ramops

Thank you very much for the clear response.

Anyone has experience with the passbook check in? Everything seems to be in Japanese

virmaior

I've used passbook. If memory serves correctly, (1) it's only explained in Japanese. (2) It only works for domestic flights. But it mostly involves getting the right url for the QR code to have it wind up in passbook.

dylanks

I'm looking to optimize a trip in April, in terms of cost, comfort, and tier points (I credit to BA). Basically I need to fly from PHX to Tokyo, Beijing, and Hong Kong, before returning back to the US. Total trip is approximately two weeks, with a few days in Tokyo, four days in Beijing, and then a week in Hong Kong.

I could fly paid business class via work, though I do have a placeholder award on AA in First for the TPAC segment as insurance in case prices go up too much before I make a booking.

The main challenge seems to be there there are no good options for a 3-segment business class trip for something like NRT/HND-PEK-HKG-NRT/HND, or even for a 2-segment trip such as NRT/HND-PEK-HKG (or other permutations).

So the seemingly best option I've found is:

PHX-(AA)-LAX-(JL)-NRT (ticket 1)
HND-(JL)-PEK (ticket 2)
PEK-(JL)-HND (ticket 2)
HND-(CX)-HKG (ticket 3)
HKG-(CX)-NRT (ticket 3)
NRT-(AA or JL)-LAX-(AA)-PHX (ticket 1)

Ticket 1: ~$4000
Ticket 2: ~$1345
Ticket 3: ~$1419

Possible concerns:
1. Layover at HND between ticket 2 and ticket 3 is 3.5 hours. I've heard that departures from PEK can be very delayed, so are JL/CX likely to help me out if there's a substantial delay?
2. Similarly, on the return between ticket 3 and ticket 1, I'm inclined to choose the AA flight for flight protection, though it's a 772 and there's still the risk of the old AA J seat.
3. Could fly AA both ways and explore F upgrade options (there's some availability)
4. Not a big deal to have two extra flights, but maybe there's a better OW routing option that I'm missing?

So, are there any tips or secrets that I might be missing in booking this type of itinerary? Any suggestions on a better routing? I've looked at options of flying out of HKG back to the US, but they add $1000 or more which is difficult to justify given the variety of options available.

JALPak

You don't need ticket 2. Issue ticket 1 with stopovers in Tokyo. Or price the entire itinerary out as a single ticket and fly on Cathay Dragon between PEK and HKG.

dylanks

My main reason for the separate tickets was that I found it priced up quite a bit less as multiple tickets when searching via ITA Matrix. It does look like combining tickets 1 and 2 may be roughly the same price. As soon as I try to add Dragon Air into the mix and make it one ticket, the options and pricing doubles. It looks like it won't price reasonably as one ticket with AA, CX, and JL together.

fumitani

Why dont you try this.

PHX-LAX-NRT (stop over) Ticket 1
NRT/HND-PEK (destination) Ticket 1

PEK-HKG (buy a seperate ticket one way)

HKG-NRT-LAX-PHX (return portion of ticket 1)

open jaw is the key here

flyingeph12

You could originate your ticket in YVR instead of PHX. Not sure about your dates, but YVR-LAX-HND-(stop)-PEK-(stop)-HKG-(stop)-NRT-YVR is ~US$4800 for some randomly chosen dates in April.
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...=ONEWORLD;eo=e

Then buy a cheap PHX-YVR roundtrip.

Edit: You could also play around with originating in YEG to avoid the angled flat on NRT-YVR and potentially route through PHX on the return. It looks like it may be a few hundred dollars more.

dylanks

Thanks for the suggestions!

I had tried a number of open jaw options, but they were pricing about $1500 higher than the itinerary above, in part because a one way business class ticket for PEK-HKG is typically more expensive than a return ticket.

YVR and YEG are interesting options, thanks! The primary challenge I see with it is that it would probably require an overnight on the outbound as the earliest flight from PHX arrives fairly late.

Also, looking at the various seat options, it seems like the consensus is roughly:

JF F > CX F > AA F
JL J (flat) > CX J > AA J (flat) > JL J (angled) > AA J (angled)

It looks like there is some disagreement on whether the new JL J is better than AA F. I assume the service and food on JL is better, it looks like the AA F seat has more space. My fallback option is an award seat I booked in F on AA (LAX-NRT).

ramops

I have my e ticket confirmation, tried to scan the QR code manually using the passbook however with no luck...

virmaior

The QR code that loads the passbook QR code is different than the one you use to board ... (it was quite confusing the time i used it).

inspace

I have booked a flight on JAC to KOJ (from Yakushima). I'd like to book another ticket onto Osaka. I'm wondering 1) if they'll be able to combine my reservation (really just transfer my bag) and 2) how much connection time I'll need (particularly if they're unable to transfer the bag).

I called JAL in the US and the agent said he had no idea has JAC was a completely separate airline, and I'd have to call Japan. JAL's website does mention minimum connection time between the two airlines (20 minutes) but I'm guessing that's for flights on the same reservation.

Thanks in advance!

Pseudo Nim

They should be able to check your bag through. 20 minutes is usually ample time in small Japanese airports (I've had 10-15 min connections), but if you do need to get your bag out then you should probably allow around 40 mins to go out, get bag and go back in. But I'd feel confident they can check my bags through.

CPH-Flyer

They should be able to check your luggage through. While a different airline, it is still part of the JAL group. Kagoshima airport only requires passengers to pass through security 15 minutes before departure, so 20 minutes MCT seems within reason as long your baggage is checked through.

inspace

The connection I'm looking at is 50 minutes, so this sounds great. Thanks!

SpammersAreScum

Questions about JL seat selection as an AA Plat (OW Sapphire):

I have flights in a couple weeks purchased from AA. One leg is JL 711 NRT-SIN, fare code S; AA website showed no seat assignment for it and told me to call JL. The aircraft appears to be a 763.

I called AA to get the JL record number, and used that on the JAL website. I was allowed to select a seat online, but their seat map showed me exactly one (!) available seat in all of Econ, so I took it.

I'm not sure whether that is supposed to propagate back to my flight info on AA; so far it has not.

I'm also not sure about possible upgrades to PE; as I understand it, JL will sell you one (if available) at the airport on NRT-SIN flights for JPY 10,000. But neither the JAL seat map nor the SeatGuru one marks any such section. Am I missing something?

Thanks.