SEA to Japan Options?
A conference in September 2015 may be a great excuse for me and my wife to go back to Kyoto with side trips North. Rather than rely on reimbursement for one person in econ, I'm exclusively considering redeeming miles for both of us for C or F. Kyoto hotel costs will be covered by my employer, so that's not an issue.
Our last trip to Japan (Tokyo, Mount Fuji, and Kyoto) around 10 years ago was ex-ATL, so flying DL ATL-NRT direct in C was an obvious choice. Now that I'm ex-SEA, I have to rethink both my itin and miles earning strategy. I know a lot can change over the next 12 months, but I'd like to tap into your experience regarding the best flight, mile redemption value, etc.
The award itins (75k-80k o/w pp) I'm considering are:
1. SEA-NRT on ANA in biz and then on to Kyoto by bullet train or commuter flight
2. SEA-SFO-NRT in First on UA and then on to Kyoto by bullet train or commuter flight
3. SEA-NRT (same day transfer to) HND-KIX all on ANA in biz
4. SEA-ICH-KIX all on Asiana in biz
5. Something else?
Me and wife:
Highly value ease of connections
Highly value sleep-friendly, lie-flat seats on long-hauls
Fine with American and/or Japanese on-board dining options
Slightly favor flights with better alcohol offerings
Never been on a 787 or 773ER; I've been in C on ER1 (A380)
TIA