Originally Posted by baobab
In case it turns out to be of future use to someone else...
The gardener ended up getting a oneworld rtw ticket. BOS <-> KIX return in Club is significantly more expensive than rtw in Club, and only slightly less expensive than rtw in First. Given the length of the trip and the relatively short time he'll be in Kyoto it wasn't a difficult choice. Not wishing to fly American for the long legs, he will do a short BOS - JFK jaunt followed by CX F for JFK - YVR (stopover) - HKG, followed by more CX for HKG <-> KIX. After a brief stop in HKG he'll return in BA F through LHR - BOS.
Choosing to fly American through one of their west coast hubs may have simplified the connections, but it's hard for AA to compete with CX.
Unless this is when CX has commenced nonstop JFK-HKG flights, I think the JLK-YVR-HKG-KIX is unattractive; who wants to leave JLF at 11:30 PM and then wake up 5-60 hours later in YVR, et al.
It's a BAD scheulde (not so bad on the return), all of which will be obviated by the JFK-HKG nonstop.
By both of the JFK-NRT or ORD-NRT flights on JL are GREAT (especaiily those with the new seats, such as JL 5/6 and JL 9/10).
But don't go by first blush fares: try FirstAir.net and contact the owner
[email protected] for a quote -- you may be able to fly F for close to the price of J/C.