Project Squeeze Miles 2012 - (1) Introduction

All these begins with Singapore Airlines' 40th anniversary for their Singapore - Osaka Commemorative flights.

From 10 to 15th August 2012, SQ will be operating A380 instead of the usual A330 for the route, and hopefully there will be some kind of commemorative events going on, or at least gifts and souvenirs to take home. Therefore I have booked a seat in Business Class on SQ618 on the 10th August SIN-KIX, and the return SQ619 on 15th August, the first and last day of the A380 service respectively.

To squeeze an extra flight sector based on the same miles, I have added Kuala Lumpur sectors before and after the SIN-KIX flights, which are SQ117 KUL-SIN and SQ118 SIN-KUL respectively.

As I am based in Hong Kong, I have to first position myself to KUL to begin these flights. Over the decade I have accumulated a number of UA Mileage Plus miles from flying on United Airlines, as well as paid huge sum to transferred from relatives' dormant account both to preserve their miles and create an "account activity" to extend the expiration date of my miles. With the absurd amount of money spent just to transfer things which I (precisely my  relatives) own, I have decided to take the most out of it. Originally I planned to use them for SIN-NRT return on J but the 311 Northeastern earthquake messed up my plan, but that had eventually gave me a chance to better use my miles.

Thanks to UA's latest online booking system after merging with Continental, the system can now search and book Star Alliance award flights online, and this seems to offer even more options than the "ANA Tool" which I had been using before. I had considered abandoning my Mileage Plus account after I have spent all accrued miles and concentrate on SQ Krisflyer, but now I have changed my mind. The best thing about this system is it allows customer to choose flight combinations with multiple transits even though there are direct flights available, and such combination allows backtrack to a certain extent. There was nothing more exciting than finding out I could do HKG-SIN (intra-South Asia according to UA award system, i.e. 17500 miles one-way in Business Class) via Seoul Incheon, this consists of a Thai Airways (TG) flight HKG-ICN, and Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight from ICN-SIN. In short, I have redeemed two North Asia <--> South Asia flights at the cost of one intra-South Asia flight, and not to mention TG being famous for their catering quality, SQ for their inflight service, and Asiana Lounge at Seoul Incheon.

Since this trip is aimed to keep flight cost low, the SIN-KUL positioning flight will be by Air Asia. With the zero air fare, after adding up all sorts of levies and fees, bags and meals, they come to a total of SGD69, still quite a good deal considering SQ charges far more than this amount under the name of "carrier surcharge" after I have added the SIN-KUL "free" sectors on top of the SIN-KIX flights.

For the final flights after returning from Osaka to Kuala Lumpur, I have chosen to fly 3 flights from KUL to HKG, on Thai Airways, firstly KUL to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Seoul and then Seoul to Hong Kong. Again booked with 17,500 miles with United Airlines. I would never be able to make such routing before their new system in place, calling their hotline will only result in the most direct route.

All except Air Asia's flight will be in Business Class. Some may wonder what's the fun to spend time sitting on a plane but that's what makes me an aviation enthusiast, and considering these flights are in premium cabins, they are instead rather pleasurable experience.

For most who have lost their mind in figuring what exactly my flights are, here are the details:


07/AUG TG628 HKG-ICN
08/AUG SQ603 ICN-SIN
08/AUG AK726 SIN-KUL
09/AUG SQ117 KUL-SIN
10/AUG SQ618 SIN-KIX
15/AUG SQ619 KIX-SIN
15/AUG SQ118 SIN-KUL
19/AUG TG418 KUL-BKK
20/AUG TG658 BKK-ICN
20/AUG TG629 ICN-HKG


Total Mileage Used:
35,000 UA Mileage Plus
68,000 SQ Krisflyer

Total Cost (Things not included in mileage redemption, including AirAsia's flight):
HKD 4,215 (with SQ's "carrier surcharge" contributed HKD 3,443.63, which is crazily disproportional in my opinion)


I have run some dummy booking for these flights and check how much cash would I need if I am to resemble an exact itinerary, the answer is a whopping HKD 51,713 (approx USD 6,668)

For those interested in flight distance covered, great circle kilometres is 24,305km.

Fingers crossed for everything going on fine and smooth :)