BKK-LAX Which flight would you pick?
 

Hey guys, I am just about finished planning out my 2 week trip. On my last leg, I have a couple of choices. Which one would you pick?
All one ways.

1. China Airlines BKK-LAX - $1,000 dollar flight. Pro: Business class from BKK-TPE. Premium Economy from TPE-LAX. Timing is great. Leaves BKK at 5pm. Neg: China Airlines, I get a little nervous flying China Airlines. Don't know much about their EP product. I can get delta points but I don't really fly Delta anymore. I am also worried about their future redemption.

2. JAL BKK-LAX - 1700. Pro: All business class. I am AA Platinum and I will earn a ton of miles. I think I will earn almost 20,000 miles on this flight and 12,000 EQM. It will guarantee me gold next year.
Neg: Still extremely expensive at 1700 for business. Terrible timing, leaves at 9:45 am.

3. Delta (via Korean Air) BKK-LAX - All miles 70k Delta miles. I have 40,000 sitting in my delta account. I will transfer another 30k from Amex. Pro: Business Class. Doesn't cost me money. Neg: Poor timing, leaves at 10am. Not a big fan of Korean's business class product.

Which one would you guys choose?

I would choose 1 - primarily because of timing. I would not be crazy about economy plus on C.A. - but for me timing is the overriding consideration. I believe C.A. has not had an 'incident' in a while - I believe last once with loss of life was in 2002.

I guess it depends on how much money you've got.

If money were no object I would probably pick JL business class. As long as its their latest J class product (which I think it is on the flights between BKK and Tokyo at least). And you note this give you gold status. Not sure what that is worth as I have never really played the status game.

If you are miles-rich, cash-poor then I would probably pick option 3.

For me there isn't a premium economy product that matches up to business class for a long haul flight.

To clarify, the miles on this flight will guarantee me gold for next year in terms of getting enough EQM.

You are the only one who can decide if the extra $700 price is worth it to secure AA gold and the value of 20k rdm.
Some people have more time than money while others have more money than time. As they say in Thailand, " up to you "
I would go for the JAL option for the comfort factor. Even if it means getting up early to go to the airport.

Right now I'm really leaning towards using my Delta points.

I could also pay 1700 for China Airlines Business as well. They have a really nice program but I would only earn Delta points.

Are these RT fares? If so, they're great prices for business class. However, I suspect not since the DL/KE flights are only 70,000 miles for business class.

If you can afford it, JAL would be a great experience. For KE, check the seat maps, as many of their aircraft use 2-3-2 seating, which is horrible for business class. In fact, check seat configurations for any flights you're considering.

Hi,

No unfortunately it isn't RT. If it was, I would have jumped on it already. Although sometimes DELTA has 3k RT business class specials from PVG to Vancouver.

Basically I am using about 75,000 AA miles to fly SAN-NRT-HKG-SIN all business class and I was thinking about replenishing some of my miles if I fly JAL business class. Not sure if the 1700 is worth it though. It really is a lot of money.

You are right, I don't like KE. Honestly, the best product is China Airlines Business class, but its just the price and the miles thing. Also the timing of the JAL flight kinda sucks, cuts my day in BKK in half.

I gotta make a decision soon. I just booked my CX J from LAX-HKG-SIN for 55k. Now I am looking to book my return trip. Anyone else care to chime in on which one they would choose?

China Airlines is a "pretty horrible" airline. It really takes a lot for me to say that.

Just had a segment on China Airlines nonstop AMS-BKK. Chose it because of timing. Now, LAX should have their best hard product, which is a plus. (AMS-BKK is the very old business class, 2-2-2 angled seats on the very slow A340). We were in business class (AMS-BKK) and while the food was OK, the overall service was just not nice. I would characterise it as efficient and mean. (at least, it was efficient). But, not horribly efficient. Meal service was completed in an hour, but my son fell asleep (mind you, this is business class) when he woke up about an hour after meal service we inquired about him getting lunch (remember, this is only hour 2.5 of a close to 12 hour flight). The steak we ordered for him was gone. Offered pork and salmon, both of which he does not eat. Minor issue, but just one of many strange service items. Almost exact quote to my wife "you order vegetarian, you cannot have ice cream or cheese with dessert; you can only have the green tea cake." I have never been in business class where they rationed food like this (especially, since everyone seldom eats all the food). Want sparkling water, well, that's a problem. Ran out of sparkling water at the end of the first meal service. Ask for wine while watching a movie, get strange looks. Say thank you (I tested this, perhaps a dozen times) flight attendants never respond.

All in all, quite strange. And, this was business class.

Anyway, just be aware. :D

(I really have to write up a trip report on my blog, I have so many funny stories from this flight.....)

If you have the $700, I would go with option 2. I just did that trip with miles (albeit I did NRT - USA in F but BKK - NRT was in J).

BKK - NRT is on a 787 with the NEO shell seats. They are pretty comfortable for the ride, especially as a daytime flight, and I actually liked the timing - but I was overnighting in NRT. It looks like the connection from BKK - NRT - LAX is fairly tight (1 hour on a randomly selected date). This would definitely prevent you from taking advantage of the lounge.

In terms of the NRT - LAX flight on the 77W. I flew SFOHND in J on the 77W in March and it was very nice for the trip over the Pacific. It's completely lie-flat (and a comfortable lie-flat), the food is pretty good, there is a solid selection of alcohol (The Yamazaki and Hakushu if you are in to Japanese whiskey). The IFE selection is pretty limited, I was running out of stuff to watch at the end of my NRTJFK flight but I had also spent ~17.5 hours on JL over 2 days. It is 2-3-2 seating however I didn't mind this since I think it is laid out well. There are numerous JAL J trip reports that you can look at (I haven't posted mine yet unfortunately).

The menus for both BKKNRT and NRTLAX can be found on the JAL website so you can add that to your decision-making process.

I've never flown China Airlines so can't help compare it against JAL but certainly if you have the $700 it is worth it.

Its not 700 but 1700. The miles really entice me. I would get 2x EQM and also ~26,000 miles. I just hate leaving a location in the morning though...

I would book CI E+ for $1000 just because the timing is the best. Transit via TPE also seamless.

OP mentioned flying JL Business on this trip will guarantee re-qualify with AA Gold. That's $700 over the CI fare for a low level status. OP is AA Platinum now so there is a good chance he will get a soft-landing to Gold automatically if he didn't re-qualify for Platinum. Additionally, AA usually offers existing Gold a cash option ($400 or something like that) to retain Gold status if one just miss re-qualification. My gut reaction is $700 is good investment if it guarantees Platinum for next year but poor investment if it only guarantees Gold, considering there may be a soft-landing anyway.

Edit: Looks like AA did away with soft landing last year... so OP will not get bump down to Gold. So maybe it is worth the extra $ to ensure re-qualification.

I got my AA plat status through a status challenge. This year I have roughly 15,000 so far. Flying this route will net me 8000x2 EQM = 16000 EQM and around 26,000 miles. That will get me to 30-35,000.

Also trying to figure out how valuable gold really is.... The timing really gets me. I don't like leaving at 9:45am. If the flight was 5pm then I would definitely purchase the 1700 ticket.

Timing aside, JAL is the best quality product in my opinion. Good seats, great food, not much to complain about. Can you push the JAL flight to the next day?