nyc10036

***JFK - Osaka (KIX or ITM) RT in J on JL***

I had this itinerary for July 2023 saved for months now, and the fare always came back in the $6,500 to $8,000 range…and, at times, as high as $12,500.

I got a notification from Google Flights on Tuesday that the fare had dropped—so I checked it out and was able to secure a ticket for $3,448 on Amex Travel w/ IAP, which is an absolute STEAL when the PE on the same itinerary is selling at $3,319 and coach, $1,929. [The price b/4 IAP is showing $4,341, which would still be considered SUPER reasonable these days.]

As an AA EXP, I tried booking as AA codeshare but the price goes up to $9,000. So, it looks like it has to be JL ticketed.

Just wanted to let people know, just in time for potential summer vacation planning!

hamburglar

You can always travel to LAX or SJC and fly Zipair ~$2500 to NRT. Not as convenient but another option.

RK23

Not as convenient, no in flight entertainment, pay for your own food, no interline agreements, and no miles earning. So some downsides to that too. But I have seen some crazy deals where you can go LAX-NRT RT for $1900 before fees which is a steal.

mediator

Very nice fare! Save the hassle of repositioning to YYZ.

JALsnipe

Star Alliance seems to be matching from the East Coast

$4274 EWR-KIX through SFO
https://www.google.com/travel/flight...eVY94fyEjH7687

Also can originate in Toronto for $2807
https://www.google.com/travel/flight...q3chki87hW7zr8

plas

You can go YYZ-EWR-LAX/SFO-HND-KIX with transcon and transpac on widebody (if you avoid the 757s), NH transcons too. The HND-KIX is only in Y I think.

6 stopovers permitted each direction (3 in Area 3).

JALsnipe

Yep, priced one out completely on UA metal earlier:
https://www.google.com/travel/flight...Pc18Dgoa7Q28Y8

rtool

Thanks for the multi-city routing.
On the return (KIX-SFO-EWR-YYZ), would I have to clear customs at SFO?
I have no intention of going to YYZ, but would still like to check bags and claim in SFO if possible. Thanks.

delpiero223

According to ITA, it should be able to include the Island Hopper UA154/155. But so far, I haven't managed to do so via Google Flights or UA.com
.

mediator

Very simple question, the fare basis appears to be PJE00SGP on UA and is listed as non-refundable. If I have to cancel, could I use the value of the ticket to buy a new ticket, say LAX-SYD on UA?

SPN Lifer

Everyone arriving at SFO must clear customs there.

night718

I purchased this in Feb on Amex IAP for 3400.
What's odd is that Google and JAL was asking for over 11000.
Even today I am still seeing a huge price difference between Amex and JAL.
Is this some kind of mistake?

izzik

not a mistake.
Amex IAP offers discounts on certain flights for certain airlines.

night718

The discounts I've seen are usually 10-20%, not 70%.

izzik

Discounts aren't necessarily % off. There could be a negotiated base price list in effect, as well as capacity controls so that IAP doesn't sell all the JAL seats.