1800airfare
Phone-exclusive · 24/7 · Asia specialistsPhone-exclusive booking discountSAVE30
+1 (202) 499-2532

Cheap flights to Asia — Pacific routing for the real cheapest fare

Reviewed by 1-800 Airfare Editorial, Editorial teamLast reviewed

Transpacific fares vary 40-70% by departure coast, connecting hub, and fare class. A framework for finding the cheapest fare to Asia.

Transpacific airfare is where the search box most often picks the wrong answer. A US-to-Asia trip can route via West Coast direct, East Coast through a European hub, or Pacific through a partner alliance — and the three price differently by 40-70% on the same dates. The cheapest published fare is rarely the cheapest construction.

Our agents quote transpacific against the right alliance — Star (United/ANA), Oneworld (American/Cathay/JAL), or SkyTeam (Delta/Korean) — and surface the cabin + fare-class combos that beat all-direct pricing. Use code SAVE30 when you call — phone-exclusive, not available online.

Why departure coast matters more than you think

On most US-to-Asia trips, the cheapest construction depends almost entirely on which coast you originate from and which season you fly. West Coast departures (LAX, SFO, SEA) get direct widebody service to Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai on multiple carriers, which keeps fare-class inventory deeper and prices lower for most of the year.

East Coast departures have two real choices: connect westbound through the West Coast (adding 4–6 hours), or fly eastbound through a European hub (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Doha) onto an Asian partner. Eastbound via Europe sounds longer, but on shoulder dates it commonly prices $400–$800 below the westbound-via-LAX option — because European carriers run capacity into Asia year-round and discount aggressively to fill it.

The seasonal pattern: westbound wins in summer when European capacity is sold out; eastbound via Europe wins in October–November and February–March when European long-haul has the most excess capacity. The delta swings dramatically on the same dates by which way the trip is routed.

Alliance pairing for transpacific Asia

Transpacific pricing rotates between the three major alliances by route and season. Star Alliance (United + ANA) frequently has the cheapest published business and premium-economy fares on JFK-NRT in shoulder season because ANA flies the route alongside United and both share inventory. Oneworld (American + JAL or Cathay) is often the cheaper alliance to Hong Kong, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka. SkyTeam (Delta + Korean) tends to lead on Seoul, Beijing, and Manila.

The catch: comparing fare classes across three alliances on the same dates is real work in a search box — engines surface one construction at a time and rarely show the cross-alliance comparison cleanly. A phone agent can quote all three alliances on the same dates in one call, from the same live inventory, and pick the lowest bucket.

When calling for an Asia trip changes the math

For most domestic round-trips, self-serve search is fine. For transpacific Asia, calling is reliably worth it on a specific set of itineraries where alliance pricing, multi-city stitching, or premium-cabin fare classes meaningfully change the answer.

  • Multi-city Asia (Tokyo in, Seoul out; or Bangkok in, Singapore out) — alliance multi-stop products usually beat two one-ways
  • Family Asia trips with 3+ travelers — child fare codes on ANA/JAL/Cathay/Singapore often discount $150–$400 per child
  • Premium economy on long-haul Asia — the value cabin under $50/hr round-trip, often beats basic-economy + seat-together fees
  • Fixed-date Asia bookings (business trips, conferences) — refundable and flexible fares price better through alliance buckets
  • SAVE30 applied to the all-in transpacific quote — phone-exclusive, not available through any online checkout

Our agents quote all three alliances, surface the right cabin for your trip length, and apply SAVE30 to the lowest quote — then compare it against your best online price and tell you honestly which wins.

Quick decision rules

  • West Coast direct vs East Coast via Europe varies $400-$800 by season on the same Asia dates.
  • Star (United + ANA) on JFK-NRT typically beats American on LAX-NRT in shoulder season.
  • Premium economy on transpacific is the value cabin under $50/hr round-trip — often beats basic-economy all-in.
  • Single-ticket transpacific = automatic rebooking protection; stitched one-ways = no protection on a missed leg.
  • Alliance multi-stop products save 15-30% on Asia multi-city vs publishing two round-trips.
  • Call to compare all three alliances (Star, Oneworld, SkyTeam) before booking transpacific.

Airlines we search and compare

Call us to compare fares across 13+ carriers in one conversation.

  • ANA
  • Japan Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Korean Air
  • Asiana
  • EVA Air
  • China Airlines
  • Philippine Airlines
  • United
  • Delta
  • American
  • Hawaiian Airlines

Popular routes — call to book

Real-time fares vary by date. Call to lock in the best published + private fare on each route.

Have a trip that matches these criteria?

A ten-minute call with a specialist is the right next step — some airfare scenarios are better handled with expert review.

+1 (202) 499-2532

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to fly to Asia via the West Coast or via Europe?
It depends on the season. Westbound via the West Coast wins in summer when European capacity is sold out. Eastbound via a European hub (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Doha) onto an Asian partner commonly wins in October–November and February–March when European long-haul has the most excess capacity — savings of $400–$800 on the same dates.
Which alliance has the cheapest fares to Asia?
It rotates by route and season. Star (United + ANA) is often cheapest on JFK-NRT in shoulder season. Oneworld (American + JAL or Cathay) often leads to Hong Kong and Tokyo Haneda. SkyTeam (Delta + Korean) often leads on Seoul, Beijing, and Manila. A phone agent can quote all three on the same dates and pick the lowest bucket.
Is premium economy worth it on transpacific flights?
On a per-hour basis, premium economy on long-haul transpacific is the value cabin — typically under $50/hr round-trip vs the basic-economy all-in once seat and bag fees are included. Sleep is materially better, and the cabin includes a checked bag, advance seat selection, and meal upgrades that basic-economy charges for.
Should I book a multi-city Asia trip as separate one-ways?
Almost never. Alliance multi-stop products (Tokyo in, Seoul out; or Bangkok in, Singapore out) usually price meaningfully below two separate round-trips, and a single-ticket itinerary gets automatic rebooking protection if a leg is delayed or canceled. Stitched one-ways carry no such protection.
How far in advance should I book a transpacific flight?
For shoulder-season transpacific (October–November, February–March), 6–10 weeks out is the sweet spot. For peak (June–August, holiday weeks), 3–4 months out is safer. For fixed-date business trips, call as soon as the dates are committed — the cheapest alliance buckets disappear fastest on peak dates.
How much can I save by calling 1-800-AIRFARE for a transpacific Asia itinerary instead of booking online?
Savings vary by trip, and we will not quote a figure sight unseen. For the kind of transpacific itinerary this guide covers, a phone-built construction can beat the cheapest online published fare — but the only honest number is the one for your specific dates and routing. Call us with your dates and constraints and we will tell you whether our quote beats your best online price. If it does not, we will say so.
Is the SAVE30 promo code available online or only by phone?
SAVE30 is phone-exclusive. It is honored on bookings made by calling 1-800-AIRFARE and is not redeemable through the website. Mention SAVE30 when you start the call and the discount is applied to the final fare.