Japan Airlines to begin MEL-NRT flights

[kamchatsky]

Surprising there has been no thread about this. It will begin in 1 September, on their B788s:

https://www.ausbt.com.au/japan-airlines-to-launch-melbourne-tokyo-flights

I checked on BA and the award seats are already loaded, and is wide open. Excellent use of AA miles IMO on J.

If I have not already booked MEL-SIN-HND on SQ J for 4 people, I would have used my AA miles to book this in a heartbeat. The timings is perfect, as it leaves MEL just after midnight and arrives at Tokyo at about 9am. My SQ flights will mean we arrive at HND at about 4pm, even though we leave MEL at 1am in the morning.

Unfortunately I don't want cancel my SQ booking as then my miles would have 3 years expiry which I don't want.

I suggest anyone who needs to go to Japan in Xmas using points, redeem your points NOW!

 

[TomVexille]

Always good news to have more capacity to Japan

 

[dajop]

Also of note, that JL have the best economy configuration for 787's, with 8 across 2-4-2 (vs standard of 3-3-3) and for this alone it deserves support

 

[kamchatsky]

Also of note, that JL have the best economy configuration for 787's, with 8 across 2-4-2 (vs standard of 3-3-3) and for this alone it deserves support

I thought Alan Joyce says that QF's 787 is revolutionary ......

 

[LadyC]

I also read this on AUSBT and it is excellent news. Hope to snag a few award seats for later next year.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought Alan Joyce says that QF's 787 is revolutionary ......

No doubt Geoffrey Thomas told him it was

 

[boomy]

Great news!

Love everything about JAL but I don't like the late departure as it doesn't give much opportunity to enjoy their fantastic service and catering. I'd rather depart from SYD and return to MEL.

 

[Hvr]

It would be great if you were able to fly QF to NRT and JL return to MEL. Then you could have day time flights both ways.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

It would be great if you were able to fly QF to NRT and JL return to MEL. Then you could have day time flights both ways.

I couldn't agree more. Would be even better if you could get a QF flight number for the JL leg home. What do you think the chances of this happening are?

 

[Mattg]

Always good to see more flights available out of Australia!

JL also has several departures from NRT to Europe around lunch time, so this could be a good one-stop option between MEL and FRA, CDG etc. The connections coming back don't work quite as well, though.

I couldn't agree more. Would be even better if you could get a QF flight number for the JL leg home. What do you think the chances of this happening are?

Almost no chance.

 

[Himeno]

I couldn't agree more. Would be even better if you could get a QF flight number for the JL leg home. What do you think the chances of this happening are?

QF and JL codeshare between Australia and Japan via SIN. They used to codeshare on the JL BNE flight.
Unless VA enters the JP market or NH opens more Australian flights, I don't see the ACCC allowing codeshares on QF/JL non stop flights.

 

[levelnine]

JL also has several departures from NRT to Europe around lunch time, so this could be a good one-stop option between MEL and FRA, CDG etc. The connections coming back don't work quite as well, though.

Fantastic suggestion, especially now that QF is abandoning MEL passengers flying in Y to Europe.

 

[hummel]

Was having a look on BA tool earlier today and it was showing seats available, i.e pretty much wide open

Yet I rang QFF this morning and they can't see it? The operator couldn't work out why I wanted to fly JAL over QF... that's because their product is a hell of a lot better!

 

[dajop]

Fantastic suggestion, especially now that QF is abandoning MEL passengers flying in Y to Europe.

Or is it the other way around MEL passengers flying in Y to Europe are abandoning QF and therefore they are cutting capacity?

JL service is great, and it offers a competitive service to Europe but it is only competive coming back if you do a stopover in Tokyo on the way back. Which isn't such a bad thing, I could think of much worse places to have a stopover.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Was having a look on BA tool earlier today and it was showing seats available, i.e pretty much wide open

Yet I rang QFF this morning and they can't see it? The operator couldn't work out why I wanted to fly JAL over QF... that's because their product is a hell of a lot better!

Apparently there are two systems and some agents look at the wrong one. The precise terminology might be a little different to the following, but asking them if there's another way to search has worked for me:

I had this issue a few months ago when I phoned up to book a couple of award RTW fares. First agent couldn't see any availability when I knew it existed. Second agent found them no problem. Apparently there's 2 different ways for them to check availability and the first agent was looking in the wrong place. When I asked in the oneworld award thread, user gbetox replied with: "Same thing happened to me. I asked the phone assistant to double-check, and when she searched through "redemption" instead of "flight availability", she was able to see the seats and grab them."

 

[hummel]

Apparently there are two systems and some agents look at the wrong one. The precise terminology might be a little different to the following, but asking them if there's another way to search has worked for me:

Will give a shot, much appreciated.

 

[badseed]

This is great. Just booked MEL - NRT - MEL for next March, just over $650 return per adult. Plus free child seat rental for our little one They look really family-friendly.

If they stay 8 across with their Dreamliners they'll be my preferred airline to Europe most likely, especially now that CX is going 10 across on their 777's

 

[hummel]

Will give a shot, much appreciated.

Following up, managed to get the seat I wanted after telling the agent where to look. I hold no status with QF so had to wait for the call back but eventually we got there.

The first agent really didn't seem interested in helping me.. it happens.

 

[Melburnian1]

When I have travelled on JL the flight attendants have always been super helpful and considerate.

What a difference to a certain other airline.

 

[travelislife]

Following up, managed to get the seat I wanted after telling the agent where to look. I hold no status with QF so had to wait for the call back but eventually we got there.

The first agent really didn't seem interested in helping me.. it happens.

Yep it's a known issue with untrained QF agents booking JL. Seats shown on BA are *always* available. Agent just has to look in a different system on a different screen. But there are a lot agents who have no idea.