For budget-conscious miles enthusiasts, Alaska Airlines (AS) Mileage Plan is undeniably the ultimate secret weapon for redeeming STARLUX Airlines award tickets.
The true magic of the AS Mileage Plan lies in two core advantages: exceptionally generous distance-based award pricing and free stopovers on one-way awards. By strategically combining these rules, you can unlock incredible fifth-freedom or multi-city itineraries to visit two countries and enjoy a 14-day stopover in Taiwan, all at a fraction of the cost.
Why Target “Under 1,500 Miles”?
Alaska Airlines enforces strict distance tiers on its partner award chart for Intra-Asia travel (including STARLUX). The 1,500-mile threshold is the critical sweet spot that dictates your redemption cost:
| Total Flight Distance | Economy Class | Business Class |
| Under 1,500 miles | 7,500 miles | 15,000 miles |
| Over 1,500 miles | 15,000 miles | 50,000 miles |
Note: Once total distance crosses 1,500 miles, the Business Class requirement skyrockets from 15,000 to 50,000 miles! Keeping total itinerary distance strictly under 1,500 miles is the ultimate secret code to enjoying two boutique STARLUX Business Class segments for just 15,000 miles (or 7,500 miles in Economy).
Master the Rules: Booking Ex-HUB “Outstation” Tickets with a Free 14-Day Stopover
AS allows one free stopover per one-way award ticket at its hub (Taipei/TPE or Taichung/RMQ). Stopovers can range from a few days to several weeks (a 14-day stopover is the most practical choice aligning with local entry regulations).
Rule Constraints & Route Setup:
- No intra-country origin/destination: Departure Point A and Destination B cannot be in the same country/region (e.g., Japan to Japan does not qualify as an international itinerary, and even if it prices, it will be charged as a round-trip ticket).
- Segment A: Country A ➔ Taipei (TPE) / Taichung (RMQ)
- [Stopover in Taiwan for up to 14 days] (head home to rest or explore Taiwan before flying out)
- Segment B: Taipei (TPE) / Taichung (RMQ) ➔ Country B
Featured Itineraries: Under 1,500 Miles List
All itineraries below remain under 1,500 miles total and strictly meet international/inter-regional routing rules. They can be booked for just 7,500 miles (Economy) or 15,000 miles (Business):
1. Hong Kong (HKG) Departure
- HKG-TPE-SHI
- HKG-TPE-OKA
- HKG-TPE-CRK
- HKG-TPE-MNL
- HKG-TPE-FUK
- HKG-TPE-PUS
- HKG-TPE-KMJ
2. Macau (MFM) Departure
- MFM-TPE-SHI
- MFM-TPE-OKA
- MFM-TPE-CRK
- MFM-TPE-MNL
- MFM-TPE-FUK
- MFM-TPE-PUS
- MFM-TPE-KMJ
3. Shimojishima (SHI) Departure
- SHI-TPE-HKG
- SHI-TPE-MFM
- SHI-TPE-CRK
- SHI-TPE-MNL
- SHI-TPE-PUS
- SHI-TPE-HAN
- SHI-TPE-DAD
- SHI-TPE-CEB
4. Okinawa (OKA) Departure
- OKA-TPE-HKG
- OKA-TPE-MFM
- OKA-TPE-CRK
- OKA-TPE-MNL
- OKA-TPE-PUS
- OKA-TPE-HAN
- OKA-TPE-DAD
- OKA-TPE-CEB
5. Macau (MFM) Departure – via Taichung (RMQ)
- MFM-RMQ-SHI
- MFM-RMQ-OKA
- MFM-RMQ-PUS
- MFM-RMQ-KMJ
Sweet Spot Glitch: Borderline Sweet Spots (KIX / UKB)
Based on theoretical Great Circle Distance calculations, routes paired with Kansai/Kobe slightly exceed the 1,500-mile mark:
- HKG/MFM-TPE-KIX/UKB
Technically, exceeding 1,500 miles should push Business Class pricing up to 50,000 miles. However, actual system tests on the Alaska Airlines website reveal that these near-boundary international combinations currently still price at the lower 7.5k / 15k tier!
This system calculation buffer acts as a hidden bonus, letting you fly highly popular routes like Hong Kong/Macau ➔ Taipei ➔ Osaka (KIX) / Kobe (UKB) in STARLUX Business Class at an ultra-sweet price.
Booking Tips & Reminders
- Use Multi-City Search: On the Alaska Airlines website, switch your search mode to Multi-city.
- Segment 1: HKG ➔ TPE (Date: Day 1)
- Segment 2: TPE ➔ KIX (Date: Day 15)
- The system will automatically generate the STARLUX Business Class itinerary for 15,000 miles + taxes.
- Positioning Flights Required: Since these are ex-hub/outstation itineraries, remember to purchase separate positioning flights (using low-cost carriers or standard one-way tickets) to cover your positioning legs (e.g., a cheap one-way ticket from Taiwan to Hong Kong to start your journey).