May 21, 2013, 12:18 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Sykes

Fare feels too good to be true? Don't call the airline!!!!!!
Double check that the fare is actually in Business or First as some online search engines or OTA's confuse booking classes on some airlines.
Post as many details as possible about the First / Business fare, including fare class, fare basis, one-way / roundtrip, sales channel, sample dates & total price, including taxes.
Post the details within the thread itself and not in the post title field as any information typed here cannot be seen by members accessing the thread using mobile devices.
Refrain from posting fare requests or engaging in off topic debates such as fare trends, specific aircraft configuration or visa requirements
The deeply discounted international fares discussed here are almost always specific to a certain country of origin, so don't ask if it works in reverse (e.g. a SFO-LHR-SFO fare usually won't work LHR-SFO-LHR). Domestic fares more commonly work in reverse.
Last, but not least, Don't call the Airline!

Good Deal Premium Fares 2013

Closed Thread Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 10, 2013, 5:53 pm

#1966

JALPak

Ambassador: Japan Airlines

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: LAX

Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 16,394

Quote:

Originally Posted by armagebedar

Example: departing January 13, returning January 21, USD2,784 AI. Look for X-class availability.

It's not SS6 daily yet. Jan 21 has SKYRECLINER

Oct 11, 2013, 10:13 am

#1967

dixon

Join Date: Oct 2006

Programs: star alliance

Posts: 26

Lax-nrt $3630 nh rt f

Not sure if this has been posted, but it looks pretty consistent starting second week of January until next Oct. Fly out of LAX on mon-thru, I tried for 6-9 days stay and the fare was approx. the same. I could not find the fare on ana, but was able to find it on an OTA (orbitz) but have not actually booked. Also note, I also saw some availability on AA for about $400 less, I didn't look out to see if there was as wide open availability, but here are two examples in Feb:

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) - Mon, Feb 17
American Airlines Inc. American Airlines Inc. 169 Dep: 11:15AM Arr: 4:20PM 12h 5m Boeing 777 First (P)
Tue, Feb 18

Tokyo (NRT) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Tue, Feb 25
American Airlines Inc. American Airlines Inc. 170 Dep: 4:10PM Arr: 9:00AM 9h 50m Boeing 777 First (P)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $3,323.20
Total cost for 1 passenger $3,323.20

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) - Mon, Feb 17
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. 5 Dep: 11:30AM Arr: 4:25PM 11h 55m Boeing 777 First (A)
Tue, Feb 18

Tokyo (NRT) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Tue, Feb 25
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. 6 Dep: 5:05PM Arr: 9:50AM 9h 45m Boeing 777 First (A)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $3,629.60
Total cost for 1 passenger $3,629.60

Oct 11, 2013, 2:17 pm

#1968

MattEvan

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Posts: 1,216

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixon

Not a MR by any means, but that is one heck of a good price for NH F. Looks like ex-JFK F for around that same time is ~5k RT.

Oct 11, 2013, 3:43 pm

#1969

BumpMe!

Join Date: Jul 2002

Posts: 2,069

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixon

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) - Mon, Feb 17
American Airlines Inc. American Airlines Inc. 169 Dep: 11:15AM Arr: 4:20PM 12h 5m Boeing 777 First (P)
Tue, Feb 18

Tokyo (NRT) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Tue, Feb 25
American Airlines Inc. American Airlines Inc. 170 Dep: 4:10PM Arr: 9:00AM 9h 50m Boeing 777 First (P)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $3,323.20
Total cost for 1 passenger $3,323.20

Holy cow that's *great* deal for F.

Oct 11, 2013, 3:49 pm

#1970

BumpMe!

Join Date: Jul 2002

Posts: 2,069

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixon

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) - Mon, Feb 17
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. 5 Dep: 11:30AM Arr: 4:25PM 11h 55m Boeing 777 First (A)
Tue, Feb 18

Tokyo (NRT) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Tue, Feb 25
All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd. 6 Dep: 5:05PM Arr: 9:50AM 9h 45m Boeing 777 First (A)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $3,629.60
Total cost for 1 passenger $3,629.60

Looks like UA has matched.

Business fares are also in that range on various carriers, i.e. AC, DL.
For giggles, SQ comes in at $4,100.

Oct 11, 2013, 3:52 pm

#1971

Sarfa33

Join Date: Feb 2013

Location: The City of Angels, CA

Programs: Nothing current

Posts: 392

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixon

For those interested, this fare has been around on and off for most of this year. It's a D-UP fare, which means it's actually a business class fare that books into first inventory (A class). It is definitely a great fare and it can be combined half-roundtrip with other fares, so you can lower the price even more if you just want to try it for the experience.

