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As promised in yesterday’s post on the Five Under-Priced Awards on the American Airlines Chart, today I’ll post six under-priced awards on the United chart.

The basic premise of these posts and my post on the Coolest Thing You Can Do with 60,000 Miles was connecting far-flung regions into a single trip by taking advantage of under-priced awards between the regions.

Why American and United awards? Because they can be booked as one way awards, and these THINK BIG trips allow you to see more by booking a series of cheap one way awards.

I’m including the cheapest one way international awards between non-American regions only because the cheapest international awards from the United States are better known.

Hopefully seeing cheap ways to get between South America and Africa or East Asia and Fiji will spur you to THINK BIG and come up with a really creative trip that incorporates both places.

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1. Economy Class: 10,000 Miles Between Central America and Northern South America

or 20,000 miles in Business Class

Between Central America and Northern South America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela), you can fly for only 10,000 United miles in economy or 20,000 in business.

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United partners have hubs in El Salvador, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama, so finding award space is a cinch.

This award could be the way to combine Central America, the Galapagos and South America on a single trip. THINK BIG.

  • What are the other top six under-priced awards on the United Airlines chart? Pay special attention to five and six!

2. Business Class: 45,000 Miles Between South America and Africa

United charges only 45,000 miles in business class between Southern South America and all of Africa.

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The key route is Sao Paulo to Johannesburg on South African Airways. (Last year I flew Buenos Aires to Johannesburg on South African, and here is the trip report, but that route has been terminated.)

South African Business Class, comfortable for lounging, and an angled lie flat bed

From Johannesburg, you can connect anywhere else on the continent for no extra miles.

3. Business Class: 30,000 Miles Between South Asia and Australia/New Zealand

or 17,500 miles in Economy Class

United charges only 30,000 miles in business class between South Asia (Southeast Asia from Hong Kong south) and Australia or New Zealand. Economy is only 17,500 miles each way, but these are some long flights, so treat yourself.

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The key routes are on Thai Airways from Bangkok to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. United also partners with Air New Zealand.

4. Business Class: 40,000 Miles Between North Asia and Australia/New Zealand

or 20,000 miles in Economy Class

United charges only 40,000 miles in business class between North Asia (mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea) and Australia or New Zealand. Economy is only 20,000 miles each way.

This part of the world is served by Asiana (Korea), Thai, Air New Zealand, Singapore, EVA (Taiwan), and Shenzhen Airlines.

5. Business Class: 30,000 Miles Between North Asia and Oceania

or 15,000 miles in Economy Class

United charges only 30,000 miles in business class between North Asia (mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea) and Oceania. Economy is only 15,000 miles each way.

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The amazing thing about these awards are that they allow you to route through Australia and New Zealand for no extra miles. That means you can use these awards for hidden city tickets to Australia or New Zealand.

Or you can get 23 hour layovers in New Zealand on your way to Fiji. Or if you book a roundtrip United award, you could get a stopover in New Zealand on your way to Tahiti.

Air New Zealand serves a wide range of Pacific islands from its hub in Auckland.

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6. Business Class: 30,000 Miles Between Japan and Oceania

or 12,500 miles in Economy Class

From Japan you can book the same awards for 30,000 miles in business class and 12,500 miles in economy.

That means for 27,500 miles total, you can book the following in economy:

  • Tokyo to Queenstown, NZ (stopover)
  • Queenstown to Fiji (destination)
  • open jaw cash ticket to Apia, Samoa
  • Apia, Samoa to Shanghai (destination, open jaw)

Seeing Japan, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and China on one trip. That’s thinking big with miles.

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27.5k United miles. You need a separate cash ticket from Fiji to Samoa and separate awards from home to Asia.

Did any of the routes catch your eye? How can these cheap routes combine with other cheap routes from other mileage programs for THINK BIG trips?

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