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

 

[rurounimaikeru]

Hey all,
Researching MEL-SYD-HND. I can see 4 x J for SYD-HND, but if put in MEL-HND it won't show connecting flights through SYD.
Has anyone had luck with this? Or would I need to book a domestic VF ticket and get them joined via call centre?

 

[goldenhorn]

Hey all,
Researching MEL-SYD-HND. I can see 4 x J for SYD-HND, but if put in MEL-HND it won't show connecting flights through SYD.
Has anyone had luck with this? Or would I need to book a domestic VF ticket and get them joined via call centre?

I wouldI be calling before someone else books them. They might only be open Monday to Friday but I’ve booked award tickets with them on the phone and they’ve always been helpful. You just have to highlight that you couldn’t book online otherwise they charge a booking fee.

 

[rurounimaikeru]

Sorry figured it out.
You can do it, but because its only looking at one MEL-SYD leg to connect to SYD-HND its not showing availability if the domestic leg doesn't have availability. As you say above, would have to try on phone and try for alternative leg and potentially mixed cabin.
In any case just doing research now....