Cubswin

I have points across all programs, so I think I have most airlines available to me. Here is the information about what I am trying to do:

1. Two first class tickets Nashville to NRT (I could fly to Chicago using BA miles or L.A. using Southwest, etc. if I had to)
2. I would prefer to fly REASONABLY direct from the U.S. (rather not go to New Zealand for a layover or something)
3. Would want to leave sometime in mid-June or July of 2015.
4. The program doesn't HAVE to be the cheapest in points if there is a significantly better first class product but I won't go crazy and get ripped off in points either.

In general, I would like to hear what you folks think might be my best option for this trip. We flew Catchay Pacific first class from Chicago to Hong Kong and absolutely loved it and would love another experience of that type.

Thanks!

howtofreetravel

If Singapore flies to nrt even indirect I would take them for the best first class

flyertalker00156

SQ or Asiana

Cubswin

I thought they only released one first class at a time? Am I wrong about that?

Interesting, I do not know much about Asiana first class. Better that Japan Airlines you think?

howtofreetravel

Jl has the best business class btw if you get stuck in it

TOMFORD

I vote against Asiana. Flying from Nashville, you'll have at least one connection. If you want only one connection, and the domestic leg to be as short as possible, then fly to ORD, and then NRT on Japan Airlines.

tng11

SQ is rather consistently releasing 2 R seats at a time these days. Lots of availability for your desired mid-June/July dates. Best F product out there bar-none IMO but inconvenient because of the LAX connection.

I would say ANA for ORD-NRT can't be beat. The service is truly one of the best out there. But the downside is ANA seems to only release 1 seat and would rather let the rest of the cabin depart empty without releasing any more seats.

Haven't tried JL, but they do release 2 F seats on the ORD-NRT on a consistent basis.

flyertalker00156

New A380 looks pretty special! Booked a couple of clients on it...very jealous. Working on gettibg myself on it when it comes out in the end of August

Cubswin

I did not realize that they were releasing two now! Very interesting.......I don't mind the LAX connection much at all and have always wanted to fly on Singapore.

Do you find that availability is better using KrisFlyer points directly or is the availability the same booking through a Star Alliance partner?

ORDnHKG

You tiltle totally contradict with what you said.

There is no way to get best first class without using the maximum of miles. SQ Suites on A380 LAX-NRT is the best, but you have to spend extra miles for that.


Yes, and even if it is not OZ, I would choose NH over JL in F.

Cubswin

That sounds amazing! I am trying to research where the A380s will be flying to/from right now

I didn't do a ton of research on Singapore because I didn't think they released two seats at once!

ORDnHKG

Really ? I think the majority of JL's planes still use Shell Flat Neo for C class instead of Skysuites on the 763 ?

You do know the Shell Flat Neo is an angle seat with 2-3-2 seating right ? Compare to NH majority of their 77W are Business Staggered with all aisle access.


There is only one route SQ use the 380 to the US, which is SQ 11/12 LAX-NRT

Cubswin

I should try to clarify.

I meant that I don't would rather spend 100,000 points for a GREAT first class experience (for example) than 220,000 or something crazy for the absolute best.

BUT I don't mind spending say 120,00 for the absolute best (again, for example).

Long story short, I will spend more points if necessary but I don't wouldn't go insane with it just to fly one particular brand because I know there are several good choices to NRT

I probably should have left it out of my initial post in all honesty.

ORDnHKG

OZ's F product out of JFK and also LAX is exceptional, both JFK and LAX (one flight is a 380) have F suites that have doors to close for privacy, no one has similar hard product other than SQ and EK.

I haven't flown JL F personally, but base on trip reports and words of mouth, JL's F product is below par compare with SQ, OZ, CX, and NH.

SFO777

Singapore.

SQ does occasionally release two Saver seats in advance, but more typically just one Saver. But they also usually release a separate LAX-SIN Saver seat. This will cost 20K or so more but still a lot cheaper than a LAX-NRT Standard award. Just don't re-board the plane for the NRT-SIN leg since all pax must deplane at NRT for security. That trick doesn't work as well on the return.

We did this in April. My SQ Suites LAX-NRT Trip Report.

NH is also excellent but very difficult to find 2 F award seats.