11 US gateways · 6 regions
US gateway award guides
Each major US airport has its own routing tricks. Carriers, top routes, and the points strategies for every gateway.
Mid-Atlantic · 1 airport
Midwest · 1 airport
Northeast · 3 airports
JFK
New York (JFK)
The single most-served US international gateway. Every major foreign carrier flies here, which means more sweet-spot inventory than anywhere else.
Gateway guide
EWR
Newark
United's largest international hub. EWR-SIN is the longest commercial flight in the world; EWR-DEL is the only US-India non-stop.
Gateway guide
BOS
Boston
Underrated international gateway with Cathay, JAL, Qatar, and Lufthansa all running widebodies. Less competition for saver inventory than JFK.
Gateway guide
South · 1 airport
Southeast · 2 airports
West Coast · 3 airports
LAX
Los Angeles
Pacific Rim hub. The widest selection of Asia and Australia routes from any US airport, most route-pairs have multiple competing carriers.
Gateway guide
SFO
San Francisco
United's Pacific gateway. Best US airport for Asia premium awards via Polaris and Star Alliance partners.
Gateway guide
SEA
Seattle
Alaska's home base + Delta's secondary Pacific hub. Use Alaska's 25k Hawaii award + low-priced partners like Cathay, JAL, and Qantas.
Gateway guide