Hey {{first name | reader}},
Happy Monday! Coffee's ready, and today we're talking about extremes: the longest, most intense flight routing I've seen in a while, versus one of the most refined business class products finally coming to the US, and two sweetspots I love.
Here's what's inside today's post:
China Eastern's new ultra-marathon: Shanghai–Buenos Aires (via Auckland)
Cathay's new Aria Suites are coming to San Francisco
My favourite sweet spots between Europe & Asia (SQ + Finnair)
China Eastern's new ultra-marathon: Shanghai–Buenos Aires (via Auckland)
China Eastern has officially launched what might be the most mentally brutal itinerary out there right now: Shanghai Pudong – Auckland – Buenos Aires on a single flight number.
A few key points:
Route: PVG–AKL–EZE on a Boeing 777-300ER
Distance: ~11,000+ miles / 19,000+ km
Block time: roughly 25.5 hours eastbound and up to 29 hours westbound including the technical stop in Auckland
The really harsh bit: reports indicate you can't leave the aircraft in Auckland – it's a fuel/tech stop only, so you're effectively "trapped" on the same plane the whole way.
China Eastern 777-300ER Business Class
Even in business or first, 25+ hours of airborne time plus sitting on the ground in the same metal tube sounds… intense. In economy it's almost unimaginable.
That said, from a routing point of view it's kind of fascinating:
It gives my country, Argentina, a one-carrier link to East Asia, without going via the US, Europe, or Middle East.
For avgeeks, it's one of those "once in a lifetime" badge-of-honour flights – like "I survived PVG–EZE."
For practical travellers, it's probably something you only do if you really need that one-ticket connection and don't want multiple self-connects across continents.
Would I do this in economy? Absolutely not. In Business or First, maybe once, for the story. But I'd still probably prefer to break the journey in the middle and actually see daylight somewhere. I'm a huge fan of long layovers—spending 1 or 2 days in the layover destination, exploring the city, and being refreshed for the following long-haul flight.
Cathay's new Aria Suites are coming to San Francisco
On the far more comfortable side of the spectrum: Cathay Pacific's new "Aria Suite" business class is finally getting its US debut to San Francisco.
Here's the quick rundown:
Product: Aria Suite – Cathay's next-gen business class on refurbished Boeing 777-300ERs
Layout: 1-2-1 with fully enclosed suites, sliding doors, and direct aisle access
Features:
24″ 4K screen
Wireless charging and Bluetooth audio
A lot more storage and better surfaces for working
Cathay's usual excellent catering + Bamford amenities and upgraded soft product
Cathay Pacific Aria Suites
Until now, Aria has mainly been seen on:
Hong Kong–London
Selected Sydney and South East Asia flights, and
Some Beijing and regional rotations as Cathay slowly rolls out the retrofitted planes.
San Francisco being the first US gateway to get Aria is a pretty big statement: Cathay is clearly trying to re-establish Hong Kong - US as a flagship corridor again.
If you're trying to spot Aria Suites when you book:
On Google Flights, business will show as "individual suite" vs just "lie-flat seat."
On seat maps, look for the new 1-2-1 layout with doors.
If you like the idea of a very "grown-up," understated, private business cabin rather than bling, Aria is exactly that. Think a calm Hong Kong apartment in the sky.
My favourite sweet spots between Europe & Asia (SQ + Finnair)
Let's talk strategy.
One of my favourite "zones" to optimise with points is Europe ↔ Southeast Asia in business class. Two products stand out:
a) Singapore Airlines business class
Singapore Airlines long-haul business is one of the most consistently excellent products in the sky:
1-2-1 layout with wide lie-flat seats
Great bedding, catering, and service
Solid lounges on both ends if you're transiting via SIN
Singapore Airlines business class bulkhead seats
If you buy miles smartly during good promos or leverage the right partners, it's often possible to get a 12 - 14 hour Europe–Southeast Asia segment in SQ business for the equivalent of roughly $1,000 - $1,200 one-way in total "all-in" cost (miles + taxes).
That's not some mythical unicorn - it's basically the result of:
Knowing which programs to book SQ through
Waiting for the right mileage sales, and
Being flexible on routing and dates
When cash tickets on SQ can easily be $3,000 - $4,000+ roundtrip, paying ~$1k each way in business is a very, very strong move.
b) Finnair business class via Helsinki
You already know this one, because I've mentioned it before. But for new readers, and for all of you, I can't let this one go unspoken.
Option two I really like: Finnair business class between Europe and Asia, especially to places like Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, etc., routed through Helsinki.
Finnair AirLounge business class seat
Why it's interesting:
Finnair's AirLounge business seat is genuinely good: no-recline gimmick aside, it's comfortable for sleeping, with a modern Scandinavian cabin and solid bedding.
HEL is a super easy, efficient hub to connect through – especially compared to some of the mega-hubs.
If you're strategic with how you buy and redeem points, or catch the right partner pricing, you can often get HEL–Asia business for around $800–$1,000 one-way equivalent. And there are no Light Fare scams when you book with points.
Again, we're talking proper long-haul business on good products for the price of (or not far above) what many people pay for economy.
This is exactly the kind of thing we teach
These are the kinds of frameworks and strategies we go deep on inside Points Master:
Which programs to use for which routes
When it makes sense to buy points vs pay cash
How to spot and repeat these "sweet spot" routes between regions you actually care about
You don't need 20 credit cards or to live in any specific country – the core idea is the same: use the right points in the right way, on the right airline, at the right time, and suddenly Europe - Asia in business stops being a once-in-a-lifetime trip and becomes something you can repeat.
That's it for today. More deals and strategies coming your way on Wednesday.
Catch you in the clouds,
Tomi