You're right about the low mileage levels required for a ticket to Africa on CX. I'll share the best deal yet.... Diner's Club for the past two years has been offering double British Air miles and CX is a partner, so I booked an open jaw in first class SFO-CMB (Colombo, Sri Lanka which the HKG-CMB leg is "J" class) and the return JNB-HKG-SFO. My return is good for a year and stopovers are allowed in HKG in both directions. The total mileage required is 140,000 which because they were transferred Diners Club points only cost me 70,000 real points.

I bought a RT First Class ticket in CMB CMB-BKK-NRT-SFO-SEA using JAL over the Pacific for $2300RT (CI,OZ,KE are even cheaper) and will fly back next year. Stopovers are only allowed in SFO and SEA and the other cities can be transfer points for less than 24 hours. A first class OW from CMB to JNB is around $800. So, for about $3100 and 70,000 miles I got two vacations....a first class SFO-CMB and first class SFO-JNB.On my return SFO-CMB JAL is paying for my overnight connection in SIN and we fly "P" class from SIN-CMB.

Sri Lanka BTW is a great vacation spot and the Maldives ($170RT from CMB) has some of the best scuba in the world. First Class Air fares originating in CMB are great deals and a well kept secret for many.

Antone

-SFOFLYER

I am so impressed... You are a stud!
Do you have more tricks? I think we can all learn from you. Amazing how cheap those tickets are... cool!

I flew JAL First about 15 years ago and I was not impressed.

Mmmmm isn't Sri Lanka a bit dangerous? A year ago they blew up 1/2 the Air Lanka fleet.

So how where the Maldives? Did you like it? Is it worth going there?

JL's best F is on JFK-NRT in terms of 'equipment.'

CMB is a city that offers cheap J, F tickets on CX and SQ as well. With prices out of BKK rising (UA is shortly downgrading fare classes), the best 'air fare' city appears to be moving westward again from HKG to BkK and to CMB.

A civil war has been going on there for quite some time and yes, last year, the airport was attacked and civilian flights were temporarily cancelled, prompting CX to fly 747 thereafter to load all the passengers left out in the fall. But otherwise I guess, it is a manageable place, logistically, to get air tickets.

It's more than "manageable" it's a beautiful country and a great vacation spot. There was alot of security at the airport and some road "checkpoints" but we never felt unsafe. You can buy the tickets in the United States for travel out of Colombo although I use an agent in CMB. They'll deliver tickets anywhere. SriLankan Airlines has partnered with Emirates after the big airport attack last summer and their fleet is young and well run.

The Maldives are beautiful and a great place for diving and just relaxing. Some of the best resorts are the Banyan Tree, Four Seasons, and Sonevafushi. It's expensive and I like to balance the trip with a week or more in SriLanka where there's culture and it's about one third the price. The Saman Villas in Bentota reminded me of what Waikiki must have looked like 75 years ago.

Colombo is also a great place for taking side trips to India.

We loved not having to wear shoes at the resorts even in the fine restaurants at dinner

antone

What about the new JAL in F?

Also, JAL has a new lounge:

JAL has opened a new lounge facility -- the Sakura Lounge Annex -- on the fourth floor of Narita Airport Terminal 2 for special category passengers. It features a British pub-style bar, bedrooms for tired transit travelers, massage services, a business corner equipped with broadband wireless access for free Internet connection, a library and a theater-style audio-visual lounge.

What do they consider a special category passenger? Is it any premium pax or only JAL elites, etc???

Also to MNL - I am on it in 2 weeks

JAL First and Executive Class -- Seasons (business class) passengers

JAL Economy Class passengers with full-fare tickets (some routes excepted)

JAL Global Club members

JAL Mileage Bank members holding 'Optimo' and 'Grande' service-category cards

Which routes are excepted?

MNL-HKG (CX900) two days ago was a wonderful miniature CX F experience. Within just 1:31 hours at lunch time, a full four-course menu was served. You cannot beat this short haul service.

I had a similar great flight from BKK to HKG!

Could go down as one of the best short flights (I think we had a thread on this).

Last Dec had a great RT on CX FC LAX-BKK with wonderful service. The food was a bit less quality, then I had anticipated. The cavier, champagne, tea, seat-bed were exceptional.

Will repeat the annual trip to BKK and topped off some old AA miles to do it again this DEC. But was considering JAL, if a few better Dates are available, but not critical. After reading this string, maybe CX is still the bomb (tops) as the kids would say. And yes, I enjoyed the WING very much. Makes travel more civilized and a treat for years of hard work.

I even considered BC on CX, because FC seemed a little too much service, which I did take advantage of as desired. I think that is their whole point of offering outstanding flights. Surprising how many people in FC preferred to sleep most of the way. Perhaps they are used to this kind of travel.