FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Definitive "Booking Japan Airlines (JL) Using AS Miles" Thread - 2019 and Earlier
Old May 1, 2018 | 12:21 am
  #341  
Tokyoite
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Tokyo
Programs: Marriott Plat, HH G,Hyatt E,*A Gold, OW Emerald.
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Originally Posted by cce5858
OH WOW I feel so dumb now hahaha THANK YOU so much for this!! I will probably book separately CX J to Taipei?? Then I can use the Pier Lounge?? Please tell me if I am wrong lol
Use of business class lounges depends on cabin of departure flight, and also OW status. If you use CX J to Taipei, then of course you can use the Pier Lounge business class section.
But, I suggest you instead save your miles and fly JFK-Tokyo-Taipei (TSA or TPE) on JAL on one Alaska award.
Alternatively, I suggest you fly JFK/EWR-HKG-Taipei (TPE) on Cathay on one Alaska award.
You could even stretch it and utilize the Cathay HKG-TPE-NRT flight, and actually book
JFK/EWR-HKG (transit HKG <24 hours)-TPE (layover in Taiwan of a few days/weeks/months) - NRT(destination)
all on Cathay on one Alaska award.
e.g.
CX 841 JFK 10:00 HKG 14:00 +1 --->CX 430 HKG 13:35 +2 TPE 15:35 +2 (23hrs 23 minute transit in HKG)
after a long layover of days/weeks/months
either CX 450 TPE 13:00 NRT 17:20 or CX 522 TPE 16:15 NRT 20:35

Keep hunting for the first class award space, especially JFK/EWR-HKG.

====
If you insist on stopping in both Tokyo and Hong Kong ( >24 hours), then you will need separate awards, since you cannot mix two Alaska partners (JAL and Cathay).
BA Avios are very useful for this short flight (CX J to Taipei). But, you have to book early since BA blocks last minute Cathay award bookings.
There are actually 5 Cathay business lounges in HKG, so you can do a lounge tour! (I did it last February, a glass of Moet champagne in all business class lounges) The Wing, Pier, Bridge, Cabin, and the new Deck, plus the Qantas lounge (nothing positive about the Qantas lounge)

Last edited by Tokyoite; May 1, 2018 at 12:46 am
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