JAL Domestic Flights — Ghost Availability or Something Else?

[levelnine]

I'm trying to book some domestic JAL flights using points and I see plenty of availability, but with YEN0 taxes and fees. The flights error out when trying to book online and phone operators cannot see any availability. Anyone know what's going on?

 

[henrus]

I'm trying to book some domestic JAL flights using points and I see plenty of availability, but with YEN0 taxes and fees. The flights error out when trying to book online and phone operators cannot see any availability. Anyone know what's going on?

No on Qantas but on other carriers I've booked Japanese domestic flights before and the taxes are 0 yen. For example if you search via the AA website you can see the same 0 yen pricing.

My guess is the QF website can't cope with the taxes component being 0 yen and errors out because the website is setup to thing something is wrong. They'd still be bookable via the QF call centre but good luck!

 

[ketsuzei]

Just booked HND-cough J on AAdvantage for 15k+$0. Had got on an error on QFF previously.

So it's probably just QFF that is FUKed.

 

[sudoer]

0 yen taxes is correct. Call to book!

Edit: just saw you said operators can't see it. HUACA, I get this all the time with domestic JAL flights. I believe there's some confusion over the booking class, and an operator (who knew what they were doing) told me they need to use a specific type of interface to book it.

Worst case, failing that, the JAL Explorer Pass fares are excellent value: JAL Japan Explorer Pass

 

[levelnine]

Thanks everyone. I had presumed the 0 taxes and fees was a system error, and took the operator at face value — silly me!

 

[encryptededdy]

Question: Do Business Classic Rewards book into Domestic First or Class J?

 

[sudoer]

Question: Do Business Classic Rewards book into Domestic First or Class J?

Class J - a terrible use of points.

 

[levelnine]

An update. A South African agent wasn't able to see the flights last night, but a Hobart agent found them in all of 2 seconds this morning, successfully adding them onto a long-haul flight into Japan. So it is a case of HUCA.

 

[Ktan89]

Do you have status with QF?

 

[levelnine]

Do you have status with QF?

Yes, Platinum, so I am fortunate to be able to get Hobart/Auckland on a somewhat regular basis.

 

[jpp42]

An update. A South African agent wasn't able to see the flights last night, but a Hobart agent found them in all of 2 seconds this morning, successfully adding them onto a long-haul flight into Japan. So it is a case of HUCA.

This has been reported on here many times, and someone mentioned that the Mindpearl agents (Cape Town/Fiji), use an entirely different system from Amadeus, a newer one that's more user-friendly, whereas Hobart/Auckland agents use an older text-based interface which requires much more training. Apparently the system used by Mindpearl cannot access a big portion of classic rewards flights, for unclear reasons. What's further annoying is that these agents are not trained about this difference, or possibly even worse are aware of this but instructed just to tell people it's simply unavailable (when they are obviously available on the web site).

 

[encryptededdy]

This has been reported on here many times, and someone mentioned that the Mindpearl agents use an entirely different system from Amadeus, a newer one that's more user-friendly, whereas Hobart/Auckland agents use an older text-based interface which requires much more training. Apparently the system used by Mindpearl cannot access a big portion of classic rewards flights, for unclear reasons. What's further annoying is that these agents are not trained about this difference, or possibly even worse are aware of this but instructed just to tell people it's simply unavailable (when they are obviously available on the web site).

So, I have reason to believe that Auckland or Hobart* may be in the process of transitioning to the new system, or so I was told by an operator when trying to change a Classic Reward a few weeks ago. Coincidentally at the same time they weren't able to see an award flight I could see on the website on this call.

*sounded like Auckland, but could've been Hobart

 

[Matt_01]

Question: Do Business Classic Rewards book into Domestic First or Class J?

Into Class J, it is just economy with a little more leg room.

 

[jpp42]

Into Class J, it is just economy with a little more leg room.

I'm confused, the web site shows Class J as wide recliners (2+2 on 737, 47 cm seat width) , with centre console , leg rests, etc. What am I missing?

https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/service/j/seat/skynext.html

 

[sudoer]

I'm confused, the web site shows Class J as wide recliners (2+2 on 737, 47 cm seat width) , with centre console , leg rests, etc. What am I missing?

https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/service/j/seat/skynext.html

Domestic Class J is a 2-3 layout on the 737.

https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/aircraft/conf/737.html

The 2-2 layout is the international config, of which there are some flying domestic routes at the moment while flights into Taiwan/Hong Kong/China are largely suspended.

The domestic Class J seat is comfortable enough but closer to the QF 787 premium economy than QF 737 business (for want of a better comparison). There is no difference in F&B service between domestic class J and economy, both being restricted to one cup of water/tea/coffee/juice and no food. There is also no lounge access included. JAL domestic First Class is probably closer to what you'd expect from a domestic business class.

 

[jpp42]

Thanks sudoer, got it, it still seems like a reasonable option given how short any domestic route will be. But I agree it should be charged at Prem Economy points based on your summary.

 

[sudoer]

But I agree it should be charged at Prem Economy points based on your summary.

It's ironic that Qantas devalued JL Class J SC earn to Premium/Flexible economy rates! You'd think the classic award rates should have dropped as well (not serious, this is Qantas we are talking about..)

It's a perfectly good product, and one that I pay cash for frequently being a 1000 yen space-available upgrade at check-in. But I don't think it's worth double the QFF points.

 

[sudoer]

It's a perfectly good product, and one that I pay cash for frequently being a 1000 yen space-available upgrade at check-in. But I don't think it's worth double the QFF points.

While travelling through Japan over the past couple of weeks, I've learned that JAL upgrades increased in price a few months ago.

Space-available upgrades were previously a flat 1000 yen for Class J and 8000 yen for First Class, however Class J is now 1000-3000 yen and First Class 10000-12000 yen, depending on route.

JAL will raise domestic airfares by 3 to 8% on April 15 due to rise in fuel cost

JAL will raise domestic flight airfares by 3% to 8% and also upgrade fares on a flight day for a year from April 15 2022 due to rise in fuel cost mainly.

www.travelvoice.jp

https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/dom/boarding/sd_upgrade.html

 

[Matt_01]

It's ironic that Qantas devalued JL Class J SC earn to Premium/Flexible economy rates! You'd think the classic award rates should have dropped as well (not serious, this is Qantas we are talking about..)

It's a perfectly good product, and one that I pay cash for frequently being a 1000 yen space-available upgrade at check-in. But I don't think it's worth double the QFF points.

Agree, happy to pay cash as it is normally relatively cost effective. I think the branding 'Class J' could easily cause confusion for those who are not familiar with the product, that was our experience the first time we booked into this class. That being said in the past we have also booked the JL domestic F product thinking it would be more aligned to domestic QF J and it was much better than expected.

 

[SimonR32]

Into Class J, it is just economy with a little more leg room.

That's fairly harsh... It's closer to a seat in a Qantas 737-800 business class on their A350...

Trick to booking the flights, if you do it as a multi city itinerary it'll go through fine without the need to call.