Saving $20K in fall award travel to Asia

Over a two-week span starting on the week of the American Thanksgiving holiday, Val and I relished flying the world’s (current) longest-in-duration flight from Newark to Singapore, totaling 19.5 hours in Singapore Airlines Business Class. Before boarding, we “booked the cook” to experience fine dining 30,000 feet in the air. Our return trip back to the States via China Airlines was just as gastronomically savory as we were treated to a decadent menu prepared by Le Palais, the only three-star Michelin restaurant in Taiwan. Along the way, we dined in the EWR British Airways Lounge (bland breakfast selections and menu QR codes not in service), SIN SilverKris Lounge (expansive lunch offerings and spacious seating arrangements), and TPE China Airlines VIP Lounge (rich Taiwanese cuisines with clean showering amenities).

Doing the math

The retail value of the trip was worth $20,277.18. When I subtract $966.61 of actual travel expenses, my points hobby netted us $19,310.57 USD in added value for this season of autumn travel. As I mentioned in my Maldives post where I saved over $40K USD, the formula I use to calculate cent per point is: 

• CPP = 100 * (Cash Prize - Expenses) / (Award Prize) 

Flights for two people (spent a total of $236.90 on flights worth $19,154.80): 

• Business class on Singapore Airlines from JFK to TPE retailed for $13,109.80. 
• Redeemed via 318,000 Flying Blue Miles via AmEx MR transfer (and $24.60 in taxes and fees) 
• CPP = 100 * (13,109.80 - 24.60) / (318,000) = 4.11 CPP 
• Business class on China Airlines from TPE to LAX retailed for $6,045. 
• Redeemed via 186,000 Flying Blue Miles via AmEx MR transfer (and $212.30 in taxes and fees) 
• CPP = 100 * ((6,045 + 1,611) - 212.30) / (186,000) = 4.00 CPP 

Lodging in Singapore (spent a total of $213.23 on lodging worth $413.23): 

• Purchased 1 night at Conrad Centennial Singapore in Grand Deluxe King retailed for $413.23 on AmEx Travel Portal 
• Redeemed the AmEx Platinum card’s Fine Hotel and Resorts travel credit of $200.00 

Lodging in Taipei (spent a total of $215.72 on lodging worth $709.15): 

• Purchase 7 nights at Muzik Hotel - Ximen Station Branch for $709.15 on Capital One Travel Portal 
• Redeemed via the $300 travel credit from the Capital One Venture X card 
• Price matched from Priceline listing of $515.72 to secure a $193.43 rebate 

Transit Incidentals (spent a total of $300.76):

• Lyft: $163.88 to and from Newark Airport
• Grab: $57.45 across 6 rides in Singapore
• Uber: $79.43 across 3 rides in Taiwan 

Experiencing the culture

🇸🇬 Singapore in 15 hours

• Evening: Raffles Hotel (Singapore Sling Exhibit), Marina Bay Sands, Gardens By The Bay 
• Morning: Jewel Changi Airport

🇹🇼 Taiwan in 7 days

• Night markets: Huaxi Night Market, Ningxia Night Market, Raohe Night Market, Shilin Night Market 
• Public landmarks: Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Park, National Palace Museum 
• Scenic sights: Shiding District, Beitou District Hot Springs, Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen 
• Recreation: Shine Zen Massage, Clubbing at KOR Taipei, Shopping at Ximending

See more of our trip (lounges, libations, and landmarks) through our eyes on Google Photos.