NRT<>LAX: EVA vs. ANA vs. Asiana vs. UA ?
Jul 13, 2014, 4:13 pm
#16
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[*]Oooo... planetshakers, there's Din Tai Fung food on the EVA flights? Man, I may have to fly those silly Hello Kitty planes myself sometime! 
[*]I wish a stopover was possible on one-way UA redemptions! 'cause then I'd have my parents stop over in Taipei, a city I really enjoyed visiting![/list]
[*]I wish a stopover was possible on one-way UA redemptions! 'cause then I'd have my parents stop over in Taipei, a city I really enjoyed visiting![/list]Are you using SQ miles for the suites on SQ 11 ? Why not do a roundtrip instead ? Then your parents could fly BR on the return and have the stopover in TPE.
Jul 14, 2014, 12:39 am
#18
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Jul 14, 2014, 12:47 am
#19
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Anyway, still got to enjoy the bigger than usual lavatory.
Jul 14, 2014, 12:49 am
#20
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Hey everyone, thank you very much for the thoughtful and kind responses, and apologies that I haven't replied until now! And aBroadAbroad, thanks for amplifying the reach of my post 
. And Ocn Vw 1K... ah, you're right; since I'm using UA miles for this, I hadn't even made the connection in my head that all these are *A... nor did I even know we had a *A forum here!
A few notes in response to everyone's helpful feedback:
Of course, a bit of a wrinkle is that I've learned my parents (who want to book a small-group tour for their Japan visit)... may actually be flying out of KIX, which changes the options somewhat (for one, no direct flights to LAX). Still, I think there's mostly the same choice of *A partner airlines KIX-LAX.
Thanks again for all the rankings and feedback! I welcome any additional thoughts, and I'll also make sure to post back here with what I decide and again with how the trip goes with my parents. As you can imagine, both they (and I!) are super-excited to have them experiencing Japan and premium travel for the first time in their lives :-).
. And Ocn Vw 1K... ah, you're right; since I'm using UA miles for this, I hadn't even made the connection in my head that all these are *A... nor did I even know we had a *A forum here!A few notes in response to everyone's helpful feedback:
- My parents have pretty much just flown in economy, and mostly UA at that. So -- as crazy (and, I admit, un-environmental) as it sounds -- I believe they'd actually enjoy more time flying in the sky when it includes tasty food and friendly service.
- Yes, none of the proposed flights can compare to SQ Suites... but the flights to/from NRT are my treat, and so given this + the improvement over flying Y, I think my parents will be very happy .
- With this said -- it may be that, at the end of a packed vacation -- my parents just want to get back home sooner. So I think I'll ask them their preference on this!
- Oooo... planetshakers, there's Din Tai Fung food on the EVA flights? Man, I may have to fly those silly Hello Kitty planes myself sometime!
- I wish a stopover was possible on one-way UA redemptions! 'cause then I'd have my parents stop over in Taipei, a city I really enjoyed visiting!
Of course, a bit of a wrinkle is that I've learned my parents (who want to book a small-group tour for their Japan visit)... may actually be flying out of KIX, which changes the options somewhat (for one, no direct flights to LAX). Still, I think there's mostly the same choice of *A partner airlines KIX-LAX.
Thanks again for all the rankings and feedback! I welcome any additional thoughts, and I'll also make sure to post back here with what I decide and again with how the trip goes with my parents. As you can imagine, both they (and I!) are super-excited to have them experiencing Japan and premium travel for the first time in their lives :-).
Jul 14, 2014, 10:41 am
#21
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Aug 8, 2014, 9:44 pm
#22
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Well, alas, I'm a bit disappointed and I'm betting some of you will be, too :\.
The good news first: I was indeed able to book LAX-NRT in Singapore Airlines Suites for my parents (middle pair via a Chase points transfer, and I know they're gonna love their experience (the nice new lounge at LAX plus, of course, the SQ experience). Not to mention Japan itself, certainly!
But alas, the only Asiana flights I saw departing from Osaka leave at 9:30am... and my parents are heading to Osaka from Kyoto on the scheduled day of their departure. So the only viable options departure-timewise were United (economy), EVA (routed through Taipei, ouch!), and ANA (old C product). My parents understandably preferred me getting them the ANA flight set.
Two big bummers associated with this:
1) Dang, 20" seat width in international business?!
2) No lounge access for my parents.
I wrongly assumed (d'oh!) that -- since I booked an ANA KIX-HND-LAX biz ticket for them via my points -- they'd get access to the ANA lounge at KIX, but it looks like they just get access to the lounge at HND. And, alas, they'll be at KIX at least 4 hours before their flight due to their group's schedule.
Anyone have suggestions on how I might be able to obtain lounge access for my parents at KIX... or other suggestions on how they might be comfortable / entertained for a bunch of hours?
I guess I'm being a bit of a perfectionist here, but I'm eager to make their transit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.
