SAS 1 Million Challenge: Flight Costs and Booking Insights (Asia Leg)

Taking on the SAS 1 Million Challenge was not just about racking up miles. It was about strategy, timing, and making the most of every flight. If you're not familiar, the SAS 1 Million Challenge was an aviation marathon where participants had to fly 15 SkyTeam airlines from 17 partners to earn 1 million points. (Here's why we signed up.)

In this post, I'll share a detailed breakdown of our Asia leg, including costs for 13 flights (including positioning flights and 2 booked on points), an overnight bus ride, and insights into the flights that helped me complete the challenge. Along the way, we also took 3 fifth freedom flights. By presenting the flights in the order I booked them (not the order we flew them), you'll get a glimpse into my planning process and how I pieced this ambitious adventure together. It's a long one, so grab your popcorns.

Background

Shruti and I decided to divide the challenge into two parts: one in Asia and the other covering Europe and North America. Managing our leaves and planning such a complex itinerary was already daunting, but my biggest fear was missing a flight, something that could ruin the entire challenge. To avoid this, I tried to keep a buffer of at least 5 hours between flights, and where possible, an overnight layover.

Another hurdle was waiting for our Schengen visa and passports to arrive. We decided to skip Delta Airlines and Aerolineas Argentinas, as we didn't have a US visa.

While waiting, I began rough planning for the Asia leg. We decided on 8 international flights in Asia, of which 2 were fifth freedom routes. Once the visa arrived on October 31st, we didn't waste any time and booked our first flight for the very next day, November 1st. Remember, we had to finish flying all 15 planned airlines by Dec 31, 2024 to be eligible to earn a million miles.

Booking Day: Nov 1

To the east, only 2 of the 15 airlines in the SAS challenge fly from India: Vietnam Airlines (from Delhi and Mumbai) and Korean Air (from Delhi). The idea was to keep it as cheap as possible, but by this time, flights on these airlines had skyrocketed in price. So we decided to start the SAS million journey from Kuala Lumpur.

On this day, I booked 4 flights total. I used Google Flights and FlightConnections to explore possible routes, and they were 2 of my 4 lifesaver websites.

Flight No. 1: Positioning Flight to Kuala Lumpur

We booked a positioning flight with Batik Air to Kuala Lumpur for November 1st. This flight gave us enough time to pack and sort out things at home. By this time, our parents had an idea we were up to something crazy, but when I told them we were flying the very next day, well, you can imagine their reaction.

• Airline: Batik Air (OD)
• Route: BOM-KUL
• Travel Date: Nov 1, 2024, 23:15
• Cost: ₹11,896

Note that this was a one-way flight. Our return leg to Mumbai was something I booked much later, given the many booking uncertainties we still had to navigate. Never have I ever done this for an international trip. And just like that, the adventure officially began.

Flight No. 2: Jakarta, Indonesia (KLM 5th Freedom)

With this flight, we officially started our SAS 1 Million Challenge. This was also the first of our 3 fifth freedom flights. Reason to choose this was to reduce the flights later in Europe, and this route was fairly cheap. Having reached Kuala Lumpur in the morning at 8 AM, we had plenty of time to kill at the airport, which we spent in the lounge. Our flight was at 5 PM, and it was a short, 2-hour flight to Jakarta.

• Airline: KLM (KL)
• Route: KUL-CGK
• Travel Date: Nov 2, 2024, 17:05
• Cost: ₹9,436

Flight No. 3: Hong Kong (Garuda Indonesia)

Garuda Indonesia was operating flights to multiple destinations within Indonesia and nearby countries, but since we didn't have much time to spare, we needed to quickly reach a destination where the next flight would also be cost-effective. For example, flying to Bali would have been relatively cheap (₹5,000), but the next airline on the list either didn't operate there or the flight prices were steep.

I spent quite some time searching for a route that would keep both the current flight and the next one economical. Visa restrictions also came into play, so we had to choose cautiously. After weighing all options, we decided on Hong Kong.

• Airline: Garuda Indonesia (GA)
• Route: CGK-HKG
• Travel Date: Nov 3, 2024, 07:45
• Cost: ₹26,500

Flight No. 11: Guangzhou, China (Kenya Airways 5th Freedom)

Don't get confused about how I jumped directly to Flight No. 11 after the third flight. Stay with me. As I mentioned, I'm giving you my booking-day-wise plan, not travel-day-wise.

Kenya Airways is based in Africa, and I wasn't keen on flying to the continent as it would have significantly added to overall costs, especially since no other SkyTeam partner airline operated extensively in Africa. The best option was to take their fifth freedom route from Bangkok to Guangzhou.

