Nonstop to Japan from US West Coast or NYC (award)
Aug 16, 2016, 1:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 324
Nonstop to Japan from US West Coast or NYC (award)
Hi -
Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but I have a bunch of Amex points and I am looking to fly biz class from either NYC or the West Coast to Tokyo. Anyone have a sense for which carrier would a) offer the best biz class experience and b) which would likely have the most award seat availability? I know it may not be the same answer for each. Trip is in 2 months from now - mid-October.
Thanks.
Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but I have a bunch of Amex points and I am looking to fly biz class from either NYC or the West Coast to Tokyo. Anyone have a sense for which carrier would a) offer the best biz class experience and b) which would likely have the most award seat availability? I know it may not be the same answer for each. Trip is in 2 months from now - mid-October.
Thanks.
Aug 16, 2016, 6:19 pm
#2
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
I'm going to send this to the Information Desk forum as it's not specifically related to travel in Japan, but rather which airline to use.
Regards,
armagebedar
Japan forum moderator
Regards,
armagebedar
Japan forum moderator
Aug 16, 2016, 7:22 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
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You're a bit late to the redemption party looking for Sept-October. In general ANA is the best for US-Japan/Northern Asia redemptions but you're going to have to check most/all of the programs to make sure at this point. ANA gives you access to Star Alliance members and I'd say ANA is better in J than UA & CA which are the 3 major operators on that route.
Aug 16, 2016, 7:49 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
If the ANA award is for > 1 PAX then the extra PAX MUST be in the same close family and registered in the owner's ANA account. ANA rule.
BTW, I love ANA Business and First!
BTW, I love ANA Business and First!
Aug 17, 2016, 7:23 am
#6
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Location: Canada, USA, Europe
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I don't think anyone can give you the sort of concrete advice that would make you feel comfortable pulling the Amex trigger. I feel your pain, but I can't see this being any better than 50/50.
Aug 17, 2016, 9:53 am
#9
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Nowhere near in the same league. I suppose you need to ask yourself if it's really the worst thing in the world to have your points stuck in either SQ or NH. You'll probably use them at some point.
Aug 17, 2016, 10:09 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 324
Actually, this is not a business trip. It is a celebration trip - so its a one off for me. I wont be back to Asia on business, so the miles are likely in lockup.
As an aside, I am using a tool called Expertflyer to search award seats - but Cathay is not an option. Any good advice on trying to search their award seats?
As an aside, I am using a tool called Expertflyer to search award seats - but Cathay is not an option. Any good advice on trying to search their award seats?
Aug 17, 2016, 10:53 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Actually, this is not a business trip. It is a celebration trip - so its a one off for me. I wont be back to Asia on business, so the miles are likely in lockup.
As an aside, I am using a tool called Expertflyer to search award seats - but Cathay is not an option. Any good advice on trying to search their award seats?
As an aside, I am using a tool called Expertflyer to search award seats - but Cathay is not an option. Any good advice on trying to search their award seats?
NH and SQ miles are redeemable on UA domestic flights too, in case availability to TYO does not open up after you transfer your points in.
Why are you interested in CX award availability? I thought you only wanted nonstop flights from the U.S. to Tokyo.
Aug 17, 2016, 11:08 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 324
I did/do - but I would rather have a great experience with a stop vs. a mediocre one that is non-stop. The extra hours are worth it. Again, its a celebration trip vs. having to get there at a certain time or state of mind for work.
Aug 17, 2016, 11:11 am
#13
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My point was that, as long as you were not saving your MR points for something else, you may as well have them in a FF account. As pointed out, you can still redeem on any *A carrier (in this case).
Aug 17, 2016, 11:17 am
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 324
Yes, I get your point. But the issue is this: lets say we put all the miles in a UA account and shoot for ASA waitlist and dont get it. I have no backup plan - I am not interested in buying a coach ticket, and I dont want to use points for coach. So ideally, I would know that I have a seat somewhere - even with a stop - and then put the miles in. I did this once about 4 years ago on China Southern via Delta. I was living in Atlanta and so Delta was a no brainer.
Aug 17, 2016, 11:19 am
#15
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And, of course, with either CX miles or BA Avios, you can look for nonstop award flights on JL. But BAEC's redemption rates are likely to be higher than the other programs' rates.