Flying out of the way for business class
Jun 28, 2019, 6:31 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
I'd take J class all the way. Some destinations (ie Papua New Guinea) are not so easy to get to with minimum flight time from the West. Then again, I enjoy the actual travel experience of getting to the destination, so I do not represent everybody.
You're already talking about a long trip, so 15 extra hours doesn't seem like much when you can actually be comfortable and pampered.
Some good recommendations from other members here, not sure if they work for you. A 1 hour connection at any connecting hub would make me nervous, and especially at an airport with tropical weather like Singapore! May you have happy trails whatever your decision may be...
You're already talking about a long trip, so 15 extra hours doesn't seem like much when you can actually be comfortable and pampered.
Some good recommendations from other members here, not sure if they work for you. A 1 hour connection at any connecting hub would make me nervous, and especially at an airport with tropical weather like Singapore! May you have happy trails whatever your decision may be...
Jun 28, 2019, 6:49 am
#17
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,531
I'd take J class all the way. Some destinations (ie Papua New Guinea) are not so easy to get to with minimum flight time from the West. Then again, I enjoy the actual travel experience of getting to the destination, so I do not represent everybody.
You're already talking about a long trip, so 15 extra hours doesn't seem like much when you can actually be comfortable and pampered.
Some good recommendations from other members here, not sure if they work for you. A 1 hour connection at any connecting hub would make me nervous, and especially at an airport with tropical weather like Singapore! May you have happy trails whatever your decision may be...
You're already talking about a long trip, so 15 extra hours doesn't seem like much when you can actually be comfortable and pampered.
Some good recommendations from other members here, not sure if they work for you. A 1 hour connection at any connecting hub would make me nervous, and especially at an airport with tropical weather like Singapore! May you have happy trails whatever your decision may be...
Jun 28, 2019, 6:55 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
For a honeymoon its J all the way...
the last thing you want to do is to worry about having to sit in coach.. cramped, no legroom, overhead bins being full, and not being able to sleep if you desire..
Trust me.. since most of my international returns take off at 2.00 or 4.00 am, its so relaxing knowing that I can get on the plane and sleep
the last thing you want to do is to worry about having to sit in coach.. cramped, no legroom, overhead bins being full, and not being able to sleep if you desire..
Trust me.. since most of my international returns take off at 2.00 or 4.00 am, its so relaxing knowing that I can get on the plane and sleep
Jun 28, 2019, 11:18 am
#21
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Jun 28, 2019, 11:40 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,421
I'm assuming some of those 30 or 40 hours include layovers, so that's another reason to fly business class when you'd have lounge access (hopefully with showers to refresh you) and priority treatment.
Jul 1, 2019, 1:06 pm
#23
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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If you have the miles and the time, fly J. Especially if you're redeeming AS on CX, where it's actually a really good value for your miles. Perhaps I'd fly good long-haul Premium Economy product (40"x20" give or take) in a pinch, but not Y.
Hard to assess how good or bad a 45 hour journey home really is without seeing the actual options. I don't really like sitting around in airports, so I'd rather have a 23 hour connection than a 7 hour one. Next year, redeeming AS on CX, we're spending a couple days in HK on the way back.
Assuming you don't have a hard/fast requirement to be home at a set time, I'd err on the side of (a) fewer segments and (b) less "dead" time in airports. While some F lounges are amazing, most of the world's J lounges start to look the same after you've been in a few. I don't need 5 hours in one - I'd rather have a full day in an interesting city as either a long layover or a short stopover.
Hard to assess how good or bad a 45 hour journey home really is without seeing the actual options. I don't really like sitting around in airports, so I'd rather have a 23 hour connection than a 7 hour one. Next year, redeeming AS on CX, we're spending a couple days in HK on the way back.
Assuming you don't have a hard/fast requirement to be home at a set time, I'd err on the side of (a) fewer segments and (b) less "dead" time in airports. While some F lounges are amazing, most of the world's J lounges start to look the same after you've been in a few. I don't need 5 hours in one - I'd rather have a full day in an interesting city as either a long layover or a short stopover.
Jul 2, 2019, 8:30 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 97
We are flying CX to start, but using United points for the return. These are the 2 best options I could find. Ideally we'd like to be home Sunday, but could compromise and return Monday. Either way we are training from NY to DC or flying to Jakarta and getting a cheap hotel the night before. Im just a bit worried about the layover time for the AC flight from HND.
