Honestly, twice a year wouldn’t stop me.
Yeah, the flights are long and not fun, but four long hauls a year is very different from doing that every couple months. Plenty of people living in Asia do it for weddings, holidays, or work and survive just fine.
Cost wise, even paying for two roundtrip flights yourself, Thailand or SEA still usually comes out cheaper overall once you factor in rent, food, healthcare, and general lifestyle. Especially if you’re staying put and not bouncing around.
The bigger question is mental energy, not money. Those trips will basically eat a full day each way, plus jet lag. If the offsites are short or intense, that can be draining.
You’re probably right about points though. If this becomes your long term setup, getting good at miles, credit cards, or at least premium economy will make a huge difference. Even one leg in business changes the whole experience.
If everything else about SEA life excites you, I wouldn’t let two US trips a year be the thing that stops you. That’s a pretty manageable tradeoff for a better day to day life the other 11 months.
0