SYD - NYC with JAL

[joemcguiz]

Hi All,

Two questions:

I've got an option to fly SYD - NYC with JAL and via Haneda (business class). There is only one hour and ten mins for the transfer. Is this sufficent time to make my connection?

My other alternative is Qantas via LAX. All the flights seem to be operated by American Airlines. I don't want to fly on an American Airlines plane. Are Qantas no longer flying the route unless its via Auckland? (cant afford that one).

Cheers,

 

[Danger]

Welcome to AFF, joemcguiz.

There are airports with tighter connections that are still legal.

If the booking is one single reservation (not two separate bookings), you will be protected by JAL if there is a misconnect. Moreover, J seats are rare. If it's available, book it.

 

[Lynda2475]

Are Qantas no longer flying the route unless its via Auckland? (cant afford that one)

Correct.

If you want to fly Qantas metal all the way to JFK it is only via AKL. They do still also fly to LAX, SFO and DFW but any connections from there will be offered on American Airlines or Alaska metal.

 

[drron]

We used to fly BNE-NRT-JFK on JAL 2 or 3 times a year with a 55 minute connection in NRT. Never missed a flight.
Then we switched to AA from NRT as their FF scheme back in the day was really good. Would buy a J ticket and upgrade to F. About a third with a System wide upgrade. The rest points. I think the first 3 flights with AA were J. They are a different airline in the premium cabins. They are at least as good as QF and sometimes better. AA FAs were able to select their flights by seniority so you got crew who wanted to be flying that route.
And back then either with a JAL or AA ticket the business class fare was considerably less than QF.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I've got an option to fly SYD - NYC with JAL and via Haneda (business class). There is only one hour and ten mins for the transfer. Is this sufficent time to make my connection?

Not long enough, especially when factoring in potential flight delays. But if on the same PNR at least you'll be protected for the flights but not for the lost accomodation/other charges for the first night in New York.

CX via HKK may be a different option if you aren't prepared to fly AA.

 

[tdimdad]

Most likely you'll be all good. JL is one of the airlines who protect their punctuality. For them to be late, it needs to be something clearly outside of their control. Secondly, if they know that you have a tight connection, you'll be whisked to the HND transit security among the first ones. If you are transiting in T3, it's compact enough for a quick transit after your clear the security.

 

[Himeno]

As long as the SYD-HND is on time, 1 hour is enough.
Both flights use HND T3, you just have to go through transit screening and upstairs to departures. With a short connection, there will likely be a JAL staff member waiting at the arriving gate to assist.

The times I've needed to use the transit screening there has been almost no one there. It was all quite fast.
The longest transit screening has taken me at HND was 5 mins, and most of that time was waiting for staff to open the checkpoint for me.

 

[drron]

JAL really do try hard to be on time. A good example was our flight yesterday. The J cabin IFE wasn’t working. We were told this as we entered the gate lounge at SIN. Then just before boarding an agent came around to tell us that they couldn’t fix it.
She also then handed us forms to claim compensation. Later on they handed out complimentary wifi coupons as well.
In fact the IFE wasn’t completely dead. I could get music,games and live news channels including the BBC. But I couldn’t get movies or TV from their collection. The fellow across the aisle from me could see the movies.

Because they didn’t wait to fix the Problem we left early and arrived a few minutes early.

 

[Lynda2475]

Weather delays out of SYD can be common though, especially when high winds close a runway.

If you can accommodate arriving in NY a day later if you miss connection go for it, but will be stressful if first leg is delayed.

 

[CMA222]

....
She also then handed us forms to claim compensation. Later on they handed out complimentary wifi coupons as well.
....

Just like QF does !!

 

[Himeno]

JL has 2 flights to New York from Haneda each day. Accounting for the SYD flight times, I assume you're on the evening JL4.

If the flight from SYD is delayed which then causes you to miss JL4, they'll either rebook you to the morning flight with an overnight in Tokyo, send you to another US port (ORD, DFW, LAX, SFO) then on to NYC on AA, or send you on CX via HKG.

 

[Groundhog]

Hi All,

Two questions:

I've got an option to fly SYD - NYC with JAL and via Haneda (business class). There is only one hour and ten mins for the transfer. Is this sufficent time to make my connection?

My other alternative is Qantas via LAX. All the flights seem to be operated by American Airlines. I don't want to fly on an American Airlines plane. Are Qantas no longer flying the route unless its via Auckland? (cant afford that one).

Cheers,

Curious - whats the objection to AA?
If you can jag one of the new A321’s (3 class config) that AA fly between LAX and JFK (in First or even Business) you might be pleasantly surprised - i sure was.
It’s a 5 hour flight and if done up the pointy end is very similar to Qantas J.
This might alleviate the stress of a tight turn around at HND.

 

[Danger]

Curious - whats the objection to AA?
If you can jag one of the new A321’s (3 class config) that AA fly between LAX and JFK (in First or even Business) you might be pleasantly surprised - i sure was.
It’s a 5 hour flight and if done up the pointy end is very similar to Qantas J.
This might alleviate the stress of a tight turn around at HND.

The A321s are definitely decent and can even make up for sub-standard FAs but, on the whole, the only reason I'd voluntarily choose AA over JL ... is if AA had seats available and JL didn't.

 

[garybatz]

I did this exact trip with JAL in July and had no problems, and the transit didn't feel at all rushed. The plane from SYD to HND had the older, herringbone layout. I found the seat smaller than I'd expected, still lie-flat seat (not that that mattered on a daytime flight) but not a lot of room to move or to store things. The plane from HND to NYC had the new Sky Suites which were much better, very spacious and a very comfortable lie-flat seat for the overnight flight.

The big surprise was arrival into NYC, I was walking out of the terminal checked bag in hand within half an hour