bocastephen

While we know the current reasoning is strong demand, we've gone a very long time now without any decent - meaning sub-US$2500 - J deals to Asia on any major airline. So, speculative question - who feels these will begin re-appearing, and who feels it could be years before they return, if ever. Even 'ol reliable ex-YVR fares have more than doubled from their prior sale levels.

abcba

Prior to the pandemic, there used to be more than 300 direct flights per week between the US and China but now there are only 24 left so low supply might also be a reason for the high price. And with all the tension between the two countries, it doesn't seem like things will get back to normal anytime soon.

joejones

Zipair business fares from the West Coast to Tokyo are still below $2.5k round trip, though food and drink is not included in the fare.

bocastephen

There are many more destinations in Asia than China. The higher fares are impacting pretty much every single destination.

bocastephen

Zipair is really a hard sell - if no other options exist we might consider it.

Polytonic

There were a couple cheap YVR/YYC-Asia deals on AC around $2400 earlier this year. Rare, for sure, but they do exist.

Finding award space to Asia is pretty nuts right now too.

azepine00

Yes but China traffic in the absence of direct flights goes through Japan Korea hkg etc using up capacity and driving prices up everywhere.
Aside from business travel throngs of families are trying to visit China this summer for the first time in 3-4 years with all sorts of crazy routings..

GUWonder

The business class fares from the US to India this year have been better than they used to be for me a decade or two back.

US-Europe/Middle West-India seems to have worked out better for consumers interested in business class travel than US-East Asia.

Bogeys

I had to go through Europe next January to find award space to BKK through United.
Coming back through Tokyo.

mrwunrfl

A global economic recession might not be something to look forward to but it would decrease demand and ticket prices could drop. That is unless capacity is reduced.

ETA: I forgot (again) where I was in ft, this time in
Miles&Points > Mileage Run Deals > Mileage Run Discussion
Here, the most appropriate comment I could make about Zipair is that the airline does not provide any opportunity for MRs

Zipair doesn't call it business class. It looks like something I would call a very nice premium economy seat.

The differences go beyond food and drink A long-haul international business class fare would include:
seat selection by the pax
changes to seat selection
changes to itinerary (for a fee and fare difference)
carry-on luggage
checked baggage
priority check-in
priority boarding
business class lounge with food/drinks and maybe shower facilities
two meals, drinks
multi-course meal with tablecloth, metal utensils, ceramics
snacks, drinks, maybe light meal (like ramen) between meal servicves
sleeping pad, pillow, blanket (maybe FA will offer to prepare it for you)
IFE with a nce display screen that is controlled by touch or remote
noise-canceling headphones
amenity kit
FF miles with COS bonus

I can do without all of that for the right price, but the (almost) deal-breaker is You cannot change your reservation.

For LAX-TYO roundtrip
SQ PE is $1800 (change $50, cancel/refund $200)
Zipair LF is $1800 to $2170 (no changes)
To me, SQ wins even if that fare is not great . Comfy recliner seat and fare includes some of the good stuff listed above.
one-way tix are similar

nerdbirdsjc

The low fares of the Before Times were driven largely by the overcapacity from the Chinese legacy carriers + the desire of North American carriers to sustain service to various Asian destinations (e.g., HKG) from multiple gateways year-round. The reductions in China flying, inability of many carriers to use Russian airspace, and the generally weaker TPAC JVs have resulted in a New Normal on capacity and pricing that�s not going away anytime soon.

lingwong

Yeah, but india isn't known to be a touristy place. Great place to visit family yes, but otherwise no.

Repooc17

Except they are lie flat seats.

BenA

And many of the cheap fares were driven by connecting itineraries on airlines like China Eastern through the PRC. The overall capacity is down, which is affecting every destination.

Outbound travel to the US still hasn't recovered, either - North America's brand has been somewhat damaged by the last three years and demand within Asia to travel to COVID Central (tm) is diminished, as evidenced by the number of airlines cutting Asia to Hawaii flights.

Both of these will resolve themselves, but it's going to take some time.