Best SC for Sapporo

[Chucksta]

I am planning to visit Sapporo for skiing and maybe the Snow Festival in Feb 2008.

What would be the best way to maximise SC earn? (I'm thinking it is the OW Circle Asia fare).

The other option was just taking QF from PER-NRT and then, booking etickets on JAL from Tokyo. Maybe this could give a better SC earn rate??? Any ideas??

My last Biz Circle Asia fare got me 580 SC (PER-SYD-NRT-KIX-ICN-HKG-SIN-SYD-PER).

However, this time I think I will be looking at a 13,000 mile economy circle asia fare from PER. But I am tempted to make it a J fare to try requalify for WP status.

Are the taxes and fuel fines the same for Biz and Economy circle asia fares?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[serfty]

... Are the taxes and fuel fines the same for Biz and Economy circle asia fares? ...

Basically, yes.

Places like India and the UK have high taxes if in a 'higher class' of travel -but these would not be an issue on a DAS13 or similar.

 

[moa999]

Other bang for the buck worth considering is JQ *C to Osaka

 

[serfty]

You can't book PER-KIX fares directly on JQ. Separate bookings to the east coast are required.

Return costs in round figures:

ex CNS $2400

ex SYD/BNE $2800

ex MEL: $3550

A DAS13 is $4649 +++

 

[Hvr]

Guess this won't be much help if you're looking to maximise SCs but flying to Japan on a OneWorld flight means you are entitled to use the Visit Japan offer of up to five internal flights for ¥10,000 each.




I too am going to Japan, and including Sapporo for the Snow and Ice Festival in Feb 2008.



Am so looking forward to this trip.

 

[Chucksta]

I too am going to Japan, and including Sapporo for the Snow and Ice Festival in Feb 2008.

Got any hotel recommendations?

Is it better to stay in Sapporo or perhaps at a Ski Resort?

 

[Hvr]

I have a friend who is a Japanese national and she is arranging accom for me. We did uni studies together last [FONT=&quot]millennium [/FONT]:shock: and she has been suggesting I visit for may years.

When I said I was going to be there in 2008 I was immediately told not to bother with accom because it would be arranged in her home town of Sapporo.

Sorry I can't give any further assistance.

 

[Chucksta]

What about using a Circle Pacific Fare?

Perhaps something like: PER-SYD-SFO-LAX-NRT-HKG-SIN-PER and then just booking a NRT-Sapporo return flight through the JAL website.

On the flyertalk forum (Post: lol $16,945 return in business Lax-Syd in february)

I think Dave Noble said:

There are cheaper fares on other routings; e.g. if prepared to do LAX-SYD on QF/AA and then return via Hong Kong on CX, then you could use a Circle Pacific fare at $5300 plus taxes ( or 1st class for $7500 ) : note there is a minimum stay period of 10 days.

I had a look at the OW website, but the Circle Pacific fare seems to be priced at AUD $7029 plus tax for < 22,000 miles.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Chucksta

 

[NM]

I think Dave Noble said:

There are cheaper fares on other routings; e.g. if prepared to do LAX-SYD on QF/AA and then return via Hong Kong on CX, then you could use a Circle Pacific fare at $5300 plus taxes ( or 1st class for $7500 ) : note there is a minimum stay period of 10 days.

I had a look at the OW website, but the Circle Pacific fare seems to be priced at AUD $7029 plus tax for < 22,000 miles.

Any ideas?

Dave's prices are in US$ for ex-USA DCIR22 fare.

 

[Dave Noble]

There are cheaper fares on other routings; e.g. if prepared to do LAX-SYD on QF/AA and then return via Hong Kong on CX, then you could use a Circle Pacific fare at $5300 plus taxes ( or 1st class for $7500 ) : note there is a minimum stay period of 10 days.

I had a look at the OW website, but the Circle Pacific fare seems to be priced at AUD $7029 plus tax for < 22,000 miles.

The USD5300 is correct for USA originating DCIRCs ticketed in the USA ( approx AUD5915 ) . The ex Australia fare is AUD7029

Dave

 

[NM]

The USD5300 is correct for USA originating DCIRCs ticketed in the USA ( approx AUD5915 ) . The ex Australia fare is AUD7029

Dave

Perhaps the AU fares need to be re-priced now that the A$ is string against the US$? The ex-USA DCIR22 is a very good fare now.

 

[simongr]

Could you book the ex-USA fare but originate from Oz? I just booked a CircleAsia for A$4900 flying syd-hkg-nrt-syd (The NRT flight is a filler to make the fare work). In theory I could have booked the CircPac for only $1000 more... I have another of these trips in Feb and it might work out as cheap to fly syd-lax-hkg-syd ... very tempting...

 

[Dave Noble]

Could you book the ex-USA fare but originate from Oz?

No. The US originating fare requires that you originate in the US. If you want to fly ex Oz, then you need the ex-Oz fare

Dave

 

[simongr]

Thanks - I wasn't sure if it was like the xonex prices that is the higher of point of origin and point of sale.

 

[serfty]

... like the xonex prices that is the higher of point of origin and point of sale.

That it is!

 

[Chucksta]

Hmm..

So it would seem SC earn for Circle Asia fare (< 13,000 mi) is:

PER-SYD: 20-Y or 80-J
SYD-NRT: 35-Y or 140-J
NRT-HKG: 20-Y or 80-J
HKG-SIN: 20-Y or 80-J
SIN-PER: 25-Y or 100-J

Grand total for Economy is 120SC or 480SC for biz class, plus those I earn booking an additional return fare on JAL from NRT to SPK. Or maybe I should book a 17,000 mile tix to include the NRT-SPK flight???

Using AUD 1999 for economy and 4649 for biz, SC earn rate is $16.66 per SC in economy and $9.69 in Biz. (excluding tax and paying QF to fill'er up!)

It just doesn't seem worth it to go economy! Decisions, decisions...

Chucksta

 

[BlacKnox]

Got any hotel recommendations?

Is it better to stay in Sapporo or perhaps at a Ski Resort?

I used to live in Sapporo, and have been to the last 6 festivals - great fun.

In Sapporo, I'd recommend the "Grand Hotel" in the City Centre, about 200metres to the festival. Or the Prince Hotel at S1W11; further down the park but again about 200m to the festival action. Note the Sherton and Hilton are both way out of town, but ski tours are organised from the Hilton (at Otaru) to nearby ski slopes.

Expect all hotels to book out very quickly, if not already. Of course for skiing, you must go to Niseko - best powder in the World bar none!

 

[simongr]

That it is!

Sorry - brain not functioning this morning - in the middle of some mind numbingly turgid work - mind numbing even for accountants :shock:

@Chucksta There is no decision to be me - the answer is obvious - Business Business Business !!

 

[Chucksta]

I used to live in Sapporo, and have been to the last 6 festivals - great fun.

Of course for skiing, you must go to Niseko - best powder in the World bar none!

Maybe its going to be too crowded and the hotels will exp in feb during the snow festival.

Now i'm thinking of going in late nov/early dec. Do you know if there is adequate snow at the time of the year?

Do you recommend staying at Niseko or in Sapporo city itself?

thanks

Chucksta

 

[BlacKnox]

There's enough snow in early December, but I'd recommend going for the snow (and ice) festivals - its a great event. It's crowded but that only adds to the festivities. I'd spend 2-3 nights in Sapporo (first) and then 2-3 nights in Niseko; a 3 hour drive away. The Prince hotel at Niseko is the best bet - ski straight from the slopes to the lobby .

If you have trouble getting a hotel in Sapporo (should be no problem in Niseko), PM me and I'll see what I can do.