My first post here so hope I have posted in the right place! My husband and I are currently looking at flights to Japan for a holiday next December. Very early to start looking I know but we are going to keep an eye on prices. My problem is is that I can't decide which airline to fly! I am an air hostess for VS and could get very cheap tickets from VS for our holiday but this is on standby basis only and I want fully confirmed business class tickets so I can book hotels etc (something that is really hard to do when your on standby as you need to book expensive hotel rooms with high flexibility). We live in EDI so we have the local choices of EK, QR and TK. I have experience of EK in Y but not business but I've seen it and my husband has flown them before and said it was great but its a 773 all the way to NRT and Im not sure if Im so keen on their seating. I love the idea of QR and I have flown in J on their a/c but they are really really expensive at the moment. I have seen a great deal with TK from EDI return but Im curious as to the cost. It seems a bit low. Is there a good chance we will get the a/c with the new config or will there be a good chance of getting an older a/c? I had thought about VS but it would feel too much like work and the A343 still flies on that route which isn't the best IMO. I've also heard good things about JAL but unsure about reliability of their J class on their LHR route. Can anyone just make the decision for me! I feel there is too much choice! Always a good thing for consumers but sometimes too difficult! As we are paying full fare I want this to be a great experience for both of us and as I work all day in J I have high standards of service and seat design. Any opinions? Anyone want to just book a flight for me??^^

Welcome to FT

As you are paying J with your own hard earned money schedule-departure/arrival time-cost are decisions/choices only you can make. Like many crew who post on FT, you are not alone in paying and not risking standby

Are you and/or hubbie members of any freq flyer program? EDI-NRT in J is a lot for ff miles/points? http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=edi-doh...i&MS=wls&DU=mi

Thanks for the reply. Have a few thousand with Emirates but that's about it. If we book QR or EK it seems we will get silver straight off the bat. Need to have a think. Would love to try new QR 787. Any thoughts on Turkish Airlines?

Qatar QR are now in One World so you could earn in any OW FFP (AA, BA, AB, CX, QF and more). But even in J the earn rates are very different for the different airlines FFP's

Turkish Airlines are in www.StarAlliance.com, so similar miles collection oportunites. Aeagen is popular with some

Be aware that FF miles expire. Not 100% sure, but EK may expire after 3 years: use them or lose them.