By admin 
From the bustling city streets of Seoul to the sandy beaches of Busan, South Korea has a lot to offer. And although it’s a long (and often expensive) trip from the U.S., you can do it comfortably with your airline miles or credit card points. Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) has direct flights to several North American airports across various South Korean and U.S. airlines, giving you plenty of options.
Here, we’ll discuss the best ways to redeem points and miles for flights from the U.S. to South Korea by airline.
Air Canada
Air Canada operates an extensive route network to most major U.S. cities, which you can use to connect to ICN-bound flights from Air Canada’s hubs. The Canadian flag carrier operates flights from the following cities to ICN:
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Air Canada Aeroplan has an award chart that mixes dynamic pricing with fixed rates, so shorter flights cost fewer points but can still range in price. Don’t expect any great deals, though. The cheapest flights we could find are on the YVR-to-ICN route, with economy class starting at 82,400 points, premium economy starting at 139,700 points and business class starting at 182,000 points. You’ll pay roughly $44 in taxes on ICN-bound flights and $17 on Canada-bound flights.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is launching flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to ICN this September using Hawaiian Airlines aircraft. Flights are bookable with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Economy class starts at 37,500 miles and business class starts at 250,000 miles, plus $5.60 in taxes on ICN-bound flights and roughly $35 in taxes on flights to SEA. We’re hopeful that business-class award rates will drop over time.
Hawaiian Airlines also flies from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to Seoul. Rates are more reasonable, with economy class starting at 35,000 miles and business class starting at 65,000 miles on many dates. Taxes and fees are the same: $5.60 when departing HNL and $35 when departing ICN.
You can transfer Bilt Rewards Points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Hawaiian Airlines and then transfer those miles to Alaska.
American Airlines
American Airlines serves ICN from its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hub. You can use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book this route for as low as 35,000 miles in economy, 66,000 miles in premium economy or 81,000 miles in business class for the next several months. Still, pricing varies as the AAdvantage program dynamically prices American-operated flights. The good news is that taxes and fees are minimal, especially when departing the U.S. You’ll pay roughly $35 in taxes and fees when flying from ICN to DFW.
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Another good option for booking American flights to Seoul is Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Nonstop flights on the DFW-to-ICN route cost 37,500 miles in economy class and 75,000 miles in business class with minimal taxes and fees.
Those with Capital One miles, American Express Membership Rewards points or Citi ThankYou Rewards points can also use Qantas Frequent Flyer to book these flights. Nonstop flights on this route cost 37,600 points in economy and 94,900 points in business class, and taxes and fees are between $250 and $350 one-way.
Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines is the second-largest airline in South Korea and is in the process of merging with Korean Air. For the time being, however, the airlines operate separately and Asiana is a Star Alliance member (for now). Asiana operates flights from the following airports to ICN:
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
If you have American Express Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards points, Capital One miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your best bet is usually booking with Air Canada Aeroplan. You’ll pay 55,000 points for an economy ticket or 87,500 points for business class from JFK to ICN. West Coast flights are less expensive at 50,000 and 75,000 points in economy and business class, respectively. Taxes and fees range between $50 and $100 per flight.
If you have United Airlines MileagePlus miles, expect to pay 60,500 miles for an economy ticket or 110,000 miles for a business-class ticket in the coming months, plus low taxes and fees. Note that this pricing is the same regardless of the U.S. airport from which you depart.
ANA Mileage Club can present excellent deals as well. If you can find award space, you’ll pay 60,000 miles in economy and 130,000 in business class round-trip from the U.S. to South Korea on Asiana or other Star Alliance airlines. That said, you can only book round-trip tickets (open jaws are allowed) and taxes and fees are moderate. You can transfer Amex points to All Nippon Airways, but transfers take up to 48 hours to process.
Delta Air Lines
Seoul is one of Delta’s main Asian outposts, and you’ll find flights on the airline from the following airports to ICN:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The airline will also start service from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to ICN in the middle of June. Flights on this route are equipped with Delta One business class, though the seat you’ll get varies based on the route you book and the plane that operates it.
Booking these routes with Delta SkyMiles can be a decent option for economy flights, but don’t expect a deal in business class. The loyalty program prices award tickets dynamically. In our research, nonstop tickets on ICN-bound flights from various U.S. airports start at 68,000 miles in Main Cabin economy, 105,000 miles in Premium Select (premium economy) and 160,000 miles in Delta One business class. You can save 15% if you have a Delta cobranded credit card.
Other booking options include Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. However, no award space was available in business on the routes we searched. It’s worth checking these partners before booking with Delta SkyMiles, as pricing may be lower.
Korean Air
Korean Air is the largest airline in South Korea and one of the largest in Asia. It has an extensive global route network from Seoul. It operates flights from ICN to the following airports:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Related: Korean Air just made huge changes to its look, dining and inflight amenities
Those with American Express Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points or Citi ThankYou points can transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to book awards on Korean Air. From the East Coast, Korean Air flights cost 37,000 points in economy or 100,000 miles in business class, plus minimal taxes and fees. You can book flights from the West Coast for fewer points — 31,000 in economy and 85,000 in business class — but award space is limited.
The cheapest way to book Korean Air business-class flights with points and miles is with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. You can redeem 37,500 miles for economy class and 75,000 miles for business class from the U.S. to ICN each way. Again, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points directly to Alaska or transfer Amex points to Hawaiian and then transfer those miles to Alaska.
United Airlines
United operates nonstop daily service from SFO to ICN. On this route, you’ll find United Polaris business-class seats, which offer a consistently comfortable experience across the Pacific.
United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing for its own flights, meaning the price you’ll pay varies by route, when you fly and when you book. The lowest prices you’re likely to find on this route are 42,800 miles in economy, 65,000 miles in premium economy or 100,000 miles in business class, plus minimal taxes and fees of $5.60 when departing the U.S. and around $34 in the other direction. You can transfer Chase and Bilt points to United.
As with Asiana flights, Air Canada Aeroplan is often the best deal if you use Amex, Bilt, Capital One or Chase points to book United business-class tickets from SFO to ICN. You’ll pay 50,000 points in economy class or 75,000 in business class, plus roughly $57 in taxes and fees on ICN-bound flights and $70 on U.S.-bound flights.
You can also use ANA Mileage Club to book round-trip flights on this route for 60,000 miles in economy and 130,000 in business class. However, the limitations we discussed when booking Asiana flights with ANA Mileage Club apply here.
Best points hotels in Seoul
Seoul is home to dozens of points hotels spanning all the major hotel loyalty programs. Here’s a look at a few of our favorite properties in the South Korean capital, alongside sample award pricing:
- Andaz Seoul Gangnam: 17,000 to 23,000 World of Hyatt points per night
- Conrad Seoul: From 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night
- Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas: From 44,000 IHG One Rewards points per night
- JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul: From 47,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
- Park Hyatt Seoul: 21,000 to 29,000 World of Hyatt points per night
- Voco Seoul Gangnam: From 26,000 IHG One Rewards points per night
Credit cards to bring to South Korea
Traveling to South Korea means paying in South Korean won, so you should travel with a credit that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. This will help you save money on your trip and earn rewards toward your next trip.
Some cards to consider include:
Related: Types of cards you should pack for your next trip abroad
Bottom line
It’s a long flight from the U.S. to South Korea, but having points and miles available makes it easier to fly there comfortably without breaking the bank. If you plan to book any of the flights on this list with your points, start your searches early, as award space is booked quickly, especially in business class.
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