Originally Posted by
zansmg
Guys, apologies for being clueless, but my heads starting to spin. I want to take my family of 3 to Japan October 12 to 21. Ultimately, OKC to KIX (Osaka) then TYO to OKC. I can go through DFW or LAX. I want to get business class for the international stretches but I'm running into a wall on the AA site - no milesaver business for AA flights, JAL doesn't show up. I tried to figure out upgrade availability on ExpertFlyer, but it doesn't show JAL upgrade availability that I can tell. I've got about 100k miles and trying to figure out the best way to use them.
I can buy miles. That'd get me to about 350k miles with the 100k bonus. Not going to be enough for AAnytime business for 3.
Is there any other way I can work this?
You are not aware JL is not searchable on AA website
For that you need to either check it on BA site (sign up a BA account for this purpose as well as checking CX availability). Or you can call and rely the agent to go thru all the dates you have in mind to check it (a much more cumbersome process and may not yield good results as agents can get annoyed.)
JL flies to KIX from LAX only. A lot more US gateways serve TYO.
You actually can fly to NRT then NRT to ITM (the Osaka airport more closer to town) - it is a single award. We literally will fly this itinerary in April - JFK-NRT-ITM single award, 2hr15min connection at NRT.
AAnytime only available on AA's own flights. It is not available for partner flights.