency medical insurance abroad (often valid for 15 to 25 days for travellers under 65, but shorter coverage periods for those 65 and older)
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance, useful if your flight is canceled or if you need to cut your trip short
• Baggage delay or loss insurance, practical in a region where air connections can be irregular
• Flight delay insurance, which covers your additional expenses if you are stranded in transit

However, the conditions vary greatly depending on the card issuer. Some credit cards require that the entire trip (flights and accommodations) be paid for with the card. Others have age limits, sometimes capping coverage at 65 or 75 years old. Additionally, certain adventure sports such as high-altitude trekking or horseback riding, which are very popular in Central Asia, are often excluded from coverage.

Before you leave, carefully check the terms of your contract, and don’t hesitate to call the insurer associated with your card to find out exactly what is covered… and what is not.

If your credit card’s protection is insufficient, or if you are going on an extended trip through several Central Asian countries, it’s better to consider independent travel insurance.

SoNomad, a Canadian company specializing in travel insurance, is particularly interesting for:

• Long stays (more than 30 days, or even several months)
• Multi-destination trips, very common in Central Asia where several countries are often combined
• Digital nomads who want to remain flexible while being protected

SoNomad generally offers more affordable premiums than insurance sold by airlines or traditional travel agencies, while offering extensive coverage (medical emergencies, cancellation, luggage, etc.).