Upgrade for One World Elites?

Old Mar 13, 2017, 5:56 am
  #46  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,877
Originally Posted by ChampagneSocialist
Yes, exactly what Jix said.
Which would explain the lack of a difference, that is also a business class lounge. There is a both a Sakura and a first class lounge. And while the sign says Sakura First Class, those are two separate lounges.
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2017, 6:13 am
  #47  
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: London
Programs: Thai Royal Orchid Plus Gold, BA Silver, Alitalia Freccia Alata
Posts: 348
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
Which would explain the lack of a difference, that is also a business class lounge. There is a both a Sakura and a first class lounge. And while the sign says Sakura First Class, those are two separate lounges.
Sorry I wasn't being clear - I did go to the Sakura Business Class lounge in the main building, and the lounge dragon took me to one side and said "Because it's very crowded in the business lounge, would you mind using the First Lounge upstairs". So I did go to the First Lounge. Physical differences - I guess there were lockers and better separate work/chilling/dining areas in the First Lounge? I had wanted to use the First Class showers but unfortunately they were oversubscribed. First food is still buffet service, I didn't realise see a huge difference from what is normally served in the Business Lounge.
ChampagneSocialist is offline  
Old Mar 13, 2017, 6:26 am
  #48  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,877
Originally Posted by ChampagneSocialist
Sorry I wasn't being clear - I did go to the Sakura Business Class lounge in the main building, and the lounge dragon took me to one side and said "Because it's very crowded in the business lounge, would you mind using the First Lounge upstairs". So I did go to the First Lounge. Physical differences - I guess there were lockers and better separate work/chilling/dining areas in the First Lounge? I had wanted to use the First Class showers but unfortunately they were oversubscribed. First food is still buffet service, I didn't realise see a huge difference from what is normally served in the Business Lounge.
The first class lounge upstairs is a bit of let down. Probably the least appealing of them. Buffet items and drinks are the same, but no sushi bar. In the satellite F lounge they have Laurent-Perrier champagne in addition to the main lounge options. Though still no sushi bar.
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Jun 18, 2017, 7:55 am
  #49  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: DFW
Programs: AA (Lifetime Gold, 1MM),UA(Premier Silver), Hilton(Diamond), Marriott (LTT), Hertz (PC)
Posts: 230
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
The first class lounge upstairs is a bit of let down. Probably the least appealing of them. Buffet items and drinks are the same, but no sushi bar. In the satellite F lounge they have Laurent-Perrier champagne in addition to the main lounge options. Though still no sushi bar.
Thanks for sharing. I visited the F lounge in 2010 when I still had AA EXP status. They had sushi/sashimi in the F lounge at the time... Guess I didn't lose much in the business lounge this time. Though the main food offering in the lounge (curry rice+miso soup) hasn't changed in the last 7 years... I also noticed some other food options (several different Japanese soups) have been replaced by some other less appealing(IMO cheaper) items. The business lounge has been pretty much the same in the last 2-3 years though.
yjc281 is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 12:40 am
  #50  
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,147
so bringing old thread to life, i'm guessing Japan Airlines a lot more conservative with their op-up policies? Unlike CX who always tend to over-sell if upper cabin is available, anacdotally I hear much less stories of JAL op-ups.

have dilenma of upselling my ticket to PEY as I need to extend trip duration HKG-HND... but cost of upsell is more than HKG-NRT on sale fare (on E01 787 equipment) so just thinking maybe I purchase another ticket to fly back/forth (back to back connecting in HK) with @Hope@ maybe Y=>J is possible (i'm OWE)
fakecd is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 1:22 am
  #51  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,877
Originally Posted by fakecd
so bringing old thread to life, i'm guessing Japan Airlines a lot more conservative with their op-up policies? Unlike CX who always tend to over-sell if upper cabin is available, anacdotally I hear much less stories of JAL op-ups.

have dilenma of upselling my ticket to PEY as I need to extend trip duration HKG-HND... but cost of upsell is more than HKG-NRT on sale fare (on E01 787 equipment) so just thinking maybe I purchase another ticket to fly back/forth (back to back connecting in HK) with @Hope@ maybe Y=>J is possible (i'm OWE)
They do oversell the cabins. I have had a good streak of upgrades on the Ho Chi Minh City flights recently.

But I would not hold my breath for Hong Kong. Especially not as OWE, the Hong Kong flights are usually crazy in terms of the number of JAL status members on board.
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 1:42 am
  #52  
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,147
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
They do oversell the cabins. I have had a good streak of upgrades on the Ho Chi Minh City flights recently.