Thanks in advance for any (additional) advice, and thanks again for your input so far!
The good news first: I was indeed able to book LAX-NRT in Singapore Airlines Suites for my parents (middle pair
via a Chase points transfer, and I know they're gonna love their experience (the nice new lounge at LAX plus, of course, the SQ experience). Not to mention Japan itself, certainly!But alas, the only Asiana flights I saw departing from Osaka leave at 9:30am... and my parents are heading to Osaka from Kyoto on the scheduled day of their departure. So the only viable options departure-timewise were United (economy), EVA (routed through Taipei, ouch!), and ANA (old C product). My parents understandably preferred me getting them the ANA flight set.
Two big bummers associated with this:
1) Dang, 20" seat width in international business?!
2) No lounge access for my parents.
I wrongly assumed (d'oh!) that -- since I booked an ANA KIX-HND-LAX biz ticket for them via my points -- they'd get access to the ANA lounge at KIX, but it looks like they just get access to the lounge at HND. And, alas, they'll be at KIX at least 4 hours before their flight due to their group's schedule.
Anyone have suggestions on how I might be able to obtain lounge access for my parents at KIX... or other suggestions on how they might be comfortable / entertained for a bunch of hours?
I guess I'm being a bit of a perfectionist here, but I'm eager to make their transit as enjoyable and comfortable as possible
.Thanks in advance for any (additional) advice, and thanks again for your input so far!
Aug 9, 2014, 1:08 am
#23
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KIX to HND in Economy or in Business?
If they go KIX-HND-LAX non-stop, they should be able to get HND-LAX's plane ticket.
You can attempt to enter the lounge using that ticket and hope the lounge agent doesn't care.
But IF KIX-HND is on Business, than you get lounge access. If they complaint just then show the international leg and you should be OK.
If they go KIX-HND-LAX non-stop, they should be able to get HND-LAX's plane ticket.
You can attempt to enter the lounge using that ticket and hope the lounge agent doesn't care.
But IF KIX-HND is on Business, than you get lounge access. If they complaint just then show the international leg and you should be OK.
Aug 10, 2014, 11:17 am
#24
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Tennisnoob, I booked KIX-HND-LAX as 'C' (as a one-way UA award)... but the KIX-HND leg is on a single-cabin plane, so it's all economy for that specific leg.
But surprisingly, I've learned that that's apparently not even relevant re lounge access; even if they were flying business all the way, it looks like they still wouldn't be eligible to use the ANA lounge, according to this page.
What is ANA thinking here?!
But surprisingly, I've learned that that's apparently not even relevant re lounge access; even if they were flying business all the way, it looks like they still wouldn't be eligible to use the ANA lounge, according to this page.
What is ANA thinking here?!
Aug 11, 2014, 10:48 am
#25
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They should have access according to the Japanese site based on their international connection in business class:
https://www.ana.co.jp/int/checkin/lounge/connect/
https://www.ana.co.jp/int/checkin/lounge/connect/
Aug 11, 2014, 11:12 am
#26
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railroadtycoon, interesting! That page seems to make it extremely clear that, indeed, they're entitled to lounge access at KIX.
I wonder why the agent specifically told me in email that they are NOT eligible.
Well, I guess we'll just have to see how things work out. Maybe I'll encourage my parents to print out that page
Thanks for the info!
I wonder why the agent specifically told me in email that they are NOT eligible.
Well, I guess we'll just have to see how things work out. Maybe I'll encourage my parents to print out that page
Thanks for the info!
Aug 11, 2014, 11:29 am
#27
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The star alliance website won't help with information in this case, since it isn't a Star Alliance benefit, but an ANA benefit.
Aug 12, 2014, 12:01 am
#28
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Based on experience you can access ANY star alliance business class lounge as long as you have an business class ticket that flys out within the next 24 hours.
That's what many lounge dragons have informed me.
That's what many lounge dragons have informed me.
Aug 12, 2014, 12:28 am
#29
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Customer must be departing from the local airport in International Business Class
Star Alliance Lounge Access Policy
At virtually all airports, lounge admission is automated based on boarding pass scan. Unless you meet the published criteria, you will in virtually all instances be denied admission.
Aug 12, 2014, 12:29 am
#30
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http://www.staralliance.com/en/benef...access-policy/
Basically, if you are flying in international business class without Star Alliance Gold status, you get lounge access ONLY at the airport where you are departing in international business class. (I was once turned away from the UA club at DEN when I had a connection to a business class flight from LAX, as my *G had lapsed.)
If you have Star Alliance Gold status, you get lounge access before each flight, BUT if you have your status through UA, you can only use United Clubs within the US if you have a same-day international flight.
Some carriers are more generous; for instance NH will let you use a lounge before a domestic flight if you are connecting to an NH flight in international F or C (as mentioned earlier), and they also provide lounge access for domestic business class pax.