Award prices, routes and transfer ratios change often — search the live price before you move any points.
San Francisco is United's transpacific hub and the US airport with the widest spread of Asian nonstops: Tokyo (both airports), Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and four mainland Chinese cities. Almost every major Asian carrier flies in — ANA, JAL, Korean, Asiana, EVA, China Airlines, Starlux, Cathay Pacific, Singapore, Philippine and Vietnam Airlines — so SFO is the best place in the country to use points to Asia.
Advertiser disclosure: we may be compensated when you're approved through our links. It doesn't affect our editorial take.
Quick answer
- Cheapest economy route: Aeroplan to Tokyo on ANA or United at 50,000 points one-way, or a dynamic United saver; Zipair and Air Premia are low-cost cash options.
- Best business-class value: ANA to Tokyo via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club — 52,500 points one-way from the West Coast, by phone.
- Best program to collect: Aeroplan and Virgin (both fed by Chase, Amex, Capital One and Bilt), with Atmos as the best route to Cathay, JAL and Starlux.
- Best card: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve for United, Aeroplan and Virgin; Capital One Venture X for Cathay, EVA, JAL and Singapore.
Nonstop flights from SFO
| Route | Airline | Alliance | Book with |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFO–Tokyo HND/NRT, Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing | United | Star Alliance | MileagePlus, Aeroplan, ANA |
| SFO–Tokyo HND/NRT | ANA | Star Alliance | Virgin, ANA, Aeroplan, United |
| SFO–Tokyo HND/NRT | Japan Airlines | oneworld | AAdvantage, Atmos, Cathay |
| SFO–Seoul ICN | Korean Air, Asiana | SkyTeam, Star Alliance | Delta/SkyPass; Aeroplan, United |
| SFO–Taipei TPE | EVA Air | Star Alliance | Aeroplan, United, EVA |
| SFO–Taipei TPE | Starlux, China Airlines | none, SkyTeam | Atmos; Delta, Flying Blue |
| SFO–Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific | oneworld | Atmos, Asia Miles, AAdvantage |
| SFO–Singapore | Singapore Airlines | Star Alliance | KrisFlyer |
| SFO–Manila / Ho Chi Minh City | Philippine / Vietnam Airlines | none / SkyTeam | Mabuhay Miles / Delta |
Also from SFO: Zipair (Tokyo Narita) and Air Premia (Seoul) for cheap cash fares; Air China, China Eastern and China Southern to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan. United adds Sapporo from 11 December 2026 and Okinawa (Naha) from 27 March 2027.
Best ways to book
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (ANA to Tokyo)
52,500 points one-way in ANA business from the West Coast, per Upgraded Points' May 2026 alert. Virgin doesn't show ANA space online: find it on ANA's or United's site, then call. Feeds: Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi and Bilt at 1:1.
Air Canada Aeroplan (ANA, EVA, United, Asiana, Singapore)
Pacific partner awards after the 1 June 2026 chart: 55,000 in business up to 5,000 miles, 85,000 for 5,001–7,500 miles, 102,500 for 7,501–11,000; economy is 32,500 / 50,000 / 65,000. SFO–Tokyo is just over 5,000 miles, so it prices at 85,000 in business; Taipei, Seoul and Hong Kong do too; Singapore is 102,500. No fuel surcharges on partners; United's own flights are dynamic. Feeds: Chase, Amex, Capital One and Bilt at 1:1.
Atmos Rewards (Cathay, JAL, Starlux)
Atmos prices partners by distance with a free stopover on every one-way award. Asia flights of 5,001–7,000 miles cost 75,000 in business — that covers SFO to Tokyo, Taipei and Hong Kong. AwardFares (July 2026) found Cathay business seats almost nonexistent and Starlux business often pricing around 175,000 live, so treat 75,000 as the target, not the norm. Feeds: Bilt at 1:1.
American AAdvantage (JAL, Cathay)
About 60,000 miles one-way in business to Japan on JAL (Asia Region 1), per third-party charts; Hong Kong prices higher. Feeds: Citi ThankYou at 1:1.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and EVA Infinity MileageLands
Both are the airlines' own programs and often see more of their own seats than partners do. Asia Miles takes Capital One, Citi and Bilt at 1:1 and Amex at 1:0.8; our Cathay First guide covers the top redemption. EVA takes Citi at 1:1 and Capital One at 2:1.5.
Singapore KrisFlyer
The only practical points route to Singapore's SFO–Singapore nonstop. Saver business is about 112,500 miles one-way per a July 2026 third-party check, after KrisFlyer's late-2025 devaluation. Feeds: Chase, Amex, Capital One and Citi at 1:1.
United MileagePlus
United flies more SFO–Asia routes than anyone, all dynamically priced. No fuel surcharges, free changes, and a 10–15% award discount for United cardholders, who also see extra saver space. Feeds: Chase and Bilt at 1:1.
Sweet spots from San Francisco
- ANA business to Tokyo via Virgin for 52,500. The best business value from SFO to anywhere in Asia.
- Atmos with a free stopover. Fly Cathay to Hong Kong or JAL to Tokyo for 75,000 and stop on the way to a second Asian city on the same award.
- JAL via AAdvantage for about 60,000. The Citi points play to Japan.
- Singapore's nonstop on KrisFlyer. One of the longest flights in the world, bookable with all four major bank currencies.
Which card to earn with
| Card | Points | Transfers to | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve | Ultimate Rewards | United, Aeroplan, Virgin, Singapore | United hub flyers |
| Capital One Venture X | Capital One miles | Cathay, EVA, JAL (4:3), Singapore, Aeroplan | Asian carriers' own programs |
| Amex Gold / Platinum | Membership Rewards | ANA, Virgin, Aeroplan, Singapore, Delta | ANA miles |
| Citi Strata Premier | ThankYou | AAdvantage, Cathay, EVA, Singapore | JAL via AAdvantage, EVA at 1:1 |
| Atmos Rewards Summit | Atmos points | Earns Atmos directly | Cathay, JAL, Starlux awards |
Bilt also feeds Atmos, Cathay, JAL, United and Aeroplan at 1:1 — see our Bilt guide. Welcome offers change; check each card page for the current one.
Taxes & surcharges
Most Asia awards from SFO carry modest fees. Aeroplan, United and Virgin (on ANA) add no fuel surcharges; Atmos adds none on most partners; ANA's own taxes run about $250 round-trip. The exceptions are some airline programs booking their own flights and departures from Hong Kong or Tokyo, which add local taxes — compare the cash portion before you transfer.
FAQ
What's the cheapest way to fly SFO to Asia in business on points? ANA to Tokyo via Virgin at 52,500 points one-way. For other cities, Atmos at 75,000 (Hong Kong, Taipei) and Aeroplan at 85,000 are the usual floors.
Which Asian city has the most award space from SFO? Tokyo, with seven nonstop routes across ANA, JAL, United and Zipair. Taipei is next, with EVA, China Airlines, Starlux and United.
Can I use Chase points for Cathay or JAL? No. Use Capital One, Citi or Bilt for Cathay; Citi (via AAdvantage), Capital One or Bilt for JAL.
Did Aeroplan change for Asia? Yes. On 1 June 2026 business for 5,001–7,500 miles rose from 75,000 to 85,000, and 7,501–11,000 rose from 87,500 to 102,500.
Related guides
- Fly to Asia with points
- SFO airport lounges · Centurion Lounge SFO
- Tokyo Haneda lounges · Hong Kong lounges · Singapore Changi lounges
- Singapore Suites · ANA business to Japan
Award prices and availability change daily. Search before you transfer points — transfers are one-way.
