Originally Posted by
YouSeeLABruin
How were you able to check availability!? I've been looking for a tool like this. And I understand that the cheapest coach fares require a copayment, but even with the copayment a round trip flight, in business class, to Japan is worth the 2300 (1100 for flight +1200 copay) for someone who is 6'5 and NEEDS layflat seats.
Also, off topic, but I'm booking a domestic flight and am wondering whether I should do so through United (so it looks like I fly with them more) or Chase (because I get 2x miles). I have to book travel through Chase in order to get the miles, so it's impossible for me to book through United and get the Chase miles.
You can check availability on United.com. I used ExpertFlyer..
www.expertflyer.com.. but it's a pay site (which is much faster and easier than United.com..but it's $9.99 per month..you can get a free trial though if you want to check it out). On United.com go into your profile and set it to Expert mode for displaying availability. Then, do a dummy award booking for the dates you want. It will display the LAX-NRT flight.. then click on "Flight Details" which displays all of the award travel buckets. For upgrade space you are looking for "NC" availability. As I said before, there's plenty of space on all of those dates I mentioned.
As for your domestic flight... it doesn't really matter. Unless you earn 25,000 elite qualifying miles in a calendar year on United you'll get no extra benefit from one domestic flight.