J fares to Japan

[anyonebutqantas]

What's a reasonable amount to pay J for fares from MEL to Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan these days?

I remember ANA had a special at like $3k not long ago. How likely are those prices to recur? Aiming to travel in Sep/Oct 2024.

 

[elanshin]

Sales on NH for SYD <> HND have been at around 2.8k iirc (tack on going to SYD). SQ has also gone to that price point before although only once iirc. NH seem to have the sale relatively regularly so I'd expect it to pop around again.

JL and QF tend to be pricier especially direct MEL for J, although JL Y has matched NH sales. So it is completely possible for JL to also match an NH J sale.

Also remember that end of Sep is school holidays (need to look at both NSW, QLD and VIC) so try to dodge that.

 

[encryptededdy]

Subjectively it seems like JAL has started subbing in the 28J 787-9 (instead of 52J/44J) on some dates for SYD-HND, presumably because of not enough J demand.

On the other hand, ANA only has 48J or 40J 787-9s, so they need to sell more J seats to fill it up, hence the sales. I don't think ANA usually runs the 787-8s to Australia.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Can you buy the NH fare ex-MEL (presumably with MEL-SYD leg on VA) or do you have to buy separate tickets?

 

[elanshin]

Can you buy the NH fare ex-MEL (presumably with MEL-SYD leg on VA) or do you have to buy separate tickets?

I haven't directly searched the J sales but for the Y sales generally it's not worth buying the ex-MEL from NH. Much cheaper just to find your own way to SYD (even if you're buying the same VA flight being offered by NH directly from VA).

 

[anyonebutqantas]

I haven't directly searched the J sales but for the Y sales generally it's not worth buying the ex-MEL from NH. Much cheaper just to find your own way to SYD (even if you're buying the same VA flight being offered by NH directly from VA).

Will VA check through luggage to a separate NH ticket?

 

[elanshin]

Will VA check through luggage to a separate NH ticket?

I don't believe so, so you'll need to do your own self transfer.

 

[randompunter]

I haven't directly searched the J sales but for the Y sales generally it's not worth buying the ex-MEL from NH. Much cheaper just to find your own way to SYD (even if you're buying the same VA flight being offered by NH directly from VA).

Agree, I found it cheaper even to buy a separate flight on QF than the VA offering from NH. But I also prefer to stay the night at SYD beforehand so factoring in a hotel it is a bit more expensive but so much more relaxing not worrying about missed connections. I guess if it is a protected connection on one PNR that's less of an issue but still a potential PITA.