This route isn't operated daily, and prices were climbing fast, so I booked it early, knowing that I'd have to reach Bangkok by the morning of November 8. At this point, I only knew that I needed to get to Bangkok cheaply by morning while covering the rest of the 5 planned airlines with sufficient buffer.

• Airline: Kenya Airways (KQ)
• Route: BKK-CAN
• Travel Date: Nov 8, 2024, 14:40
• Cost: ₹18,250

People worldwide were taking on this challenge, but no one wanted to go to Africa for this leg. So, most challengers either took this flight or the return leg from Guangzhou to Bangkok. Along the way, we crossed paths with a few fellow challengers on the same journey.

On one of the flights (as mentioned on FlyerTalk), there were over 20 people doing the same challenge. The pilot even made an announcement, asking everyone to wait outside to take a photo together later. It felt like we were part of something bigger, sharing the excitement and craziness of this wild adventure.

Booking Day: Nov 2

We were booking last-minute flights as we had no other option. However, there was one critical thing to keep in mind: we needed a ticket for our next destination before entering the country. Immigration rules often require proof of onward travel, and this is sometimes checked even at the check-in counter before issuing a boarding pass.

Having landed in Kuala Lumpur at 8 AM, I was keen to lock in the rest of the flights as quickly as possible. The anxiety of rising costs and the thrill of piecing together the challenge pushed me to move fast.

Flight No. 4: Taipei, Taiwan (China Airlines)

China Airlines, based in Taipei, was an obvious choice. They offer multiple daily flights from Hong Kong to Taipei, and their fares were surprisingly reasonable.

• Airline: China Airlines (CI)
• Route: HKG-TPE
• Travel Date: Nov 3, 2024, 21:10
• Cost: ₹10,643

What an airline they are. Absolutely fantastic! From their service to the onboard experience, everything was on point. And then there was their love for Pikachu. It took us right back to our school days, watching Pokemon and cheering for Ash and his adventures. Honestly, I'd fly them again just for that nostalgic vibe.

Flight No. 5 & 6: Jeju, South Korea (Xiamen Airlines)

We didn't have a China visa, which meant we had to navigate through the 24-hour transit visa rule. This added a whole layer of complexity to our planning. With two Chinese airlines on the list (Xiamen Airlines and China Eastern), every transit and exit point had to be meticulously planned. Every time we exited China, it had to be to a country where we either had a visa or didn't require one, while also aligning with the next airline in the challenge.

Xiamen Airlines: A Challenge in Itself

Xiamen Airlines turned out to be one of the costliest airlines for us, and it wasn't because of the distance. The culprit? Their strange booking class rules.

SAS required flights to be booked in specific fare classes to be eligible for earning points, and Xiamen's cheapest fares weren't part of those classes. This meant we had to pay nearly double to book a fare class that qualified. Imagine spending that extra amount just to ensure your flight counted toward the challenge.

To navigate these fare class requirements, I relied heavily on Matrix (ITA Matrix), a powerful tool for flight searches. It helped me filter and identify the correct fare classes, ensuring we didn't mess up any bookings.

• Airline: Xiamen Airlines (MF)
• Route: TPE-FOC-CJU
• Travel Date: Nov 5, 2024, 11:25
• Cost: ₹9,436

Flight No. 7: Tokyo, Japan (Korean Air)

Korean Air, based out of Incheon, Seoul, was next on our list. But there was a catch: we didn't have a visa for South Korea. This meant higher cost for a multi-legged journey to a third country via Seoul.

That's when I stumbled upon an amazing discovery on FlightConnections.com: a Korean Air flight from Jeju Island to Tokyo. Jeju is a visa-free destination for travellers who meet specific conditions, making it the perfect workaround. We could transit through Jeju without requiring a Korean visa, and from there, head straight to Japan, a country where we held long-term tourist visas. This route not only simplified the logistics but also kept our costs in check.

• Airline: Korean Air (KE)
• Route: CJU-TYO
• Travel Date: Nov 6, 2024, 11:20
• Cost: ₹10,628

Booking Day: Nov 5

You might wonder, why didn't I book everything on Nov 1 or 2 itself? Why wait until Nov 5?

This challenge was moving at breakneck speed. The routing was ridiculously complex, balancing cost efficiency, visa requirements, and flight schedules. I had to give myself some breathing room. Every time I took a break to rest or sleep, I came back with a clearer mind and a better plan. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made during this chaotic journey.

