Hello all! As some of you may know, I quit Wine Berserkers some months back. That is, I quit the wine forum. But this forum is too valuable to me to stop lurking at the very least. For my very first post in ages, I share with you, others who play the mileage game, my current dilemma: direct in Economy or connect in First? This one is particularly complex situation, as I’ve laid out below. Unfortunately, no upper class tickets are available on my current flight, and, having watched how these things go for the last month or so, there is only a vanishingly small chance I could luck into one between now and then.
So here is the deal: I currently have booked on JAL an Economy class ticket flying JFK->HND->HKD (small airport on Hokkaido). We are on the midnight flight (12:30AM) connecting at Haneda in the early AM.
PROS
This itinerary is super cheap at 35K miles.
This itinerary is super efficient with bags checked all the way to HKD.
I have the best Economy seats on the plane for both legs.
My husband and friends are on this itinerary and no one is interested in changing. They don’t mind if I do, though.
We have a fun dinner planned beforehand in Queens.
CONS
It’s economy! LOL. The relevant part is that I have a bad back, which suffers a lot even after a few hours.
I can’t sleep sitting up.
This itinerary requires a 2.5 hr drive to JFK, drop off of rental car, and AirTrain transfer.
Though it is the best for overcoming jetlag, the midnight flight is exhausting, especially if you don’t sleep on the plane.
I currently have on hold a First Class ticket on JAL flying PHL->DFW->HND. I would have to buy the HND->HKD leg.
PROS
It’s First Class! It seems a bit silly to say it out loud, but I really enjoy flying upper class. It means my vacation starts when I get on the plane rather than when I get off.
The food/wine are vastly superior. That said, we’re embarking on a 2 week culinary adventure and will certainly get better on the ground.
I leave from PHL, which is 20 min from home.
The itinerary is more than Economy, but it’s pretty darn cheap, too, at 80k miles.
I actually like traveling alone. It’s nice and quiet in my head and I can fully disconnect.
This one is mixed pro/con – overnighting at an airport hotel, while inconvenient, means I will catch up on sleep, in addition to sleep on the plane, and get a shower in the AM before heading out to a short hopper flight and our first day in Japan.
CONS
Since it’s no longer available for points, I have to buy the HND->HKD leg.
I have to get a hotel room at the airport as the HKD flight isn’t until the next morning. The only other flight from the US that gets in at the right time is the AA midnight flight out of LAX and I’m not willing to go that far for the connection, plus they don’t have 1st class, and it’s 450k points. So I have to fly out the day before to meet the others at the right time. It’s actually leaving home the same day (have to leave the day before to make the 12:30 AM flight), just a lot earlier that day.
I would have to leave home before the break of dawn.
I have to go through security again at HND the next morning and recheck my bag. I have status, so that is not such a hardship.
Any connection raises the risk of issues.
I think that’s most of it. I have navigated all these airports before, and am an experienced traveler, so nothing about travel intimidates me. I have to decide by tonight. My original itinerary is no longer available at all for points, so if I switch, I could not switch back unless something opens.
What would you folks do? Of course, everyone has her own priorities and considerations, so there’s no right or wrong answer to this question and “advice” isn’t really the point. I’m mostly curious to hear how other people fall out given the parameters and maybe generate some fun discussion.
First class, definitely. Being unable to sleep all night sitting in a tight uncomfortable economy seat is a horrible way to start a vacation. I’d honestly sooner stay home than have to do that.
Wow, universal agreement so far. Don’t get me wrong, I far prefer 1st. But i struggle with giving up the nearly perfect itinerary in terms of ease, timing, and convenience for something much more complicated.
Well, I obviously don’t feel quite that strong, or I wouldn’t be asking the question. But I am little, and with a bulkhead window seat, it’s not impossible for me.
I will be the contrarian, partly just to give an alternate view, and as someone who has had a terrible year flying. If sh#t goes wrong you will be disconnected from your group and who knows how long and/or hard it will be to sort out. And I am sure you have a packed schedule. This year has been the worst year of flying in my life.
I’m 100% First on this (or Business) but only because I’m tall and have zero chance of sleeping slightly reclined in a seat. For those who can (and I am jealous), save the money, fly coach, absolutely. I see people sleeping in the terminal, they magically wake up at the announcement of boarding, get in their seat, fall asleep. Amazing.
This is my biggest fear. I’m a little protected by leaving more than 12 hours earlier than the others and effectively the day before, but it’s still a big consideration as someone who has also suffered her share of travel woes.
Ah, I missed that part of it…yeah, things go wrong all too often lately - the padding helps.
I recently (with the help of WB, obvi) planned a trip with my daughter to Ireland and Scotland, I chose Aer Lingus Business instead of one of the many First Class options (with connections) because of the direct flight LAX-DUB - reducing the chance of issues on international travel is always smart nowadays
@Sarah_Kirschbaum - I’m also contrarian. I loathe the whole check-in / security / bag pick-up / re-check process, and the last thing I want to do is break-up my flight and crash at an airport hotel. Additionally, I don’t sleep at all on planes (seated upright, lying down or otherwise).
Personally, I’d pop 2 Motrin and grind out the trip if it means not having to deal with the added logistical mess, especially when the flying gods are hurling thunderbolts at your schedule, baggage and connecting flights. I’d argue the vacation starts once you head to the airport, and there’s nothing relaxing for me about getting a hotel at the airport in Tokyo.
I hear you. With top status on One World, the check-in and security thing is very easy. The added connection in Dallas would be all airside, no bag re-check needed, leaving the only bag pickup in Tokyo, where these things tend to work very well. And I sleep no problem with a fully flatbed seat.
Still, no question it’s much easier to keep the coach route.
It’s a sign of how on the fence I am that I can argue both sides of this with such conviction.
It’s not that bad going to JFK from Philly. I’ve done it a dozen times via various modes of transportation. Our friends did a one way rental, so we can leave when we want, at the best time to avoid traffic, have a Peking Duck dinner and get to the airport around 9PM to enjoy some time in the lounge. Flagship First checkin and all.
I have a friend whose hobby is flying the longest routes possible in First class. He doesn’t even really go into the cities he lands in, just spends time in lounge luxury. Having been lucky enough to fly JAL, ANA and Cathay First, even Singapore Suites First, I certainly appreciate the experience. But I don’t consider it the goal that some people do.
But I am little, and with a bulkhead window seat, it’s not impossible for me.