Jul 2, 2019, 8:45 am
#25
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This one would be easy for me: I'd book the all-J itin.
Effective duration is basically the same. Leave Bali late one afternoon, arrive home late at night one calendar day later.
Both itins require one positioning flight or train.
Spending 8 hours in the back of an NH 787 is the big strike against Itin #2 . Slightly more complicated logistics with the positioning flight first and needing to get to/from a hotel are also minor strikes against it. IRROPS on that positioning flight could theoretically be a problem (although not terribly likely). IRROPS on Itin #1 aren't as big of a deal because you can always get from JFK to DC via any number of modes.
As long as there's no super-critical reason to be in DC on Monday, that'd be my choice. And hey, it's an extra day in Bali.
I have flown TPAC J on AC and had a good experience. I have not flown Asiana, but expect that it's probably also a good experience. Relative quality of the J products, in this case, wouldn't be enough to affect my decision.
Effective duration is basically the same. Leave Bali late one afternoon, arrive home late at night one calendar day later.
Both itins require one positioning flight or train.
Spending 8 hours in the back of an NH 787 is the big strike against Itin #2 . Slightly more complicated logistics with the positioning flight first and needing to get to/from a hotel are also minor strikes against it. IRROPS on that positioning flight could theoretically be a problem (although not terribly likely). IRROPS on Itin #1 aren't as big of a deal because you can always get from JFK to DC via any number of modes.
As long as there's no super-critical reason to be in DC on Monday, that'd be my choice. And hey, it's an extra day in Bali.
I have flown TPAC J on AC and had a good experience. I have not flown Asiana, but expect that it's probably also a good experience. Relative quality of the J products, in this case, wouldn't be enough to affect my decision.
Jul 2, 2019, 8:51 am
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 97
This one would be easy for me: I'd book the all-J itin.
Effective duration is basically the same. Leave Bali late one afternoon, arrive home late at night one calendar day later.
Both itins require one positioning flight or train.
Spending 8 hours in the back of an NH 787 is the big strike against Itin #2 . Slightly more complicated logistics with the positioning flight first and needing to get to/from a hotel are also minor strikes against it. IRROPS on that positioning flight could theoretically be a problem (although not terribly likely). IRROPS on Itin #1 aren't as big of a deal because you can always get from JFK to DC via any number of modes.
As long as there's no super-critical reason to be in DC on Monday, that'd be my choice. And hey, it's an extra day in Bali.
I have flown TPAC J on AC and had a good experience. I have not flown Asiana, but expect that it's probably also a good experience. Relative quality of the J products, in this case, wouldn't be enough to affect my decision.
Effective duration is basically the same. Leave Bali late one afternoon, arrive home late at night one calendar day later.
Both itins require one positioning flight or train.
Spending 8 hours in the back of an NH 787 is the big strike against Itin #2 . Slightly more complicated logistics with the positioning flight first and needing to get to/from a hotel are also minor strikes against it. IRROPS on that positioning flight could theoretically be a problem (although not terribly likely). IRROPS on Itin #1 aren't as big of a deal because you can always get from JFK to DC via any number of modes.
As long as there's no super-critical reason to be in DC on Monday, that'd be my choice. And hey, it's an extra day in Bali.
I have flown TPAC J on AC and had a good experience. I have not flown Asiana, but expect that it's probably also a good experience. Relative quality of the J products, in this case, wouldn't be enough to affect my decision.
Jul 2, 2019, 8:57 am
#27
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That long coach leg on the first leg would be a bummer. Are both awards the same amount? If you have to book JFK-IAD on your own, are you going to get hit with luggage fees?
JFK is in my top 3 list of least favorite US airports.
JFK is in my top 3 list of least favorite US airports.
Jul 2, 2019, 9:09 am
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 97
Yes, both are 90k each. We would Amtrak from NYC to DC. The long coach would suck but it is daytime, so less of a problem. Plus we are (unfortunately) very accustomed to flying longhaul in Y.
Jul 2, 2019, 2:37 pm
#30
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My personal preference would be a JFK-WAS flight, of which DL has many to all 3 airports. (AA probably has some too.) Nice to know the train or a rental car is there in case of IRROPS, but they wouldn't be my Option A.