There's also the constant fear of flight cancellations or delays. The margins were so tight that one missed flight could derail everything. By waiting until Nov 5, I gave myself a little flexibility to adapt to changes and avoid locking in mistakes.

We had two more airlines to book as part of our strategy to reach Bangkok before Nov 8 morning.

Flight No. 8 & 9: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (China Eastern)

For this leg, I leaned heavily on China Eastern Airlines due to their incredible network across Asia and their budget-friendly fares. The challenge here was to plan my exit from China and head south toward a destination closer to Bangkok and Vietnam, aligning with the next steps of the journey.

At this point, we were still waiting for our Vietnam visa. The uncertainty was nerve-wracking, but I relied on Timatic, an incredibly helpful tool for checking visa requirements and travel restrictions, to make the booking decision. While Timatic assured me that things would work out, the anxiety around visas was unavoidable.

To be honest, I wonder if it's just me or if most Indians feel this way about visas. Always triple-checking, constantly worried about rejections or delays, and reading every fine detail in the rules. Either way, I booked the flight with my fingers crossed and hoped for the best.

• Airline: China Eastern (MU)
• Route: NRT-PVG-SGN
• Travel Date: Nov 7, 2024, 13:00
• Cost: ₹12,478

Guess what? Turns out, there was no requirement for a 24-hour transit visa for China this time. Perhaps it was because both flights were with China Eastern and they nearly occupy all of Terminal 1 at Shanghai PVG. I had previously travelled to Shanghai in 2023 via Star Alliance, and I needed a 24-hour transit visa for my flight from SQ to ANA on the same PNR. So, definitely check your transit visa requirements carefully, as things can vary.

Flight No. 10: Bangkok, Thailand (Vietnam Airlines)

At this point, it was clear that I needed to book a short flight to Bangkok with Vietnam Airlines to complete the 8th and final booking in Asia. I also had to make sure I reached Bangkok before 10 AM, because I had a connecting flight with Kenya Airways (yes, the one I had booked way back on Day 1).

I had an option to book a low-cost carrier, but there was a catch. If I wanted to take a low-cost carrier, I could potentially go back to Mumbai with Vietnam Airlines, but Timatic flagged that VietJet and a few other carriers would not allow visa-free transit in Vietnam. So, I went ahead with Vietnam Airlines, and the cost wasn't too bad.

This flight was crucial to ensure we stayed on track with the itinerary, and of course, to make sure I didn't miss that Kenya Airways connection from Bangkok.

• Airline: Vietnam Airlines (VN)
• Route: SGN-BKK
• Travel Date: Nov 8, 2024, 08:40
• Cost: ₹13,567

Booking Day: Nov 7

By November 7, I had successfully booked flights on 8 out of the 15 SkyTeam airlines I needed for the SAS challenge in Asia, and there was only one more SkyTeam airline left in Asia to fly. The remaining task was to book the flight back to Mumbai. I was sitting comfortably in the Shanghai lounge when I decided to finalize the last couple of bookings, as everything else had been progressing smoothly with no cancellations or delays.

Flight No. 12 & 13: Back to Mumbai (Batik Air)

For the final leg in Asia, I chose Batik Air, a budget-friendly option for the Guangzhou to Mumbai route, but with a long layover in Kuala Lumpur. I was fine with this, given that I had unlimited Priority Pass entries, and we could explore Kuala Lumpur since Indians can visit visa-free. This layover didn't feel like an inconvenience; it was another opportunity to stretch the legs and enjoy the break before heading back to Mumbai.

• Airline: Batik Air (OD)
• Route: CAN-KUL-BOM
• Travel Date: Nov 9, 2024, 03:10
• Cost: ₹26,546

Avoid flying Batik Air. It was an extremely unprofessional airline, and my experience with them on the final leg was bad, unlike our first leg flying into KUL from Mumbai.

Total Cost for the Asia Leg

In total, we spent approximately ₹1.74 lakh per person on flights during the Asia leg, plus an additional ₹24,000 on visas, bringing the total to nearly ₹2 lakh.

What started as a single plan to cover all 15 airlines in one post turned into a journey so remarkable, I knew I couldn't rush through it. Each step, each flight, each challenge was an experience worth documenting. I decided to split this into two parts: one for Asia and the other for Europe and North America, as we had two distinct legs of the journey.

Flight cancellations, a delayed Australia visa, unnecessary but thankful Saudia visa on arrival, and paying 2.5 times more for a cabin bag than yourself. Find out the rest of the flight bookings in our Europe and NA leg (coming soon).