Why are Biz Class fares to Japan so expensive?!?
Sep 19, 23, 8:29 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 481
Why are Biz Class fares to Japan so expensive?!?
I know the answer is likely "because they can be."
But it seems nearly every airline is charging almost $12,000 USD for a Z fare from BOS. Which is insane.
I used to get Z fares for $5K.
But it seems nearly every airline is charging almost $12,000 USD for a Z fare from BOS. Which is insane.
I used to get Z fares for $5K.
Last edited by ualboston1k; Sep 19, 23 at 12:46 pm
Sep 19, 23, 8:42 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.5MM, AA 2MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 5,949
As someone that lives in NYC and Tokyo I know exactly what you mean -- and the post COVID world has completely changed.... I do believe things will normalize back to pre COVID levels in another year -- but until then you will have to be creative -- like taking AC which is still $5k -- or going the long way around via the EU -- UA / NH seem to think they own the east coast of US -- the only reasonable J fares I've seen lately are out of LAX.... There was so much pent up demand to Japan -- but that will end sooner than UA will like I think....
Sep 19, 23, 9:22 am
#4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,775
To Japan - but where from? Boston?
United flies to HND as well as to NRT from EWR, and IAD and ORD to Japan also. From what I can tell only about a third of J is sold, the rest is all upgrades.
This year, it's been an [almost] guaranteed upgrade using PlusPoints. I've been paying ~U$2000 R/T and sitting up front both ways every time since April or so.
Sep 19, 23, 9:26 am
#5
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Posts: 205
The Yen is at its cheapest level since the bubble years and Japan seems to be the in vogue destination at the moment. I personally know half a dozen people who are visiting (or already visited) since they opened up after the pandemic. These people have never been to Japan before and have no affiliation with the country - they're also quite wealthy and I'd imagine most of them are traveling in paid J.
It also seems like capacity has not caught up yet to all this extra demand post-pandemic which is further exacerbating the problem.
It also seems like capacity has not caught up yet to all this extra demand post-pandemic which is further exacerbating the problem.
Sep 19, 23, 9:33 am
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,775
If the ease of PlusPoints upgrade is anything to go by, United is not selling that many J seats.
Tomorrow's EWR-HND:
Sep 19, 23, 10:05 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,859
Have you flown them yet? If so, how strict are they with the carry-on weight. I always have to carry commercial merchandise when I travel, so I would be overweight for their carry-on limitations. Can you pay for extra carry-on weight?
To Japan - but where from? Boston?
United flies to HND as well as to NRT from EWR, and IAD and ORD to Japan also. From what I can tell only about a third of J is sold, the rest is all upgrades.
This year, it's been an [almost] guaranteed upgrade using PlusPoints. I've been paying ~U$2000 R/T and sitting up front both ways every time since April or so.
United flies to HND as well as to NRT from EWR, and IAD and ORD to Japan also. From what I can tell only about a third of J is sold, the rest is all upgrades.
This year, it's been an [almost] guaranteed upgrade using PlusPoints. I've been paying ~U$2000 R/T and sitting up front both ways every time since April or so.
Last edited by zombietooth; Sep 19, 23 at 3:33 pm
Sep 19, 23, 10:18 am
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New to BWI as of 2021; say hi if you're in the area!
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 400
I feel this in my bones, as I'm in the midst of planning a HND trip for this fall. The Polaris prices only really come down with a week-long stay, which is not possible for me.
ICN is more reasonable, and I'm debating flying there and just doing a separate ticket from ICN/GMP-HND (added bonus of a night in Seoul, especially with the GMP option!).
ICN is more reasonable, and I'm debating flying there and just doing a separate ticket from ICN/GMP-HND (added bonus of a night in Seoul, especially with the GMP option!).
Sep 19, 23, 10:35 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: NYC/DC
Programs: AA,SPG, Delta, Amtrak, JB
Posts: 437
I am noticing this as well. Added to what I term exorbitant airline prices, are exorbitant room rates that hotels are charging. I am planning a trip next year 18-24 May, 2024, and I thought I had entered too many zeros when I converted yen to USD. Looks like I'm going to have to tell my friends sorry, if things don't change.
