Hi,

I'm struggling to compare options to get from DFW to Japan in October 2025. Direct flights via JL or AA are too expensive in J, so we are looking to reposition to either LAX or IAH. Planning to travel the Golden Triangle, so would be open to arriving in Tokyo or Osaka. Return home will be the direct HND->DFW JL flight on the new A350.

This will be our first J experience and we want to be comfortable while minimizing jet lag. We didn't have firm plans in time to get point redemptions. Most of these flights arrive in Japan early evening, so we will likely try to stay awake on the plane as much as we can and sleep after arrival (unless anyone has suggestions for better managing jet lag). Seems like not many flights travel during US sleep hours.

The major options we are considering are as follows:

DFW->LAX->KIX (long-haul on JL 69)

• $2500 cheaper per person
• Longer time repositioning in domestic economy
• Saves a bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka and one hotel switch since we would lump all of Tokyo at the end of the trip
• LAX->KIX in J is the reviled Sky Suite III hard product

DFW->IAH->HND (long-haul on NH113)

• $2500 more expensive per person
• Less time on domestic repositioning and closer to home if something goes wrong
• Operates the 787-9 older ANA J hard product, which seems better reviewed and more spacious (but is it worth the cash premium?)

I would love to hear any opinions on flight options, both hard and soft product, and benefits of one itinerary over another. We looked at several other options but my group was trying to avoid NRT and felt like most of the late-arriving flights to HND would have us wide awake in the middle of the night then trying to stay up through the end of the following day. Maybe we're overthinking all of this, but any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!