Melbourne to Japan on Points

[jd24]

I am looking for guidance on how to secure reward seats premium economy or higher from Melbourne to Japan in mid to late Sept 2024 returning 10 days approx later. Open to stay overs if need be but ideally don't wish to fly longer than 10-12 hours in one hit. For 2 adults and 1 child. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ausfox]

When you find out tell us al. I tried for months and then had to buy my way. I used the points to go to KL instead.

 

[elanshin]

I am looking for guidance on how to secure reward seats premium economy or higher from Melbourne to Japan in mid to late Sept 2024 returning 10 days approx later. Open to stay overs if need be but ideally don't wish to fly longer than 10-12 hours in one hit. For 2 adults and 1 child. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

The issue is for sep 2024 you're a little bit late as most of the availabilities would've been already snapped up.

The other issue is looking for 3 seats. If it was 2, there are availabilities from SYD (through TPE).

 

[tdimdad]

For September, especially in the Australian school holiday period, the rewards would have been booked a long ago. Though, QF has taken a new habit of releasing reward seats in bulk at unpredictable times (1-2 times a year by the current rate). If you are not wedded to going on certain dates, it may (or may not) pay off to wait for a while to see if there will be another bulk release.

You do find PE rewards in late November, flying on JL. But if that's outside of the travel periods you could do, then the only way to secure your trip is $$$ or gamble with the potential future reward release.

BTW, welcome to AFF, jd24! Happy travels to you and the family.

 

[Mwenenzi]

jd24 Welcome to AFF

I am looking for guidance on how to secure reward seats premium economy or higher from Melbourne to Japan in mid to late Sept 2024 returning 10 days approx later. Open to stay overs if need be but ideally don't wish to fly longer than 10-12 hours in one hit. For 2 adults and 1 child. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

3 off reward seats in premium economy or higher (in school holidays?) is a very tough ask. The more self imposed restrictions the harder it will be. If see flights that are 80% OK, just take them, before others grab them.
Look at all routes/airlines to Japan. Including Jetstar business class" which is more like a PE seat in others airline.
And not just Tokyo (HND NRT)
Like KIX Kansai International Airport - Wikipedia Jetstar flys from CNS BNE SYD
And others

List of Jetstar destinations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

List of Qantas destinations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

List of Japan Airlines destinations - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[masco131]

I am looking for guidance on how to secure reward seats premium economy or higher from Melbourne to Japan in mid to late Sept 2024 returning 10 days approx later. Open to stay overs if need be but ideally don't wish to fly longer than 10-12 hours in one hit. For 2 adults and 1 child. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Have you checked syd-hnd? Japan airlines released heaps recently. Business class is 90k Qantas points. I snapped some myself like a month ago.

 

[SYD]

There are a sprinkling of things out there that might be able to be cobbled together if you’re flexible. I wouldn’t discount a sector in economy if it’s a “day flight” that helps bring something together.

Picking up on the previous advice from @Mwenenzi - one variation you might find that you can use some points and some seperate paid flights to bring it together. You just need to be aware of the risks of travelling on seperate bookings.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

What is your QFF status.
Higher grades get more opts for upgrades, ie first chances.
If JL releases premY seats to QFF then good, to fly premY with them ie JL.
Otherwise have to go QF J.

 

[natenate]

Have been looking at something similar recently (HND-SYD)

Some combinations that come to mind to try as well if direct is not available: MEL-SIN-HND, MEL-HKG-HND, MEL-TPE-HND, MEL-SGN-MEL

 

[Matt_01]

If you want to use QF in Y+ your options are limited as QF only run 1 787 flight SYD all the others SYD-HND or MEL/BNE-NRT are on a333 which do not have Y+. You will save a few points if on QF metal but most likely will have more chance with JL, I was able to book JL J today sure it is an extra 8K points but the service is a lot better. Looking at your travel dates they look they are potentially at the start and end of the school holiday period.

