moshennik

Trying to get some international flyer wisdom here

I am planning a trip from PDX to NRT/HND this September (my exact days Sept 10 - Sept 20 if this matters) with my wife.
The obvious choices are Delta direct (but i have 0 status on delta this year), or United via SFO. (I am platinum on United).

The base price is about the same, with Delta I would pay extra $300 for economy+ per person, with United i don't have that expense.

Here are my questions.
1) What's the probably of being able to upgrade on SFO-HND/ HND-NRT flights? I will willing to pay miles or $ for upgrade within reason.
2) The connection in SFO is 48 minutes, what's the probably of not making it? (UA7950->UA6409).

Other considerations
1) I have 200k+ united points 150k+ amex points 150k+ chase points - but can't put anything meaningful together for business/first class on any airline using these.
2) Open to other airlines/possibilities, did I miss something?

aacharya

The odds of upgrades are relatively low out of SFO, so I'm going to focus on your 2nd query (award ticketing).

There is availability in BF SFO-LAX-TYO on September 10th. However, PDX-SFO in F is not always available. You can reserve SFO-LAX-TYO and then call in to add PDX.

Then you can waitlist for SFO-NRT (as the direct flight is not yet available).

The way home is a bit more grim - I found nothing at all TYO-SFO/LAX in BF or economy.

Kacee

(1) Easy route to upgrade. You will likely be able to confirm in advance with miles + copay. Or possibly a cash buy-up at check-in, but that availability cannot be predicted.

(2) 48 minutes may be legal, but it's too risky IMO. If you miss, the next TYO flights are NRT the following day.

That is really not true for SFO-HND. R is available more often than not.

moshennik

Thank you. I saw the SFO-LAX-NRT flight, but to me it means PDX-SFO-LAX-NRT, and i am just not going to do it, even in first.
I also looked at Seattle - NRT flight, but there is no PDX - Seattle in United.. so I would have to fly something else there..

Thank you! What's the typical miles + copay for an upgrade?
Also, what happens if you miss the connection in SFO, do they put you up overnight?

sbm12

Expect to pay $600 + 30,000 per person each way. Is that "within reason" for your budget?

You probably will make it, though UA7950 is operated by ANA so no upgrades on that. And if you miss there are more flights to PDX later.


2) Open to other airlines/possibilities, did I miss something?[/QUOTE]
There are 2 C award seats LAX-NRT on the 10th. Fly down the night before on PDX-DEN-LAX and then out to NRT in the morning.

On the 20th there are 2 C seats ICN-LAX on TG. Award flight from TYO to SEL suck a bit right now at first glance but it might work out.

moshennik

There are 2 C award seats LAX-NRT on the 10th. Fly down the night before on PDX-DEN-LAX and then out to NRT in the morning.

On the 20th there are 2 C seats ICN-LAX on TG. Award flight from TYO to SEL suck a bit right now at first glance but it might work out.[/QUOTE]

$600 + 30,000 sounds very reasonable to me.
You are saying if this is not a flight operated by United I can't buy up for an upgrade?

Kacee

That's per passenger, each way. That's also for the cheapest discount fare. The upgrade price goes down as the fare price goes up.

Correct. If you want to upgrade, you need to pick one of the UA operated flights.

sbm12

Or buy a Y or B fare and pay only miles but likely to be so much more expensive that way as to not really be worth considering.

moshennik

What about if i take non-united flight PDX-LAX and LAX-PDX.

Now I can book first class using miles LAX-NRT for 65k miles each - i like this .
Is it possible to book flight out using miles and flight back using $?

aacharya

You can fly non-UA, but luggage may not check through, and if you miss the flight, it's on you.

As for miles out, $ back - yes. But normally one-ways TPAC are much more than half of the RT. (Note I think LAX-NRT is 65K in BF, not technically 3-class F).

My apologies also on assuming SFO-HND was as tough as LAX-NRT with respect to upgrades.

Kacee

Not an option if OP purchases the UA codeshare.

moshennik

We always travel with carry-on only.. so not worried about luggage.
I do see one way NRT-LAX $3800 for some reason. I will be calling United in a few to figure it out.

pruss2ny

have u checked YVR?
assuming u'd consider non-UA metal

aacharya

Non UA metal is 75k oneway in BF.

Kacee

And not worth it IMO for a simple US-Japan roundtrip. It's only a 9 hour flight on the return.

If you're going to burn the miles for a *A partner J or F award, it ought to be a multi-segment itinerary, preferably with OJ and stopover