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Northeast Asia (Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and northern China) combines futuristic megacities, ancient traditions, and magnificent landscapes. It’s an ideal playground for travellers looking to maximize their points and reduce costs.
The good news is that with Aeroplan, Avios, and flexible travel points, you can cover most of your expenses, including flights, hotels, certain activities, and trains.
This guide shows you how to optimize your rewards for a successful multi-country itinerary in Northeast Asia using points.
From Canada, several direct entry points as well as options with one or two stopovers:
In practice, the most useful programs for transpacific award tickets are Aeroplan and Avios.
Travel points (Scene+, TD Rewards, NBC Rewards, CIBC Aventura, etc.) complement well when cash fares are good or award availability is limited.
Aeroplan remains one of the most versatile options for travelling to Japan, South Korea, and northern China. Thanks to its extensive network, you can combine Air Canada flights with those of its Star Alliance partners, including ANA (All Nippon Airways), United Airlines, Asiana Airlines, or Air China, depending on availability.
This diversity allows for finding optimized itineraries, whether for the flexibility of Air Canada flights or the fixed pricing of partner airlines, which is often more appealing for long-haul flights.
In terms of points, the approximate costs for a one-way flight with an Aeroplan partner are as follows:
Flights operated by Air Canada and United Airlines use dynamic pricing, meaning the number of points required varies based on demand and season. In contrast, flights operated by Star Alliance partners have fixed pricing, providing consistent value, especially for business class bookings.
One of the most sought-after opportunities in the Aeroplan program involves business class with ANA to Japan, departing from Vancouver or Seattle. For only 55,000 Aeroplan points one-way, you can reach Tokyo in one of the best business classes in the world.
This fixed rate is particularly attractive, as it does not fluctuate with the season and offers optimal comfort on long-haul flights. ANA is renowned for its refined service, ranging from fully flat bed seats to meticulously presented gourmet meals, blending Japanese and Western cuisine.
However, these ANA business class flights are not always visible on the Aeroplan website. The method involves searching for availability on United MileagePlus, where ANA shares its award seats with Star Alliance partners.
Once the flight is found, simply call the Aeroplan contact center to make the booking. While it’s a bit more work, this trick allows you to transform a 110,000 United miles ticket into just 55,000 Aeroplan points, thus offering excellent value for a transpacific journey.
To maximize your chances of finding these seats, it’s best to be flexible with your travel dates, avoid peak periods like Golden Week or cherry blossom season, and book as soon as seats are released, usually about 11 to 12 months in advance.
One of the great strengths of the Aeroplan program is the ability to add a stopover at a low cost before continuing your journey. For only 5,000 additional points, you can spend a few days in Tokyo or Seoul before continuing to Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, or any other destination in Northeast Asia.
This option transforms a simple flight into a two-destination mini-adventure for almost the price of one. Imagine arriving in Tokyo, exploring iconic districts like Shibuya, Asakusa, or Akihabara, tasting authentic ramen, and visiting an onsen, then catching your flight to Mongolia or northern China for natural landscapes contrasting with what you just experienced in the big city! All this without having to buy a second ticket and with your Aeroplan points maximized.
In practice, this stopover not only reduces the overall cost of your trip compared to booking two separate flight segments. It also enhances your travel experience by allowing you to visit two major cities in Northeast Asia on the same itinerary, all while making the most of your points.
Similarly, if your main goal is to visit only Japan, you can make a stopover in Tokyo before continuing to your final destination in Osaka. This stopover costs just 5,000 additional points, while a train ride between the two cities could easily cost $150 or more.
In the same vein, you can use this feature to create an itinerary, for example, Tokyo – Osaka (stopover) – Seoul (final destination). This allows you to visit multiple cities while saving points, instead of booking separate tickets for each segment.
To travel to Northeast Asia without breaking your budget, it’s important to quickly build up an Aeroplan points balance. Aeroplan credit cards offer generous welcome bonuses and allow you to earn points on your daily spending.
You can also transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio to quickly top up your balance.
Furthermore, Aeroplan regularly offers points purchase promotions with bonuses, ideal if you’re just below the threshold needed for an award ticket. By combining these strategies, it becomes possible to book your flights, even in business class or on highly sought-after itineraries, quickly and efficiently.
The Avios program, used by British Airways Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, can be a very effective tool for travelling to Northeast Asia, especially for short or regional segments. Avios are particularly useful for intra-Japan flights, for example, between Tokyo and Sapporo, Osaka, or Fukuoka. Plus, there are no taxes on award tickets in Japan.
These short trips can often be covered with a relatively low number of points, allowing you to maximize the value of your rewards, especially in economy class.
