Originally Posted by
AZ Boomer
Doing some very early planning for a trip to Japan with my wife in 2018. (I lived there 1967-1970.)
There are no direct routes between Seattle and Osaka, so I have to choose between one or two stops, based on equipment (assuming there are are award seats for both through AA).
I can make it easily to SFO or LAX via AS. The choice is LAX-KIX non-stop on a 787-8 with the old Shell Flat Neo seat or LAX or SFO-HND (-KIX) on a 777-300 with SS7.
Should I choose between better air pressure and directness LAX-KIX or better hard product but a transfer in HND to domestic SFO-HND (-KIX).
Having same dilemma on the return via Delta (but is more dependent on cost of awards for the non-stop vs. connection); which I will refer to the Delta forum
I often use JL2 SFO-HND to go to Osaka, but it's really useless.
This flight arrives at HND late night, though I want to fly for ITM, the flight may connect only for the last flight for KIX.
In case of earlier arrival for HND, the flight always arrive 1h earlier, if an earlier flight going to ITM is still available at HND, you may board the earlier flight. I sometime take even a taxi to transit between International and Domestic terminal to get earlier flight instead of free transit bus but worth.
On the other hand, JL 61 LAX-NRT connects to NRT-ITM.
An issue of this flight is departing early noon, so you have to leave SEA in early morning, 6AM.
According to these flight schedules, you may choose SEA-SFO-HND-KIX then change HND-KIX for ITM if available at HND.
In case of visiting Kyoto, Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto is an alternative choice.
This is an easier way arriving Kyoto at 10PM.