How to finesse multi-city booking with JL?

[24601]

Hi, hoping someone could help me with an online JL booking?

I want to fly SYD-NRT-HND-HEL-BKK-SYD in January. I can get every flight I want up on the JL booking engine except the return via BKK - it forces me through NRT and HKG or SIN. I 'd like to take the Finnair A350 to BKK and then QF 24 back to SYD. I can get it all on ITA Matrix and Google flights will do it too, but can't figure out how to get the JL website to do it.

Will I need to ask a travel agent, or call JL, or do you know of a way I can get it to cooperate? It is so close...

Thanks,

24.

 

[Cynicor]

The JAL engine sucks big time. I would suggest calling and seeing what they can price for you, they are very helpful on the phone. Otherwise a TA may be required.

 

[kermatu]

Would love to know if there is a trick to doing this online as I have found the JL multi-city engine to be very limited. Have never really pursued it with JAL but based on my experience with other airlines the likely solution is you'll need to call.

 

[24601]

Thanks for the replies Cynicor and kermatu. Agreed, the JL booking engine is pretty bad.

I might just give them a call, but I anticipate problems because I think the flight I want is only an AY flight, it doesn't go near Japan. Am tempted to just book with a return routing through HKG which the JL engine will allow on CX and QF metal. Choices from Europe are JL 787-800, AY A330 or A340. Flying J I don't know for sure which have better seats, or if both airlines have upgraded all their seats to flat.

 

[kermatu]

Haven't flown JAL in J so can't really comment. My experiences on Finnair A330 and 340 have been fine. But I never lie fully flat so hard products are not so important to me, other than privacy as a solo traveler where possible.

Suggest you do some searching for flight reviews or trip reports for the flights that are on offer?

 

[24601]

So I gave up on my original plan and just tried to book a pretty simple return with a NRT stopover on the way using the JL website - I also tried the AY site but it was even worse, and also kept putting me into random economy cabins. OMFG, the JL booking engine is BAD! It has no way of refining dates or anything like that. Want to change anything at all? Go right back to the very start. Eventually I got as far as a payment page...and then it gave an error message, they were already processing a request from me. Huh? I went back and plugged in the same dates and flights for my trip, and now the price has gone up by just over $20,000...

 

[Cynicor]

Clear everything or use a new browser. It's a shocking site, yes.

I was last on JAL J in January but can't remember what the plane or seat type was like, apart from it felling quite narrow. I think it was a 777 in an older config as it was a BKK-HND flight and VV. Wasn't particularly memorable but a renovated seat would make a world of difference.

 

[serfty]

... I can get it all on ITA Matrix and Google flights will do it too, but can't figure out how to get the JL website to do it.

...

Look here :

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...ase-fares-orbitz-delta-united-userscript.html

It might be possible to book your flights directly using a third party via ITA ...

 

[24601]

Look here :

ITA-Purchase Fares on Orbitz/Delta/United Userscript - FlyerTalk Forums

It might be possible to book your flights directly using a third party via ITA ...

Fantastic, that looks very helpful, thanks very much!! Will certainly give it a go.

 

[24601]

Look here :

ITA-Purchase Fares on Orbitz/Delta/United Userscript - FlyerTalk Forums

It might be possible to book your flights directly using a third party via ITA ...

Thanks once again Serfty for the advice, I did this and was able to book with Orbitz via ITA, a useful tool. Ended up deciding against HEL-BKK: keen to try J on an AY350, but not a 10-hour layover in BKK keen. The aircraft and J cabin do look terrific, though. Some other time. Booked SYD-NRT-HEL-NRT//HND-SYD. Mix of JL, AY & QF. 4 flights, 4 different aircraft types, looking forward to it.