JAL Premium Economy: Australia to Europe from ~$2.7k return

[Mattg]

Japan Airlines has some very decent Premium Economy fares from Sydney to destinations in Europe including Helsinki, Paris, Frankfurt and London.

You can also connect from other Australian cities for not much more money. The domestic connections book into Qantas Economy.

An overnight transit is required at HND on the outbound journey. There are short connection times on the way back to Australia.

Here are a few examples from Google Flights:






JAL Premium Economy is a very good product. You also get lounge access included, even if you have no Oneworld status.

 

[SYD]

I noticed last night JL J fares to Europe ex-SYD down to just over A$6k - which is in the Precovid price range. I’m in the process of exploring further!

Last time I flew JL J, I paid $5,980 in 2018 for SYD-HND-LHR (QF/BA) // LHR-TLS (BA) //CDG-HEL-NRT (AY/JL) // HND-SIN-SYD (JL/QF). There was a good connection in HND on the way out, the stopover was necessary on the way back (in part because of the airport change). Back then you could include QF sectors with QF codes and the free side trip after the LHR stopover was a bonus! The last leg was purely a case of why fly direct when you can fly via for the same price! A great little status run while actually do a holiday trip. The other fun fact was flying four sectors before stepping onto a JL aircraft!

 

[MELso]

I actually prefer their Y seats on the 787. The JL PY hard shell makes you slump a bit, and the amenities on board aren't a huge improvement (champagne and pot noodles, although you do get lounge access). Hence, their Y is excellent value for money.

What I really want JAL to do is to move their HEL service from HND back to NRT (or better still move MEL to HND). Before COVID, JAL was a great option to get to northern Europe - two 10 hour flights followed by a short hop on an AY codeshare. Now, for people from MEL, you're limited to connections through NRT (FRA only I think to Europe) unless you want to play 'race across Tokyo' or transit in SYD (yuk!).

 

[encryptededdy]

I noticed last night JL J fares to Europe ex-SYD down to just over A$6k - which is in the Precovid price range. I’m in the process of exploring further!

Yeah, I just put in a booking for SYD to Europe for around A$7.5k over Easter on JAL, which I think is pretty good for that time period. Also, free stopover in Tokyo.

 

[Gregory Ashe]

Is there any special fares with Virgin Australia to Europe via their new Sydney/cairns/ Tokyo service

 

[hwy]

That Virgin 737 flight is going to be plain nasty sitting on for such a long flight to Tokyo. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Gregory Ashe]

Yes could be painful flighr

 

[aaa99]

I actually prefer their Y seats on the 787. The JL PY hard shell makes you slump a bit, and the amenities on board aren't a huge improvement (champagne and pot noodles, although you do get lounge access). Hence, their Y is excellent value for money.

Agreed, recently did the 787 in both Y and PE and I also think that their Y seat is more comfortable personally and there is not much difference between them in terms of the soft product.

 

[encryptededdy]

Agreed, recently did the 787 in both Y and PE and I also think that their Y seat is more comfortable personally and there is not much difference between them in terms of the soft product.

Personally I disagree also having tried both, the more generous recline on PE makes a big difference for me when trying to sleep, especially when the seat in front cannot enter your space due to the hard shell, however I would agree the Y is very good.

I would say the JAL Y seat has surprisingly limited recline, for better or worse.

 

[SYD]

Now, for people from MEL, you're limited to connections through NRT (FRA only I think to Europe) unless you want to play 'race across Tokyo' or transit in SYD (yuk!).

Surely the SYD T3->T1 transfer is better than NRT->HND!

 

[siri]

JAL is a great airline with perfect services and I was using JAL last sept to London via Haneda with 3 hrs transit and their business class pricing is very attractive since its around 6K return and anyone going to Europe this is the best bet and other is ANA.
Take a break in Tokyo and visit Yodabashi, to see the latest electronics and you will not be disappointed. I was station there few yrs ago, and nice central place to stay is Shinjuku since night life, great bars, good hotels and possibly world busiest rail station. Other factor is Haneda airport is 30 mins to Tokyo.