For transpacific trips, you can expect to need around 50,000 Avios points for a Montreal-Doha-Tokyo itinerary, for example, in economy class, or 100,000 points for the famous Qsuite. However, standard prices are often limited, and “flexi” fares require double the points, as can be seen in the following screenshot:
There are also interesting opportunities via bonus transfers from RBC Avion Rewards. Typically, once or twice a year, these transfers offer a bonus of up to 35%, which can significantly increase the number of Avios available and make some previously expensive itineraries much more affordable.
By planning your transfers during these promotions, you can cover regional segments or even cross-border flights, such as Tokyo to Seoul on JAL, while maximizing the value of your points.
Cash tickets for Northeast Asia can vary considerably depending on the time of year. School holiday periods or peak tourist season, such as cherry blossom season (sakura), summer, or year-end holidays, quickly drive up fares.
Under these conditions, award ticket availability may be limited even when using a tool like Roame, dynamic point pricing from airlines like Air Canada or United Airlines may be high, or a cash fare may remain competitive.
In these situations, it often makes more sense to use your travel points to cover your tickets. If you are willing to travel during the low season, such as in January, and don’t mind flights with layovers, you can find very affordable fares. Having visited Japan during this time myself, I can say the weather is cool but pleasant.
One of the main advantages of travel points is flexibility. Unlike traditional loyalty programs tied to a specific airline or alliance, you can book any airline or route, whether it’s a direct flight or one with connections. You can even use your points with low-cost or regional airlines that aren’t part of programs like Aeroplan or Avios.
These low-cost airline tickets can sometimes be extremely affordable, making it less advantageous to use your Aeroplan or Avios points, as you won’t get optimal value for your points.
Travel points can be used to pay for the ticket in cash, then applied as a credit to your statement, which simplifies cost management. Additionally, if your flight is operated by a traditional airline like ANA, you continue to earn points on your flight, allowing you to maximize your rewards on every expense.
The most useful Canadian programs for this type of strategy include Scene+, TD Rewards, NBC Rewards, CIBC Aventura, BMO Rewards, etc., when used via partner booking portals. These platforms often allow you to book flights, hotels, and certain activities, all while applying your points as credit. Here is an example of using TD Rewards points to book a flight between Tokyo and Osaka.
However, it is essential to systematically compare the cash cost and the point cost before booking. Depending on the season, availability, and fare, some options may offer better value than others. By maintaining this analytical approach, you can strategically use your travel points to cover your tickets, optimize your rewards, and reduce your expenses, even when traditional award flights are difficult to obtain.
In Japan, the Shinkansen remains the most practical option for intercity travel, such as Tokyo–Osaka or Tokyo–Kyoto (though not necessarily the least expensive compared to low-cost airlines or award flights). The trains are punctual, fast, and offer exceptional comfort. Tickets can be paid with a rewards card and reimbursed with travel points, such as with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.
For domestic flights, Avios is especially valuable on oneworld airlines like Japan Airlines. Short routes between Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, or Fukuoka require few points and offer an excellent alternative to travelling by train, especially if you’re short on time or want to combine a longer itinerary booked with Aeroplan.
Even domestic flights operated by ANA can sometimes be booked with Aeroplan, but the frequency and convenience of the Shinkansen usually make it the most efficient (and most environmentally friendly) option for most travellers, even if it is a bit more expensive. However, always check with low-cost airlines as their fares can be very low and may turn out to be the best value.
In South Korea, the KTX, the high-speed train, connects Seoul to Busan, Gwangju, or Daegu in a few hours. Paying for your tickets with an eligible card and reimbursing them with travel points is often simpler and more economical than resorting to domestic flights, which are only truly useful for reaching more distant destinations, such as Jeju Island. Classic points programs generally do not cover these short flights, making travel points the most flexible solution.
In northern China, the vast high-speed rail network connects Beijing to Tianjin, Harbin, or other regional cities. It’s ideal for visiting one of the wonders of the world, the Great Wall, which is near Beijing. Tickets can be purchased via recognized platforms and reimbursed with travel points, as in Japan and Korea.
In Mongolia, options are more limited but unique. To travel from Ulaanbaatar to the provinces, regional flights operated by MIAT are fast but difficult to book with alliance programs, making travel points essential. The Trans-Mongolian (or Trans-Siberian) train offers an immersive and cultural experience, but connections are long and less frequent. Travel points can finance these atypical journeys, while offering great booking flexibility.