However, caveat emptor. Although I have no doubt that NH will handle things better, see this thread about AA for some pitfalls of -UP fares.

-S

Oct 11, 2013, 3:53 pm

#1972

Sykes

Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: SF Bay Area

Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot

Posts: 2,117

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumpMe!

Looks like UA has matched.

Business fares are also in that range on various carriers, i.e. AC, DL.
For giggles, SQ comes in at $4,100.

All three fares (AA, UA, NH) have been around for a while. You can book the UA codeshares for NH flights using united.com if you're shooting for PQD. They're available for the same price, although there is less ANA inventory.

50-day advance purchase, 3 day min stay, 12M max stay. Cheapest fares are valid Monday - Thursday; weekends are $250 each way more.

Oct 11, 2013, 3:54 pm

#1973

MattEvan

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Posts: 1,216

Fare 1: Carrier NH DFXG3BUP NYC to TYO (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code A
Covers JFK-NRT (First)
$2,543.00
Fare 2: Carrier NH DFXG3BUP TYO to NYC (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code A
Covers NRT-JFK (First)
$2,543.00
(YQ) $518.00
NH YQ surcharge (YQ) $6.40
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.20
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
Japan International Passenger Facility Charge (SW) $21.10
Passenger Security Service Charge (OI) $5.20
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.20

Subtotal per passenger $5,695.60
Number of passengers x1

TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES $5,695.60
Changes to this ticket will incur a penalty fee.

NH F JFK-NRT-JFK (For comparison, Cathay comes in at over 28K for same dates)

WORTH NOTING: Major change/cancel fees apply to these promo fares, looks to be the following sale...

MIDWEEK FIRST CLASS PROMOTIONAL FARES A
Between AREA 1 and AREA 3 FOR ROUND TRIP FARES

Oct 12, 2013, 9:36 am

#1974

MtRoot

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: SJC/PIT

Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, TK Elite

Posts: 519

Something along this line (though not as good as NH), AA has nice NYC/LAX-ICN F fare (P1X9Q4D1) with no min stay, 12M max stay, 90 days advance purchase, Mo-Th transpac. Prices at ~$3,100 a/i on aa.com but outbound requires overnight at DFW to catch the morning ICN flight. Weekends $250 more each way.

Oct 12, 2013, 9:42 am

#1975

Annapurna

Join Date: Oct 2011

Posts: 95

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtRoot

Who, other than Uncle Sam, would want to pay for AA F?

Oct 12, 2013, 10:07 am

#1976

BumpMe!

Join Date: Jul 2002

Posts: 2,069

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtRoot

It looks like UA is in on this, with business class.
UA's J fare is pricing at $2,889 in March.
JFK-SFO-ICN-SFO-JFK
($2,589 departing late Feb.)

Edit:
Can also route EWR-IAH-NRT-ICN-SFO-ORD-EWR
$2,919

Last edited by BumpMe!; Oct 12, 2013 at 10:31 am Reason: added NRT routing

Oct 12, 2013, 10:15 am

#1977

Herb687

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Nov 2001

Location: Wanting First. Buying First.

Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am

Posts: 17,482

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annapurna

Who, other than Uncle Sam, would want to pay for AA F?

That really depends on the alternatives now doesn't it?

My last flight in AA international F was just fine. Certainly not a CX/EK/SQ experience but then again I don't see those carriers offering too many ~$3500 fares ex-USA in the pointy end of the plane.

If the value is there, no reason not to fly AA int'l F.

Oct 12, 2013, 10:25 am

#1978

PaulInTheSky

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN

Posts: 3,212

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtRoot

Actually it doesn't have to be. If you take LGA instead of JFK, then you can catch the early morning LGA to DFW and then on to ICN. IMO this fare is much better than the UA JFK-SFO-ICN because the AA gets you F while it is only J in UA, and the UA P fare cannot get you to F with SWUs. With that being said, they both will get you 150% RDM, with only 20 base mile difference.

Oct 12, 2013, 10:32 am

#1979

MtRoot

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: SJC/PIT

Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, TK Elite

Posts: 519

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annapurna

Who, other than Uncle Sam, would want to pay for AA F?

Haha, I don't disagree, but having no min stay requirement is quite nice. F is actually cheaper than J for short trips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paulakers2010

Actually it doesn't have to be. If you take LGA instead of JFK, then you can catch the early morning LGA to DFW and then on to ICN.

Hadn't checked the LGA route. Thanks!

Oct 12, 2013, 1:15 pm

#1980

PaulInTheSky

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN

Posts: 3,212

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annapurna

Who, other than Uncle Sam, would want to pay for AA F?

It all depends on the price. This 3k is a pretty reasonable range. If they allow AA codeshare on JL and CX for this fare, then I would definitely go for it!