Ex-EU to Tokyo
Mar 6, 2018, 3:35 pm
#1
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Ex-EU to Tokyo
Hi All,
I'm looking at an ex-EU trip to Tokyo in business later this year. The forum might be able to advise on the following:
1. Best start/end point? Looks to be AMS to me.
2. Choice of carriers is BA/JL/AY. My preference is JL but timings for BA/AY might be better. Any opinions on best carrier for J? Is AY better than BA?
3. If I do fly JL then the first flight out of AMS arrives LHR T5 08:00 and the connecting JL flight out of T3 departs 09:30. Is that sufficient time?
alpen
I'm looking at an ex-EU trip to Tokyo in business later this year. The forum might be able to advise on the following:
1. Best start/end point? Looks to be AMS to me.
2. Choice of carriers is BA/JL/AY. My preference is JL but timings for BA/AY might be better. Any opinions on best carrier for J? Is AY better than BA?
3. If I do fly JL then the first flight out of AMS arrives LHR T5 08:00 and the connecting JL flight out of T3 departs 09:30. Is that sufficient time?
alpen
Mar 6, 2018, 3:47 pm
#2
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Hi,
Are you planning a saturday night stay in tokyo which might help reduce the price)
I would also consider FRA, MAD, OSL, CPH ARN. HEL.
I have done Cathay pacific MAD-HKG-TYO ( I do not think Cathay to Hong kong from MAD is daily though) which was very good and in January did FRA-LHR-NRT with BA and NRT-FRA on JL.
I would also consider QR ( Qatar ) if you get a sale price.
Regards
TBS
A 90min connection at LHR T5-T3 is doable ( i think it is just on the MCT time)
Regards
TBS
Are you planning a saturday night stay in tokyo which might help reduce the price)
I would also consider FRA, MAD, OSL, CPH ARN. HEL.
I have done Cathay pacific MAD-HKG-TYO ( I do not think Cathay to Hong kong from MAD is daily though) which was very good and in January did FRA-LHR-NRT with BA and NRT-FRA on JL.
I would also consider QR ( Qatar ) if you get a sale price.
Regards
TBS
A 90min connection at LHR T5-T3 is doable ( i think it is just on the MCT time)
Regards
TBS
Mar 6, 2018, 3:59 pm
#3
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Thanks. I'll check the other departure points. I tried MAD & DUB but they're more pricey than AMS. CDG is currently a little more than AMS and might be an option.
It's a 2 week trip so we will have a Sat overnight. The actual destination is CTS (Sapporo) but I thought I'd keep things simple for the forum by saying TYO
I've looked at CX to CTS via HKG but it's currently quite pricey.
AMS-CTS return is currently about Ł2K on JL/BA/AY.
It's a 2 week trip so we will have a Sat overnight. The actual destination is CTS (Sapporo) but I thought I'd keep things simple for the forum by saying TYO
I've looked at CX to CTS via HKG but it's currently quite pricey.
AMS-CTS return is currently about Ł2K on JL/BA/AY.
Mar 6, 2018, 8:17 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2015
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I have done this journey many times. The most common for me is DUS however which departure point is cheapest is constantly changing. When I have done DUS I have always got BA J for less than Ł2k. This sometimes even includes a JL J segment in it (they need X class open for this to be available but they are not very generous with this class).
In my experience, the JL LHR-HND timing is the best for jet lag.
I wouldn't recommend QR as the total journey time, especially on the return, is similar to flying to/from Australia. This is fine if you are ok to significantly add to your journey time. Also both QR flight times to Japan are a killer for jet lag (for me anyway).
In my experience, the JL LHR-HND timing is the best for jet lag.
I wouldn't recommend QR as the total journey time, especially on the return, is similar to flying to/from Australia. This is fine if you are ok to significantly add to your journey time. Also both QR flight times to Japan are a killer for jet lag (for me anyway).
Mar 6, 2018, 11:57 pm
#5
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Tried ex BUD? I flew mix AY and JL from BUD via HEL. Inbound was to NRT outbound from Haneda via Osaka..great 4 day trip around 1500 UKP in May. Included JL 787 ex HEL and 330 on AY metal from Osaka. All Business Class.
Mar 7, 2018, 1:48 am
#6
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Thanks everyone, I'll look at the other departure points. So far, AMS is marginally less expensive than the others.
Any comments re AY longhaul business class? How does it compare with BA & JL? In my experience JL is preferable to BA.
Any comments re AY longhaul business class? How does it compare with BA & JL? In my experience JL is preferable to BA.
Mar 7, 2018, 2:04 am
#7
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Also check the China and Taiwan pricing if you're not in a hurry and fancy seeing a bit of Shanghai or Taipei.
Mar 7, 2018, 3:19 am
#8
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The seating on AY's 350 is pretty good, it is a bit airier than CX's application of the 350 as AY doesn't have overhead lockers above the middle seats whereas CX does. This can make storage a little tight. The lounge in HEL is pretty good if you are sapphire and above, but it can be a little crowded when there are a lot of flights heading east.
Last edited by itsmeitisss; Mar 7, 2018 at 3:26 am
Mar 7, 2018, 7:11 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London
Posts: 203
LOT out of WAW ties in with a number of LOT connections from quite a selection of EU airports including AMS. The only problem is that the early am departure ex AMS is too early to make a same day connection from the UK. Their business class service is good if not exceptional and the fare is the lowest present ly on offer, including a return NRT-LHR via WAW so no need to return to AMS and then on.
Mar 8, 2018, 3:39 pm
#13
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ams lhr TYO option. If you can get the jl41 jl42 thats the very best. Saving two nights in hotels...
Mar 9, 2018, 6:49 am
#14
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Thanks everyone.
I'm travelling with a friend who's not been to Japan before and he's keen to try the Shinkansen back from Hokkaido to Tokyo (in which case we'd drop the CTS-HND flight). Am I correct in assuming that if we were a no show for that flight then the rest of the ticket would be cancelled? I’m aware I don’t need to book CTS-HND but I’d like to keep our options open.
I'm travelling with a friend who's not been to Japan before and he's keen to try the Shinkansen back from Hokkaido to Tokyo (in which case we'd drop the CTS-HND flight). Am I correct in assuming that if we were a no show for that flight then the rest of the ticket would be cancelled? I’m aware I don’t need to book CTS-HND but I’d like to keep our options open.
Last edited by alpenlupe; Mar 9, 2018 at 9:53 am Reason: starting a new thread with J cabin question
Mar 9, 2018, 6:58 am
#15
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I'm travelling with a friend who's not been to Japan before and he's keen to try the Shinkansen back from Hokkaido to Tokyo (in which case we'd drop the CTS-HND flight). Am I correct in assuming that if we were a no show for that flight then the rest of the ticket would be cancelled?