 

[ronlon]

there are 3 economy class reward seats on 21 September from Melbourne to Tokyo via Hong Kong. Given this is a bit late for a popular destination during school holidays it is unlikely to get much better than this. I haven't searched for return flights though.

 

[elanshin]

If you want to use QF in Y+ your options are limited as QF only run 1 787 flight SYD all the others SYD-HND or MEL/BNE-NRT are on a333 which do not have Y+. You will save a few points if on QF metal but most likely will have more chance with JL, I was able to book JL J today sure it is an extra 8K points but the service is a lot better. Looking at your travel dates they look they are potentially at the start and end of the school holiday period.

Qantas isn't running the 787 to HND very soon. Definitely gone by SEP. There won't be any Y+ in all 4 daily flights to tokyo.

 

[Sprucegoose]

What is your QFF status.
Higher grades get more opts for upgrades, ie first chances.
If JL releases premY seats to QFF then good, to fly premY with them ie JL.
Otherwise have to go QF J.

Become a P1?

 

[Himeno]

Qantas isn't running the 787 to HND very soon. Definitely gone by SEP. There won't be any Y+ in all 4 daily flights to tokyo.

Once QF25/26 goes to A330, if you want Y+ to Japan, you'll have to go via HKG on CX or an A380 to SIN and onto JL36/37

 

[SYD]

Once QF25/26 goes to A330, if you want Y+ to Japan, you'll have to go via HKG on CX or an A380 to SIN and onto JL36/37

There’s a bit of award availability SIN <-> Japan but buggerall ex Oz to/from SIN (not even JQ - which usually show’s up).

Hence my earlier comment - perhaps pay JQ MEL-SIN (whY up / Biz back - if you can mix class).

 

[MelbFlyer]

I just (at the time of booking) managed to get 2 x JL business reward seats from NRT to MEL direct for November this year, in November last year (yes, booked 1 year in advance).

Not even a school holiday period nor a peak period (ie. cherry blossom season in Japan), but it was already hard to find.

Before securing said seats, we procrastinated and lost out on business reward seats departing the week prior - so I kept looking daily and when I finally saw some newly released seats departing a week later (what we have now), I jumped on them and booked immediately.

If you're looking for seats now for 09/2024 this year, you're probably 5 months too late unfortunately. Looking for just 1 adult now for September this year yields almost zero reward availability even for economy.

Who knows though, Qantas may have more availability randomly - you'll just have to keep looking and also be flexible / be open to transits (ie. through Singapore / HK or Taipei etc).

Instead of searching for MEL > NRT, you may have to try a different combination of the below examples:
MEL > SIN, then SIN > NRT
MEL > HKG, then HKG> NRT
MEL > TPE, then TPE > NRT

Or even try from SYD.

 

[puchu]

There’s a bit of award availability SIN <-> Japan but buggerall ex Oz to/from SIN (not even JQ - which usually show’s up).

Hence my earlier comment - perhaps pay JQ MEL-SIN (whY up / Biz back - if you can mix class).

I think there was scattered BA F but only for 1pax

 

[SYD]

I think there was scattered BA F but only for 1pax

I actually saw 3x BA PE up and back but it was up one day back the next…

A lot of MH J also, but not much ex KUL to Japan that I could see.

 

[puchu]

I actually saw 3x BA PE up and back but it was up one day back the next…

A lot of MH J also, but not much ex KUL to Japan that I could see.

I was able to see some to Osaka in J ex KUL but again, only in singles. Getting back from Japan to SYD with points was much tougher to find.
When I looked at cash flights, I was able to see SQ J from both Tokyo airports pricing at around the 2.2-2.4K k AUD range one way.

 

[Aurorasky]

If you have specific dates in mind check the availability every day. I just grabbed 2x HND to SYD on QF in J during July school hols for family members who had very specific dates. Searched for 2 months without seeing any direct premium and was going to book Y but then one day the seats were just there, possibly someone's cancellation.