Sep 19, 23, 10:48 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: YEG
Programs: Table scraps from Aeroplan and AmEx Plat
Posts: 864
Thanks for the tip! Looks like a great deal.
Have you flown them yet? If so, how strict are they with the carry-on weight. I always have to carry commercial merchandise when I travel, so I would be overweight for their carry-on limitations. Can you pay for extra carry-on weight?
Have you flown them yet? If so, how strict are they with the carry-on weight. I always have to carry commercial merchandise when I travel, so I would be overweight for their carry-on limitations. Can you pay for extra carry-on weight?
Sep 19, 23, 10:59 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,544
I feel this in my bones, as I'm in the midst of planning a HND trip for this fall. The Polaris prices only really come down with a week-long stay, which is not possible for me.
ICN is more reasonable, and I'm debating flying there and just doing a separate ticket from ICN/GMP-HND (added bonus of a night in Seoul, especially with the GMP option!).
ICN is more reasonable, and I'm debating flying there and just doing a separate ticket from ICN/GMP-HND (added bonus of a night in Seoul, especially with the GMP option!).
I know that you're a UA guy, but you can often find Business Class awards JFK-TYO -- sometimes on the JL nonstops, sometimes on an AA-JL connection -- for just 60,000 AA miles. If you can catch one of AA's frequent sales on AAdvantage miles, 60,000 miles can often be bought for ~$1,300. Since all AAdvantage flight awards are now fully refundable, if you were to book a connection and Business Class award seats subsequently opened up on the JL nonstop, you could refund and rebook.
Here's an example involving a connection via SFO:
Sep 19, 23, 11:02 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2021
Programs: United, EVA, Marriott, Hilton
Posts: 273
Today's UA flight from IAD to HND has 2 more open J seats after everyone on the waitlist using MUA or PP cleared (20 people).
This is tomorrow's flight to HND. 26 J seats booked, 50 total available. Only 6 on the waitlist too.
I think demand for Japan has fallen off a cliff post-summer and economy fares on other airlines are reflecting it but hopefully United's J pricing reflects it soon too.
This is tomorrow's flight to HND. 26 J seats booked, 50 total available. Only 6 on the waitlist too.
I think demand for Japan has fallen off a cliff post-summer and economy fares on other airlines are reflecting it but hopefully United's J pricing reflects it soon too.
Sep 19, 23, 11:05 am
#13
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 5,775
Wow. Must be a reason. I fly mid week, maybe that's it?
At 100% success here. I did notice EWR-HND has slightly better odds (more empty seats for any given day) than EWR-NRT.
Agreed. I was getting so concerned with how empty these flights are, I was getting concerned UA would drop one of the flights, or reduce to only a few-times-per-week flights.
Sep 19, 23, 11:12 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 4,859
Keep in mind their Business seats don't have IFE. I believe they offer streaming services over wifi. Also, they don't allow children 6 yrs or younger to travel in the pods. Super weird. I've had my daughter in an almost identical Air Canada seat when she was 2 or 3.
Sep 19, 23, 11:18 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 87
The same NH & JL, NYC-TYO flights pricing out at ~$11,000 become ~$5,500 going to BKK, using multi-city to include an in or outbound layover in Tokyo. They both have very generous layover policies allowing up to 30 days I believe.
I've only found this to work booking direct with the carrier.
If you are willing to spend a couple days in Bangkok, never a bad thing imo, you can reap enormous savings, and includes the "Room" suite if you go with ANA out of NYC.
Works out of BOS as well.
I've only found this to work booking direct with the carrier.
If you are willing to spend a couple days in Bangkok, never a bad thing imo, you can reap enormous savings, and includes the "Room" suite if you go with ANA out of NYC.
Works out of BOS as well.
Last edited by rmontelbon; Sep 19, 23 at 11:38 am