But I would not hold my breath for Hong Kong. Especially not as OWE, the Hong Kong flights are usually crazy in terms of the number of JAL status members on board.
thanks color. I just wasn't sure if JAL was same as Qantas where op-ups are miracle act of God situation. I get a feeling for NRT flight in Xmas (735/736 combo) it's a leisure route... also with 148 Y seats only, flying on Sunday morning Xmas + Friday evening Xmas I doubt this will be too elite heavy.


anyways i'm happy to fly on the fare paid and get First class lounge at NRT... haven't been to NRT F-lounge before... it's not a trip i wanna do, but the cost of upselling my V fare to "E" or "M" fare (>1week) is more than buying new sale fare to Narita... funny days and games...
fakecd is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 1:53 am
  #53  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,877
Originally Posted by fakecd
thanks color. I just wasn't sure if JAL was same as Qantas where op-ups are miracle act of God situation. I get a feeling for NRT flight in Xmas (735/736 combo) it's a leisure route... also with 148 Y seats only, flying on Sunday morning Xmas + Friday evening Xmas I doubt this will be too elite heavy.


anyways i'm happy to fly on the fare paid and get First class lounge at NRT... haven't been to NRT F-lounge before... it's not a trip i wanna do, but the cost of upselling my V fare to "E" or "M" fare (>1week) is more than buying new sale fare to Narita... funny days and games...
The weekend does change things a bit. Japan has no Xmas related days off, though the 23rd is the emperor's birthday and a public holiday. It is probably a time for a lull in the elite numbers though. If you get close to the New Year's break, you will see a lot of leisure J traffic though.
​​​​
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 7:40 am
  #54  
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,332
Originally Posted by fakecd
thanks color. I just wasn't sure if JAL was same as Qantas where op-ups are miracle act of God situation. I get a feeling for NRT flight in Xmas (735/736 combo) it's a leisure route... also with 148 Y seats only, flying on Sunday morning Xmas + Friday evening Xmas I doubt this will be too elite heavy.


anyways i'm happy to fly on the fare paid and get First class lounge at NRT... haven't been to NRT F-lounge before... it's not a trip i wanna do, but the cost of upselling my V fare to "E" or "M" fare (>1week) is more than buying new sale fare to Narita... funny days and games...
FYI, it's not E01 config that you are getting
JALPak is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 11:12 am
  #55  
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,147
Originally Posted by JALPak
FYI, it's not E01 config that you are getting
yeah just realized its 787 900 with skywider II... even better. i booked for 17dec and 23dec eventually... on 23 dec only had 1 remaining seat to assign on ASR so i am hopeful i can offer data point if as OWE whether or not op=ups happen.. will report back
fakecd is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:32 pm
  #56  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 20,877
Originally Posted by fakecd
yeah just realized its 787 900 with skywider II... even better. i booked for 17dec and 23dec eventually... on 23 dec only had 1 remaining seat to assign on ASR so i am hopeful i can offer data point if as OWE whether or not op=ups happen.. will report back
Open seats is a very bad indicator for booking levels on JAL. They block a lot of seats until OLCI, and a further bunch for airport control. An almost full seat map at booking can still be a fairly empty cabin.

Last edited by CPH-Flyer; Sep 18, 2017 at 5:19 pm
CPH-Flyer is offline  
Old Sep 18, 2017, 4:51 pm
  #57  
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,332
Originally Posted by fakecd
yeah just realized its 787 900 with skywider II... even better. i booked for 17dec and 23dec eventually... on 23 dec only had 1 remaining seat to assign on ASR so i am hopeful i can offer data point if as OWE whether or not op=ups happen.. will report back
If your goal is to maximize your chance of op-up, then just fly with CX if you don't mind their service and product.
JALPak is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 5:49 am
  #58  
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,147
Originally Posted by JALPak
If your goal is to maximize your chance of op-up, then just fly with CX if you don't mind their service and product.
no. i am firm believer of flying in the cabin paid for....anything else is nice of course but wouldnt fly CX just to "increase" op up chances...

i really despise cathay pathetic. i would do anything to avoid them.... besides i think Jal skywider 2 is a superb product and wanna sit on it over CX PEY.
JALPak likes this.
fakecd is offline  
Old Sep 19, 2017, 8:57 am
  #59  
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,332
Originally Posted by fakecd
no. i am firm believer of flying in the cabin paid for....anything else is nice of course but wouldnt fly CX just to "increase" op up chances...

i really despise cathay pathetic. i would do anything to avoid them.... besides i think Jal skywider 2 is a superb product and wanna sit on it over CX PEY.
I hate crappy pathetic as well but the CX premium economy seat on A350 is nicer than SKYWIDER in terms of seat width and pitch. However it gave me a neck pain because the IFE screen was in such a weird position thanks to the passenger in front of me who reclined all the way from after takeoff to before landing for a short KIX-HKG flight.

Normally I would just connect in TYO even when I have to go to Osaka. But I had to choose the direct flight this time because of the last minute change of my schedule. Pretty ironic that I've never been opup'ed on any JL's Japan-HKG flights and CX upgraded me the first time I flown with them between Japan and HKG

Last edited by JALPak; Sep 19, 2017 at 9:03 am
JALPak is offline  
Old Sep 28, 2017, 7:14 am
  #60  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 204
I flew HND-HKG recently on an Avios PE award ticket and was upgraded me to business as a CX DM - apparently PE was full.

I've pretty much stopped flying CX to / from HND this year because the food is so bad in PE and I prefer the slightly earlier flight to HND (JL26 leaves about an hour earlier than CX542)
clazza is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.