To maximize your points during stays in Northeast Asia, the Marriott Bonvoy program is an excellent option. In Japan, Marriott is well-established in cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, while in South Korea, Seoul and Busan are well-served. In Beijing, many international chains are present, but Ulaanbaatar lacks Marriott representation.
To optimize your points, prioritize stays of five nights or more, benefiting from the fifth night free offered by Marriott Bonvoy. This can significantly reduce the point cost, especially in large cities with high rates.
The annual Free Night Award certificates offered by certain cards like the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card and the Marriott Bonvoy® Business American Express®* Card are particularly advantageous in Tokyo, Kyoto, Seoul, and Beijing, offering an excellent return on investment, especially in well-located hotels or during periods of high demand. Don’t forget that you can also combine points and certificates.
To explore easily, base yourself in cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Seoul and use trains to visit the surroundings, thus limiting hotel changes. Combine Marriott Bonvoy with other travel points solutions for unique local experiences, such as a ryokan in Japan or a guesthouse in Mongolia, to enjoy comfort, flexibility, and cultural immersion.
In Northeast Asia, the choice of independent accommodations is vast, ranging from traditional ryokans in Japan to Korean guesthouses, boutique hotels in Beijing, and apartments in Mongolia. These options often offer a more personalized local experience than chain hotels.
To maximize your points, book through platforms like VRBO or Airbnb, or directly with the establishment, using a credit card eligible for travel points. You can then use your points for a statement credit.
In Japan, staying in a ryokan is a must-do experience. These traditional inns offer much more than just accommodation: you sleep on a tatami, enjoy onsen baths, and savour a refined kaiseki dinner served directly in your room. The average rate starts around $200 per person per night, but can vary depending on the level of luxury and location. Using your travel points to cover part or all of this stay makes this traditional experience much more affordable and allows you to discover an authentic aspect of Japanese culture without straining your budget.
This approach also works for other countries in the region. In South Korea, guesthouses or boutique hotels often offer a unique cultural immersion, while in Mongolia, some lodges or guesthouses allow you to discover the vast steppes while enjoying considerable comfort. You therefore gain flexibility, savings, and authentic experiences, which is particularly valuable during a multi-destination trip in Northeast Asia.
When most people think about travel points or credit cards, they often only consider using them for flights. However, you can also maximize your rewards by booking activities, tours, and excursions once you arrive at your destination. Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, and northern China offer a wide range of exceptional cultural and natural experiences, from hiking Mount Fuji or exploring Japanese national parks to visiting ancient temples, Mongolian villages, and historic Chinese cities.
By using your points for these activities, you reduce your on-site costs while continuing to accumulate more if you pay with the right card.
Northeast Asia is a region where distances can be significant and where some tourist infrastructures remain centralized in large cities. Organized small-group tours can help discover must-see sights and less accessible areas.
Agencies like G Adventures offer multi-country itineraries that cover several regions. Payments made through their platforms are generally recognized as travel expenses by most Canadian points programs. You can thus book a complete tour and apply your points as a statement credit, significantly reducing the total cost of the adventure.
If you prefer to book your activities as you go, platforms like Civitatis or GetYourGuide offer a wide variety of options in the region’s main cities. Day trips, skip-the-line tickets for temples or attractions, and cultural activities are often eligible for reimbursement via travel points, depending on the card used. This approach is ideal for those who wish to remain flexible and organize their itinerary according to their travel pace.
Travelling in Northeast Asia requires good preparation, and comprehensive travel insurance is an essential element. Healthcare systems in Mongolia or rural areas of China can be limited, and emergency medical expenses can quickly become very high. Domestic flights or inter-country travel can also experience delays or cancellations, which makes insurance even more important.
Many Canadian credit cards already offer coverage if you pay for all or part of your trip with the card. Common protections include:
It is important to read the conditions carefully, as some cards require the entire trip (flight + accommodation) to be paid with the card, limit the age of travellers, or exclude certain sports and activities, such as high-altitude trekking or skiing.
If your card’s protection is not sufficient, or if you are planning an extended trip through several countries in Northeast Asia, an independent insurance like SoNomad can be an excellent solution. This insurance is particularly suitable for:
SoNomad often offers more competitive premiums than traditional airline or travel agency insurance, while guaranteeing extensive coverage suitable for complex international travel.
Travelling in Northeast Asia with your points and miles allows you to cover flights, accommodations, trains, and activities while making the most of your budget. Whether you’re heading to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, or northern China, combining reward flights, strategic stopovers, high-speed trains, and points-based accommodations gives you a rich and flexible multi-country itinerary.
By planning your travels, using the right programs, and arranging appropriate travel insurance, you transform your points into an economical and unforgettable adventure, while fully enjoying the best of each country.
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