MEL to Tokyo Business Class - Advice needed

[NDiddy]

Hi all,

I've been very fortunate to receive some great advice on this forum and thought I would post this request.

There's an opportunity for me to travel to Tokyo in September (date unconfirmed and is pending cost) and I was wondering what options I should consider for flights to Tokyo. I will be requesting J class travel and would ideally like the shortest travel time possible. My initial research shows that I can get the following for the following dates, depart MEL 16th Sept and depart Tokyo 23rd Sept:

MEL - HND/NRT via HKG with Cathay - approx $5800
MEL - NRT via SYD with Qantas/JAL approx $5800
MEL - NRT via SIN with SING approx $6300

Anyone know if its possible to get either of these routes any cheaper in J? Are there any other routes I should be considering? I would prefer a complete lie flat bed as a major part of the justification to travel on J is to hit the ground running both there and back.

Thai is offering $4300 via BKK but the travel time is horrendous at 24 hours each way (not really acceptable). Any help, advice, thoughts are greatly appreciated and welcomed. I do have a Kris Flyer membership and but am willing to sign up to QFF, Asia Miles or other to maximise the points accumulation.

 

[rechoboam]

I found QF easy and comfortable enough. I looked into all sorts of exotic and expensive ways to get from Narita to Tokyo Station but ended up walking out of the terminal and straight into an express bus with wi-fi that took 40 minutes just before peak hour. The Narita Express train is also fine. So I wouldn't necessarily choose CX just to get to Haneda instead of Narita.

EDIT: JAL from Sydney? I would be wary, but haven't used JAL long haul.

 

[NDiddy]

I found QF easy and comfortable enough. I looked into all sorts of exotic and expensive ways to get from Narita to Tokyo Station but ended up walking out of the terminal and straight into an express bus with wi-fi that took 40 minutes just before peak hour. The Narita Express train is also fine. So I wouldn't necessarily choose CX just to get to Haneda instead of Narita.

EDIT: JAL from Sydney? I would be wary, but haven't used JAL long haul.

Thanks for the input rechoboam. I was going to take the bus from Narita as it goes directly to the hotel I'd be staying in so no issues there.

With regards to QF, what was J class like? I think QF21 SYD-NRT is on the 747, how are the skybeds on this aircraft?

 

[rechoboam]

Thanks for the input rechoboam. I was going to take the bus from Narita as it goes directly to the hotel I'd be staying in so no issues there.

With regards to QF, what was J class like? I think QF21 SYD-NRT is on the 747, how are the skybeds on this aircraft?

I was quite happy with the flight. I don't sleep much when not in my own house whatever the bed is like but managed a few hours. We took the 747 one way but the other way was the Airbus which is/was used once a week. I think both were angled flat beds but I didn't find it a problem. Food wasn't amazing but the wine was nice. Service was friendly and helpful throughout despite the flight back being extremely long due a diversion around volcanic ash. But do check as I think they were changing planes or seat configuration this year.

 

[pshepvic]

Skybeds on QF are the same on A330 and B747 aircraft. Only the A380 are different, which are fully lie flat rather than angled.

JAL seats are similar, being angled flat beds, but are a bit narrower and seem shorter than QF. If the price was significantly different though for QF I'd be more than happy. Service on JAL is generally impeccable, although not as polished ex-Sydney as it is often the Thai based crew. Food is better on QF though.

Out of the options though for the price I think I'd take the CX option.

 

[serfty]

Skybeds on QF are the same on A330 and B747 aircraft. Only the A380 are different, which are fully lie flat rather than angled. ...

This won't be the case going forward, by this time next year, all the 744ER's will have the same style Skybed as the 388's ... (but no F).

 

[NDiddy]

Thanks for the info on QF and JAL guys. Really appreciate it.

Decision pending on whether I'll be going till next week so I guess price is going to be what its going to be. After reading a few airline/seat reviews and weighing up where the points I could accrue would be best accrued, it looks like a toss up between Thai, CX and QF.

Issue with the JAL flight is I can't get from MEL - SYD early enough for the 8.15am departure without going the night before (so not worth it).

 

[pshepvic]

This won't be the case going forward, by this time next year, all the 744ER's will have the same style Skybed as the 388's ... (but no F).

Yep, and not a moment too soon (on the skybed part, not the removal of F!)

 

[pshepvic]

Thanks for the info on QF and JAL guys. Really appreciate it.

Decision pending on whether I'll be going till next week so I guess price is going to be what its going to be. After reading a few airline/seat reviews and weighing up where the points I could accrue would be best accrued, it looks like a toss up between Thai, CX and QF.

Issue with the JAL flight is I can't get from MEL - SYD early enough for the 8.15am departure without going the night before (so not worth it).

They must have changed the schedule - when I did the flight to NRT with JAL in December it was at 9:30am. Wish they would have a proper connection from Melbourne.

Personally I think I'd go CX 1. so I didn't have to transit Sydney, and 2. Because HND is much easier and closer than NRT (even if you take NEX, because depending where you stay that can still be a pain).

If you have status with QF though you might be better to go with them for the extra points earn, if that's important.

 

[NDiddy]

They must have changed the schedule - when I did the flight to NRT with JAL in December it was at 9:30am. Wish they would have a proper connection from Melbourne.

Personally I think I'd go CX 1. so I didn't have to transit Sydney, and 2. Because HND is much easier and closer than NRT (even if you take NEX, because depending where you stay that can still be a pain).

If you have status with QF though you might be better to go with them for the extra points earn, if that's important.

You're not wrong there pshepvic. 9.30 would allow me to catch the 6.00am flight out of Melb and make the cnxn easily. The arrival time is perfect as it would allow me to hit the ground running when I get there as well but a schedule change in the next month is highly unlikely.

CX is looking really tempting tbh as is probably my most prefered option. I'll sign up to QF or equivalent one world FF program if the price point is right. Thai was on the cards with the *A option to accrue points on US Airways to get the cheap J/F into Europe for a trip next year but we'll see how it plays out.

Ill be staying around Chiyoda and haven't been to Tokyo before but have been told to try and get Haneda if possible.

 

[rechoboam]

While QF was fine I would probably fly MEL-HKG-Haneda next time especially if it was sig cheaper.

 

[NDiddy]

While QF was fine I would probably fly MEL-HKG-Haneda next time especially if it was sig cheaper.

Just under 2K cheaper via a travel agent to travel CX over QF and about 4K cheaper when booking against the Qantas website. Almost seems like a no brainer.

 

[blu]

OT
Should you need the Tokyo Metro map:
Tokyo Metro Map - official - Tokyo Japan

 

[NDiddy]

OT
Should you need the Tokyo Metro map:
Tokyo Metro Map - official - Tokyo Japan

Thanks mate, appreciate it.