Maximizing time in business to NRT
Aug 9, 2009 | 8:16 pm
#1
Original Poster
-DSH-
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: BDDC Gold, MR Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, EK Plat
Posts: 437
Maximizing time in business to NRT
Hello everyone,
I am currently on a trip around the world and enjoyed Tokyo. That much that while on my trip RTW I am already planning a trip around Christmas/New Years
. I'm flying my RTW in business and really enjoy flying - I love every moment of it and will miss that much flying for a while. 'Normal' people tell me I'm crazy for flying SIN-KUL-SIN-SYD-LAX (thanks, FT!) instead of SIN-LAX, to give you an idea .
So here's the deal. Apart from enjoying flying in business class, the miles associated with it are appealing too, obviously. So, I'm looking for the lowest fare from AMS to NRT departing late December, returning January 1/2/3. A stopover in either SIN or HKG would be great - but for some reason I can't seem to price out tickets <$3500 with such a stopover. VS currently has a ticket for $3000 return, but no stopovers allowed other than LHR.
Any help with this? How should I start my search?
Thanks ^!
I am currently on a trip around the world and enjoyed Tokyo. That much that while on my trip RTW I am already planning a trip around Christmas/New Years
. I'm flying my RTW in business and really enjoy flying - I love every moment of it and will miss that much flying for a while. 'Normal' people tell me I'm crazy for flying SIN-KUL-SIN-SYD-LAX (thanks, FT!) instead of SIN-LAX, to give you an idea .So here's the deal. Apart from enjoying flying in business class, the miles associated with it are appealing too, obviously. So, I'm looking for the lowest fare from AMS to NRT departing late December, returning January 1/2/3. A stopover in either SIN or HKG would be great - but for some reason I can't seem to price out tickets <$3500 with such a stopover. VS currently has a ticket for $3000 return, but no stopovers allowed other than LHR.
Any help with this? How should I start my search?
Thanks ^!
Last edited by 777-9X; Aug 10, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Aug 10, 2009 | 7:14 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: CMH, sometimes AVP, formerly down the Shore
Programs: UA 1K/3MM, AA EXP/3MM, DL MM, former fan of TWA
Posts: 1,922
Hi -DSH-. I am not sure there is an appropriate place. In my small experience, most of the requests for flying a particular route in a small range of dates are answered by a recommendation to speak with a travel agent.
My only suggestion for ways to search would be to use the ITA tool and leave the "check seat availability" option un-checked. This should give you the ability to see the lowest fares available in the market. To be honest, I have never been able to find things that are very well-priced in late December and the first few days of January. And a $3500 business class ticket on AMS/NRT does not seem too far out of line for me, even before the stop in SIN or HKG. The natural candidates for such a routing (SQ and CX) have prices that are waaaaay out of the range.
You might also consider hopping a quick flight to London and checking out something like LHR-HKG (through a consolidator, perhaps?).
I don't think you're dealing with a real easy request, to be honest.
My only suggestion for ways to search would be to use the ITA tool and leave the "check seat availability" option un-checked. This should give you the ability to see the lowest fares available in the market. To be honest, I have never been able to find things that are very well-priced in late December and the first few days of January. And a $3500 business class ticket on AMS/NRT does not seem too far out of line for me, even before the stop in SIN or HKG. The natural candidates for such a routing (SQ and CX) have prices that are waaaaay out of the range.
You might also consider hopping a quick flight to London and checking out something like LHR-HKG (through a consolidator, perhaps?).
I don't think you're dealing with a real easy request, to be honest.
Aug 10, 2009 | 7:27 pm
#4
Original Poster
-DSH-
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: BDDC Gold, MR Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, EK Plat
Posts: 437
Hi -DSH-. I am not sure there is an appropriate place. In my small experience, most of the requests for flying a particular route in a small range of dates are answered by a recommendation to speak with a travel agent.
My only suggestion for ways to search would be to use the ITA tool and leave the "check seat availability" option un-checked. This should give you the ability to see the lowest fares available in the market. To be honest, I have never been able to find things that are very well-priced in late December and the first few days of January. And a $3500 business class ticket on AMS/NRT does not seem too far out of line for me, even before the stop in SIN or HKG. The natural candidates for such a routing (SQ and CX) have prices that are waaaaay out of the range.
You might also consider hopping a quick flight to London and checking out something like LHR-HKG (through a consolidator, perhaps?).
I don't think you're dealing with a real easy request, to be honest.
My only suggestion for ways to search would be to use the ITA tool and leave the "check seat availability" option un-checked. This should give you the ability to see the lowest fares available in the market. To be honest, I have never been able to find things that are very well-priced in late December and the first few days of January. And a $3500 business class ticket on AMS/NRT does not seem too far out of line for me, even before the stop in SIN or HKG. The natural candidates for such a routing (SQ and CX) have prices that are waaaaay out of the range.
You might also consider hopping a quick flight to London and checking out something like LHR-HKG (through a consolidator, perhaps?).
I don't think you're dealing with a real easy request, to be honest.
Normally, I'd start my trip in LHR (and book a cheap return to London on the side) but for some reason the fares are actually higher than from AMS. Haven't seen this before - EVER. AMS is normally quite expensive. I think this has something to do with the UK APD tax, which is effective from October I think.
The $3500 is not with a stopover - the fare with stopover is $4000. The lowest fare I have found is $2850 with Swiss, but don't like their seats (old-style, unfortunately). Virgin Atlantic has a decent fare, $3000. Are these good fares for Europe-NRT? I'm wondering if I should book now, or later. I don't really fly to Asia often so can't really comment on this myself.
Aug 10, 2009 | 7:50 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sydney - Australia
Programs: BD, QF, QR/EY/GF & HH Gold/SPG, Hertz#1G
Posts: 11,079
Seeing as this is not yet a discussion sharing info on a specific MR fare (but rather a fare request AMS-NRT), I agree that this is not an appropriate discussion for Mileage Run.
I'll move it across to MilesBuzz, because you're really asking for the tools (like ITA software) to assist in your search.
Yes, I think you also should check the usual online and offline air travel providers in case you can find an exceptional deal, as well as keep scanning the MR forums for deals. Please only post deals in MR Deals and only discuss deals in MR Discussion!
Cheers,
BiziBB, Moderator, Mileage Run forums
I'll move it across to MilesBuzz, because you're really asking for the tools (like ITA software) to assist in your search.
Yes, I think you also should check the usual online and offline air travel providers in case you can find an exceptional deal, as well as keep scanning the MR forums for deals. Please only post deals in MR Deals and only discuss deals in MR Discussion!
Cheers,
BiziBB, Moderator, Mileage Run forums