How to Book STARLUX Airlines Using Points | Economy, Premium Economy, & Business Class
May 1, 2025 · 2 min read
STARLUX Airlines has quickly become one of the most coveted redemptions in the points world — especially now that they fly direct from Phoenix. Today I'm walking through exactly how to book STARLUX using points, what the value looks like versus cash, and the best strategies for finding award availability across all three cabins.
Where Does STARLUX Fly in the US?
STARLUX operates their flagship Airbus A350-900 on several major US routes to Taipei (TPE). The aircraft features a 1-2-1 Business Class with private suites, 2-4-2 Premium Economy, and 3-3-3 Economy.
- Phoenix (PHX) — 3x per week (Tue, Thu, Sun)
- Ontario, CA (ONT) — 4x per week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat)
- Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA) — Daily
Points vs. Cash: What Each Cabin Costs
All US routes are bookable with Alaska Airlines miles, priced by distance. Phoenix falls into a higher band (7,000+ miles) than the West Coast departures.
Final Numbers
Non-saver Business Class from PHX can jump to 250,000 miles — nearly 3× the Saver rate. Always hunt for Saver availability first.
The Secret to Finding Business Class Saver Availability
Saver awards in Business Class are extremely limited. STARLUX typically releases exactly one Saver seat per flight when the calendar opens. Once that seat is taken, the next seat often jumps to 175,000+ miles. If you're traveling as a couple, expect to mix rates — on our Taipei to Seattle flight, one seat was at the 75k Saver rate and the second required 175k.
The T-14 Window
STARLUX reliably releases additional Business Class award seats within 14 days of departure. If you can't find two Saver seats early, check the Alaska website daily in the two weeks before your flight. This is the best window for last-minute flexibility.
How to Book on Alaska Airlines
- 1Select "One-way" on the Alaska Airlines website.
- 2Enter your route and date.
- 3Check both "Use miles" and "Flexible dates" to view a full monthly calendar.
- 4Hit Search — green dates show the lowest available cost.
- 5Use "Filter by fare type" → "Partner premium" to spot Business Class availability quickly.
How to Earn Alaska Airlines Miles
Alaska is not a direct transfer partner for Chase, Amex, or Citi — so earning miles takes a bit more planning.
- Alaska Airlines co-branded cards (Atmos) — the most direct way to earn
- Hawaiian Airlines credit card — points now transfer to Alaska
- Bilt Rewards — transfers to Alaska at 1:1
- Marriott Bonvoy — transfers at 3:1 (best for topping off a balance)
- Flying Alaska or Oneworld partners and crediting to Mileage Plan
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