 

[Longylad]

I noticed last night JL J fares to Europe ex-SYD down to just over A$6k - which is in the Precovid price range. I’m in the process of exploring further!

Last time I flew JL J, I paid $5,980 in 2018 for SYD-HND-LHR (QF/BA) // LHR-TLS (BA) //CDG-HEL-NRT (AY/JL) // HND-SIN-SYD (JL/QF). There was a good connection in HND on the way out, the stopover was necessary on the way back (in part because of the airport change). Back then you could include QF sectors with QF codes and the free side trip after the LHR stopover was a bonus! The last leg was purely a case of why fly direct when you can fly via for the same price! A great little status run while actually do a holiday trip. The other fun fact was flying four sectors before stepping onto a JL aircraft!

SYD could I ask for example? Or perhaps which cities to target in mainland Europe for that pricing? (sorry noob questions). Looking to get depart around 13 June. Managed to find $6.88k to BER (via HND & LHR)

 

[SYD]

SYD could I ask for example? Or perhaps which cities to target in mainland Europe for that pricing? (sorry noob questions). Looking to get depart around 13 June. Managed to find $6.88k to BER (via HND & LHR)

Using ITA Matrix (or Google), you ought to be able to search into most of the usual suspects (including LHR) but return from BER, AMS, CPH.

There appears to be SYD-HND-LHR//AMS-LHR-HND-SYD departing early June / returning mid/late June ~$6,145. Ive not checked if that’s bookable directly on JAL. It usually is but the multi-city search isn’t great for telling the total price until the end.

 

[siri]

I will check pricing first on JAL web site..

 

[http_x92]

Found $6.1k SYD-HND-CDG return May 8th - May 21st on JL J. 360 SCs all up.

Same sort of layover required as the OP but 1 night in Japan could be worth it...

 

[Longylad]

Using ITA Matrix (or Google), you ought to be able to search into most of the usual suspects (including LHR) but return from BER, AMS, CPH.

There appears to be SYD-HND-LHR//AMS-LHR-HND-SYD departing early June / returning mid/late June ~$6,145. Ive not checked if that’s bookable directly on JAL. It usually is but the multi-city search isn’t great for telling the total price until the end.

Thank you I always thought you had to arrive / depart from same location to achieve best pricing.. i.e. if you fly to LHR your return must start in LHR..
Do you price up 2 seperate 1 way's in ITA matrix? I tried via multi city but no where near the price, JAL wasn't even an option

Alot to learn

 

[MELso]

Surely the SYD T3->T1 transfer is better than NRT->HND!

Oh absolutely, but both pale in comparison to the ~5 minute international transit that NRT offered with the super polite Japanese airport security.

It was the most painless international connection I've ever had to do.

 

[encryptededdy]

Thank you I always thought you had to arrive / depart from same location to achieve best pricing.. i.e. if you fly to LHR your return must start in LHR..

Nope, some fare types allow for "Open Jaw" itineraries, which is what's being described here.

In this case, not departing LHR means saving on the very large UK departure tax

 

[Longylad]

Nope, some fare types allow for "Open Jaw" itineraries, which is what's being described here.

In this case, not departing LHR means saving on the very large UK departure tax

Can I ask best methodology for doing this? Online digging points to 2 versions: 1. listing multiple destinations separated by a comma (but this might be defunct now as ITA only allows for same country apparently) or 2. Multi city?
Sorry for such rookie questions

 

[SYD]

Can I ask best methodology for doing this? Online digging points to 2 versions: 1. listing multiple destinations separated by a comma (but this might be defunct now as ITA only allows for same country apparently) or 2. Multi city?
Sorry for such rookie questions

ITA Matrix and Google Flights allow multiple destinations (in different countries) but you can only have your search originate in one country (but in the case of Oz, you could play around with say SYD, MEL, BNE etc to see if there’s any sweet spots in pricing).