Advice: ORD-NRT itinerary
 

Hi everybody,

I am planning a 2 week trip to Japan next June and need some help deciding my roundtrip plan for ORD-NRT for my BF's 30th b-day. I currently have around 2mm miles on UA and 400k on AA. I was GS for 4 years on UA doing ORD-SYD almost monthly so I'm quite familiar with the Global First seat. I actually love the seat, but want to try out a new product. With as much flying as i did, I've only flown non-UA products a few times (QF) so not sure who's the best to Japan. Below are my outbound/return options that I currently have available for 2 people. Let me know what you guys think would be the best choices possible. For me, the seat is most important. I'm 31 and a very laid back guy so the super attentive service that Asian carriers provide that many people on these boards cherish doesn't really matter to me. My biggest/only onboard pet peeve is when my glass is empty and I want another ;)

ORD-NRT

JAL First Class 777-300
JAL Business Class 777-300
American Airlines First Class 777-200
American Airlines Business Class 777-200
ANA Business Class 777-300
ANA Business Class 777-200
ANA First Class 777-200
United First Class 747

NRT-ORD

JAL Business Class 777-300
American Airlines First Class 777-200
American Airlines Business Class 777-200
ANA Business Class 777-200
ANA First Class 777-200
United First Class 747
United Business Class 747 (connection)
Air Canada Business 777-300 (connection)

The ANA First options all only have one seat available so we'd book 1 First and 1 Business and hope another First seat becomes available in the next 9 months.

Before everyone suggests that I route through Europe, I have no desire to add time to the flights. I actually hate flying (yikes I know) so when there as many direct flights that ORD-NRT has, I'd much rather do that. (so please no ORD-FRA-BKK-SIN-NRT ideas). Thanks for everybody's input who wishes to help!!!

JL F suite?

SQ F suite on LAX-NRT but dont remember where awards stand

NH F is certainly very well regarded, maybe even better than JL, seem to recall they open up F award inventory one or two weeks in advance of flight

If it were me..
 

Having flown most of these, except ANA and JAL business as well as United first, I would give priority to JAL and ANA over American, United and Air Canada. Especially since you are "miles rich" why not go with the best. Same with first vs. business. There is a marked difference in comfort.

Service-wise, JAL and ANA are about equal. I found ANA's catering to be slightly better than JAL's. Not sure if you care about the lounge at NRT, but I thought JAL's F lounges was quite a bit nicer than the ANA F lounges.

As far as getting annoyed with the empty wine glass syndrome, you are likely to run into this on AA, UA and AC, but not JL or NH.

Both have their merits as noted above. Either is a fine choice.

Booking one F and on J on ANA is a bit of a risk as they routinely let F go out with empty seats rather than open up award availability. I think you are thinking of Lufthansa opening up F inventory at 14 and 7 days out. No real pattern I can discern on ANA. That said you have plenty of time and if other options open up you can change and redeposit the miles.

I did ORD-NRT this labor day weekend. Outbound was on ANA (1st class) and return on JAL (1st class). I strongly recommend ANA over JAL. The JAL lounge in Narita was great but ANA's cabin, service and food are better than JAL. Although one that may affect you, the wine menu seemed to be better on JAL.

Wish you have a great time and hopefully stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo:cool:.

We are headed to NRT in a few weeks. I had two first-class seats reserved on ANA, but had to give them up and switch to business first on UA for timing reasons.

I did see a fair amount of ANA first availability (two seats) about 2-3 months out, on the ORD-NRT flight.

Is there more F availability on NH for the spring months of March/April than summer?