JAL business class Melbourne - Tokyo. Is it worth it?

C

chodo

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Jun 25, 2008
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Hello frequent flyer people!

It's been a while since I've logged in here but I always check out weekly email and click through a few topics.

I have slowly built up a stockpile of Qantas Frequent Flyer points and I have 2 questions.

1) Can I book reward flights for myself and my girlfriend through Qantas but flying Japan Airlines (on the same booking) even though she doesn't have my surname?

2) There is an availability for J class at 312,000 points plus $624.08 taxes. We have never flown Business Class before but I am under the impression that some airlines/planes/routes are better than others. Is J on JAL on this route worth it? Or are we better off just going economy and saving it for another day? I accrue Qantas points mainly from card sign-ups and never redeem them. Is this finally the trip to do that?

Any info or thoughts would be welcomed, although I suppose it's all null and void if I can't book for my girlfriend.

Cheers in advance and happy weekend!
 
I have actually thought about this! But I’ve done the hard work by accumulating them and I definitely don’t want to redeem them for vouchers!
 
To answer question 1, no issues using your points to book a ticket for you and your partner
 
chodo said:
Is J on JAL on this route worth it?
Click to expand...

The skysuite on the 787 is the best business class product out there after Qatar's Qsuites. The suites offer maximum privacy and the window seats have beds over 7 foot long. JAL business is an excellent choice, and there aren't many that would beat it.
 
I flew JAL NRT-MEL in business 6 months ago and it was pretty amazing. Definitely worth it if you have the points to get there. I had the most amazing steak ever on that flight too.
 
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JAL have a number of business class products. The newer batch are all called "sky suite", but vary slightly by aircraft type.
They use "SS8" to MEL and "SS9" to SYD.
JAL SKY SUITE (Seats) - JAL International Flights

I haven't used the sky suite on the AU routes (have used their new[ish] premium economy seats for MEL-NRT-SYD), but I've had SS8/9 to BOS and JFK. Very nice seats :)
 
Himeno said:
JAL have a number of business class products. The newer batch are all called "sky suite", but vary slightly by aircraft type.
They use "SS8" to MEL and "SS9" to SYD.
JAL SKY SUITE (Seats) - JAL International Flights

I haven't used the sky suite on the AU routes (have used their new[ish] premium economy seats for MEL-NRT-SYD), but I've had SS8/9 to BOS and JFK. Very nice seats :)
Click to expand...
Are there are any material differences between SS8 and SS9?
 
I took this flight (well from NRT-MEL). Absolutely fantastic. Make sure you get a window seat as they have more space and are more private.
 
I just flew SYD-NRT last week in JAL J. I agree with all points above. It’s one of the best J class out there. Crew was friendly and hard working, seat is superb and I agree the window seat is very private and spacious. Bed mode is very good. No silly tiny cubby foot wells.

Food is great. I had the Japanese meal. And after the meal service, there is an on-demand snack menu that you can order from your hand held remote any time. Lots of fun and the ramen was fantastic!
 
Enjoy the flight itself, but the QFi J lounge in MEL T2, is in the basement of T2, you see is a walls, there are no outside views as that QFi MEL J lounge is set up like that.
But that is just third matter, as your flight will depart at 00.55 in the morning, so you have nothing much to see outside.
You could spend about half an hour down there, just to put it onto your "done it" bucket list.
JAL does not have its own lounge in MEL.
Coming back from Japan, yes, its worth it for the lounge and the flight.
JAL arrives into (can't remember now, HND/NRT) just about 5am or so, maybe you might get a bit of sunrise view, maybe not, so maybe the middle row in J would be good, coming back I think its 19.30pm, also no view of the outside on take off, but great for landing into MEL.
I would say do it.
 
Last edited:
AustraliaPoochie said:
Enjoy the flight itself, but the QFi J lounge in MEL T2, is in the basement of T2, you see is a walls, there are no outside views as that QFi MEL J lounge is set up like that.
But that is just third matter, as your flight will depart at 00.55 in the morning, so you have nothing much to see outside.
You could spend about half an hour down there, just to put it onto your "done it" bucket list.
JAL does not have its own lounge in MEL.
Coming back from Japan, yes, its worth it for the lounge and the flight.
JAL arrives into (can't remember now, HND/NRT) just about 5am or so, maybe you might get a bit of sunrise view, maybe not, so maybe the middle row in J would be good, coming back I think its 19.30pm, also no view of the outside on take off, but great for landing into MEL.
I would say do it.
Click to expand...
JL uses the lounge next to the QF F lounge, where the EK lounge used to be.
JAL doesn't have any AU-HND rights, they use NRT. NRT has a 6am curfew.
JL774 departs MEL just after midnight and arrives at NRT just after 9am.
The JAL flights from Australia are MEL - night, SYD - day. Back from NRT are MEL - day, SYD - night.
 
Thanks to everyone for their contributions!

So we just booked and confirmed the flights using the QFF points - excited to say the least!!

Couple of questions.......

1) So will we receive lounge access because we have J tickets or do we need to be members? (are there any other perks included?)

2) How do we choose our seats for JAL? Or will that happen upon check in at Tullamarine?

3) Will my unlocked iPhone work on Japanese networks with a local Japanese prepaid SIM? I seem to remember reading years ago that their mobile network operates on a different frequency or something like that?

Any other tips and feedback will be greatly appreciated! We have a month until we leave and now is the exciting party of planning out our 18 nights in Japan.

Happy Sunday all :):):0
 
1. J tickets is your answer

2. You should be able to get a JL PNR from QF. You can then use this to select seats on the JL website.

3. I don't know


Enjoy the flight and enjoy Japan. I love it there. My tip is to eat :D;)
 

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