Booking Return from Japan with Velocity for ANA

[jonedwards80]

Hi all...

My partner and I used seats.aero to help us with booking some flights for our honeymoon to Japan next year. So far, have the BNE-KIX booked, but not the return. We are flying Cathay Pacific in business via HKG and paid 104k points per person.

I have an Amex business platinum card so can transfer points to either QFF or VA. I have around 700k points atm which works out to be around 350k QFF/VA points once converted.

Thinking of shooting for 2 seats in business on ANA with my Velocity account (NRT/HND to BNE) but nothing seems to have opened up yet for November for them...

What is my best approach to this? I cannot see any openings at all for bookings on the Virgin site yet. I know people here have said Virgin has better availability to Asia and at lower costs, but I haven't seen that yet. I've also heard getting 2 seats in business can be rather difficult...

Any tips or advice for nabbing these?

 

[levelnine]

ANA don't fly to BNE.

And ANA release most of their award seats to partners (including Velocity) very close in — think 7-14 days from departure.

 

[jonedwards80]

Okay so just forget about this and try with QFF? I can perhaps get Qantas or JAL to add some variety...

 

[goldenhorn]

Okay so just forget about this and try with QFF? I can perhaps get Qantas or JAL to add some variety...

Have you tried CI using QF points?

We just flew KIX-TPE-BNE,, and the CI business was outstanding. Getting CI awards 10-11 months out wasn't too hard.

 

[markis10]

Qantas are still in the process of rejigging their Tokyo flights, I would wait until the new timetable is announced any day now.

 

[jonedwards80]

Have you tried CI using QF points?

We just flew KIX-TPE-BNE,, and the CI business was outstanding. Getting CI awards 10-11 months out wasn't too hard.

Yes I am keen to try this too. We did JAL business this year and now doing CX business for the first leg. CI or ANA would be great.

I saw a few more released this morning using JAL/CX with QFF but only single tickets (we need 2).

 

[goldenhorn]

Yes I am keen to try this too. We did JAL business this year and now doing CX business for the first leg. CI or ANA would be great.

I saw a few more released this morning using JAL/CX with QFF but only single tickets (we need 2).

What approximate return date do you want? I see KIX-BNE on 19 Nov

 

[jonedwards80]

We are thinking Nov 21 or 22nd, preferably out of Tokyo

 

[goldenhorn]

We are thinking Nov 21 or 22nd, preferably out of Tokyo

Have you seen these?

20 Nov, NRT/TPE/BNE on CX, 118,800 per pax
21Nov - same as above

 

[ben95]

Okay so just forget about this and try with QFF?

ANA's HND-SYD flight usually have good business availability close in. I'd take the gamble to book a economy ticket now (choose a slightly flexible fare knowing you are likekly going to cancel it so the upfront cost isn't that big of a deal) and then look for those business awards close in, then I cancel the Y ticket.

Depending on your specific circumstances and appetite for a stop over CX/CI/QF/JL/NH/SQ are all options, and they are all partners you can transfer to using AMEX points. I'd recommend you just keep an eye on seats.aero for a bit longer in case anything comes up. If nothing I'd say the NH gamble probably has a 65-70% rate that it would work out.

 

[nthd_nthd]

Isn't it right that CI just released single ticket only? Anyone seen double on any route? I been trying but just found 1 tix even far out

 

[jonedwards80]

Have you seen these?

20 Nov, NRT/TPE/BNE on CX, 118,800 per pax
21Nov - same as above

yes but it seems its 1 ticket only