Originally Posted by
Ed Size
Fly business class from another country? Like ARN, PRG i.e.? Tickets would be <2000€
Huh, where do you find such cheap tickets? Business class to Japan seems to be pretty consistently expensive for me when I look around?
Originally Posted by
reflektia
Fly via melbourne. Ticket prices are typically 1ke or little below for AY.
You mean buying value ticket to Melbourne, and then continuing to Japan on a separate ticket? That seems to give pretty good earnings indeed, I guess this would be more like a mileage run and not something you do each time, but it's a good idea so I'll keep that in mind as an option. Thanks.
Originally Posted by
Courmisch
To get 100% earnings, you need to book into M fare (or higher). Unfortunately, I don't know any OTA that would offer the selection manually - and it adds something like 200€/way over the normal economy price. Another option is to fly JAL Premium Economy, preferably under AY marketing codes - but it seems permanently damn expensive even for Premium Economy.
For proper Value fares, you can start in countries not covered by the trans-siberian cartel, such as Russia or Israel; LED is the most obvious choice as on22cz noted already. Alternatively fly to greater China or Seoul, and continue on separate ticket. You don't necessarily need to pick HKG: in mainland China, you would be eligible for visa-free transit. There are some cheap Value fares even from HEL, even though CKG is over: for instance AY codes on HO (or AY) to PVG.
And then there's some CX fares as you pointed out connecting in western Europe and HKG.
If you are time-constrained and cannot take a detour, there are no good affordable options that I'd know.
I could not find any way to buy JAL premium economy with AY marketing code? But yeah, they are pretty expensive as well. I was able to find BA tickets with premium economy saver though, which was kind of same price as buying AY ticket in booking class M, so that might be an option.
I did take a look at mainland China as well, but it seemed to me connections to Japan were not really that good? Or maybe I just couldn't find the best options.
Starting in LED also seems like a realistic option, that I will definitely take a look at. I have the impression that Russia is an annoying country with Visa-rules etc, but maybe for just transferring it's not so bad?
Thanks for the reply.
Originally Posted by
Courmisch
Soon Finnair is supposed to start selling premium economy to Japan, which presumably will earn 100% or more. It remains to be seen at what price however (and what the contemporary loyalty program enhancements will be).
That's a good point, assuming you can find tickets that are similar price to buying M booking class, and gives at least full points, it would at least be better than the current options with AY so I am definitely interested in seeing how this turns out.