How many points do you need to fly from Los Angeles to Seoul?

Economy awards start around 35,000 points one-way on the best programs. Business class starts around 75,000 points. The best programs for this route are United MileagePlus, Korean Air SKYPASS.

Is it worth using points to fly Los Angeles to Seoul?

Economy cash fares run around $750 and business runs around $4,800. At 35,000 points for economy you are getting roughly 2.1 cents per point, and at 75,000 for business you get roughly 6.4 cents per point. Business class is typically where points deliver the best return on this route.

Which credit cards earn points for Los Angeles to Seoul flights?

The top programs for this route accept transfers from several major flexible-points currencies. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. Korean Air SKYPASS accepts transfers from Chase UR. Earning a single sign-up bonus on a premium travel card can cover one-way business class.

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Award Flight Guide 2026

Los Angeles to Seoul Award Flights

Fly LAX to ICN starting from 35,000k points economy or 75,000k points business class. Here is how to book the best award on this route.

Economy from

35k pts

~2.1cpp

Business from

75k pts

~6.4cpp

Best program

United

top pick

Points cost by program

One-way saver award estimates. Actual availability varies.

Program	Economy	Business	Value	Search
United MileagePlusBest	35,000	75,000	~6.4cpp	Search
Korean Air SKYPASS	estimated	estimated	—	Search

Points shown are approximate published saver rates. Prices vary by date, availability, and program devaluations. Always confirm in your loyalty account before transferring.

Cash ticket comparison

Cash tickets on Los Angeles to Seoul run roughly $750 economy and $4,800 business class (median round-trip). At those prices, a business-class award redemption delivers around 6.4 cents per point, beating the 1 cent baseline you would get from cash-back cards.

Best programs for Los Angeles to Seoul

United MileagePlus

MileagePlus charges no carrier surcharges on Star Alliance partner awards and offers wide partner coverage. Dynamic pricing can be painful, but off-peak dates still surface excellent rates.

Chase URMarriott Bonvoy

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air SKYPASS is only bookable via Chase Ultimate Rewards in the US. Korean Air business class (Prestige) is one of the best value business products across the Pacific.

Chase UR

Tips for this route

Korean Air and Asiana both fly LAX-ICN. Korean Air Skypass prices its own business class at competitive rates. a transfer partner covers this zone with no fuel surcharges. United MileagePlus can book Asiana business class at 75,000 miles one-way.

+Search award space before transferring points. Transfers are non-reversible.
+Book at the 330-day mark for premium-cabin awards on this corridor; inventory is tightest within 30 days.
+Watch for transfer bonuses from Amex, Chase, or Capital One that can give you 20-30% more miles per dollar.
+Budget $50-$400 in cash taxes and fees on top of the points cost. Confirm before you transfer.

How to book this award

1
Confirm award space first. Search for availability on United MileagePlus or use our Trip Finder below before you move a single point.
2
Earn or transfer points. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers usually land in minutes.
3
Book the moment the transfer lands. Award seats can disappear in minutes. Have your search results open when you initiate the transfer.
4
Pay taxes and fees. Most international awards carry $50-$400 in cash co-pays. Confirm the amount at checkout before committing to the transfer.

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Find the best program for this route

Our Trip Finder compares published award pricing across supported programs for LAX to ICN, so you can pick the likely best program and transfer path. Confirm seats with the airline before transferring points.

Search LAX to ICN awards

Common questions

How many points do you need to fly from Los Angeles to Seoul?: Economy awards start around 35,000 points one-way on the best programs. Business class starts around 75,000 points. The best programs for this route are United MileagePlus, Korean Air SKYPASS.
Is it worth using points to fly Los Angeles to Seoul?: Economy cash fares run around $750 and business runs around $4,800. At 35,000 points for economy you are getting roughly 2.1 cents per point, and at 75,000 for business you get roughly 6.4 cents per point. Business class is typically where points deliver the best return on this route.
What is the best loyalty program for Los Angeles to Seoul award flights?: United MileagePlus is the top pick for this route. MileagePlus charges no carrier surcharges on Star Alliance partner awards and offers wide partner coverage. Dynamic pricing can be painful, but off-peak dates still surface excellent rates. Other strong options include Korean Air SKYPASS.
Which credit cards earn points for Los Angeles to Seoul flights?: The top programs for this route accept transfers from several major flexible-points currencies. United MileagePlus accepts transfers from Chase UR, Marriott Bonvoy. Korean Air SKYPASS accepts transfers from Chase UR. Earning a single sign-up bonus on a premium travel card can cover one-way business class.

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Award pricing and availability are set by each loyalty program and change without notice. Points figures on this page reflect published saver-level rates as of 2026. Always confirm pricing inside your loyalty account before transferring points. Transfers are non-reversible.