Why is SFO-NRT so expensive now?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,530
Why is SFO-NRT so expensive now?
I've been eying a departure from SFO on March 20 and a return on May 22. Nothing ever comes up lower than ~$1700 on .bomb and hasn't done so in months. I also need to get back to NRT on May 25 or so, with an unspecified return date, but I'm only worrying about the first flight for now.
ANA offers a good price for the same route (substantially cheaper at ~$1180 after they dropped their fuel surcharges), but no E+, 70% mileage only and I believe no 25% bonus (I'm 2P). If I could help it, I'd rather fly UA.
ANA offers a good price for the same route (substantially cheaper at ~$1180 after they dropped their fuel surcharges), but no E+, 70% mileage only and I believe no 25% bonus (I'm 2P). If I could help it, I'd rather fly UA.
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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It's due to the length of your stay, which moves you from the V fare ($1525) to the Q fare. The V fare has a 2-month max stay. There's also an S fare ($1100), but that has a 30-day max stay.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,530
Wow. That I did not know. I'm also noticing that very short trips are pricey on UA as well. Did a weekend SFO-NRT and NH offered the best price back in October.
In that case, it's probably not worth going with UA for this trip. OZ can get me to NRT via ICN for about $1,000. Would still only get 70% miles, but the ICN-NRT legs can give a little extra and I hear OZ is a fine airline.
In that case, it's probably not worth going with UA for this trip. OZ can get me to NRT via ICN for about $1,000. Would still only get 70% miles, but the ICN-NRT legs can give a little extra and I hear OZ is a fine airline.
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
Here, you are running into the opposite problem. Most UA US-Asia routes have a 6-day minimum stay requirement for the cheapest fares.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
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#7
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: BWI, SEA 1/month
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 487
http://www.studentuniverse.com
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 17,769
Oh, for grad school? In that case, you had better check out various student discount fares. UA offers several student-only fares that are ~$1000 round trip SFO-NRT with several month stays-- you can often also get one-way fares for ~$500 as well on these student deals.
http://www.studentuniverse.com
http://www.studentuniverse.com
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,530
http://www.studentuniverse.com/faqs.html
Unfortunately, UA's fares don't earn any miles. But thanks for the tip anyway!
Unfortunately, UA's fares don't earn any miles. But thanks for the tip anyway!
#12
Join Date: May 2008
Location: IAD or elsewhere
Programs: UA 1K, LH M&M, AA EXP, Marriott Plat, Avis NotLast, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 655
Another option
Try breaking up your itinerary - you can do SFO - ICN (round trip) for ~ $1000 on UA or SQ, and have a separate itinerary ICN - NRT (round trip) for ~ $376 on UA.
Flights to / from Korea are significantly less than Japan because of the sinking Won. Ironically, you can go on UA to Seoul (ICN) via NRT for $100 more. The above flights are nonstop.
Good luck, and enjoy Tokyo!
Flights to / from Korea are significantly less than Japan because of the sinking Won. Ironically, you can go on UA to Seoul (ICN) via NRT for $100 more. The above flights are nonstop.
Good luck, and enjoy Tokyo!
#13
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Portland, Oregon; seat 3A
Programs: UA 1K 2021-22-23;Formerly a longtime UA Premier Exec; NW silver (legacy), Alaska Gold (way back)
Posts: 2,316
If you have a patient travel agent who enjoys the game, try buying a round trip to one of the Korean cities that served by KAL out of Haneda airport, routed as follows:
March 20 SFO-NRT on United
March 21 HND-Korea on KAL
May 21 Korea-HND on KAL, stopover in Tokyo
May 22 NRT-SFO on UAL
Don't use the March 21 and May 20 tickets.
Because you are changing airports in Tokyo, you will get your bags back at Narita. And because KAL isn't United or Star Alliance, on May 22 UAL won't know that you didn't take the March 21 or May 20 flights and won't cancel your May 22 return ticket.
As Jgish noted above, USA-Korea round trips are usually cheaper than USA-Japan rount trips.
March 20 SFO-NRT on United
March 21 HND-Korea on KAL
May 21 Korea-HND on KAL, stopover in Tokyo
May 22 NRT-SFO on UAL
Don't use the March 21 and May 20 tickets.
Because you are changing airports in Tokyo, you will get your bags back at Narita. And because KAL isn't United or Star Alliance, on May 22 UAL won't know that you didn't take the March 21 or May 20 flights and won't cancel your May 22 return ticket.
As Jgish noted above, USA-Korea round trips are usually cheaper than USA-Japan rount trips.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SF, Japan, YYG
Programs: ANA Pt
Posts: 378
Used to do a similar route; to TPE via NRT and back, for a much lower biz class fare. Not sure if that is still viable.
#15
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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