J Award flight to Honolulu

[sanne]

We are starting a cruise in Honolulu next November and I am looking for 2 J award flights. Other than booking with Air Fiji which I don't wish to do, is there another route that I could check out as it seems pretty clear I won't get QF on this route.

I will first of all give QF a call to see if they will release 2 seats and failing that I don't know what else we can do. We have plenty of points so could go a circuitous route if necessary.

Thanks for any suggestions that I could look at.

 

[boomy]

What's you QF status? Less then Platinum and your chances are to get 2xJ awards are very low. It's a very popular route for family redemptions and just one flight per day...

We got "lucky" few times getting 2xJ but always had to call and ask. I say "lucky" because the taxes are > $700!

Tried to request 2xJ for May next year and got rejected although I had 7 days flexibility. Then I called VA and booked HA with less points (65K to BNE), free J island connection (from OGG) all for < $100 taxes.

 

[madrooster]

Try JL via Tokyo.

 

[Dr Ralph]

CX flys HKG to HNL via NRT.

 

[sanne]

Thanks for your suggestion Dr Ralph. I'll check that out. And thanks madrooster for the info re JL via Tokyo.

We are Platinum so will try calling Qantas and if no luck will look at alternatives. Am I correct in thinking it's not possible to book JL on line.

How soon do JL award flights become available? Same as QF?

 

[2tall4Y]

HNG = Hienghene airport in New Caledonia
HKG = Hong Kong International Airport

I suspect you are referring to the latter

CX flys HNG to HNL via NRT.

 

[boomy]

CX flys HNG to HNL via NRT.

HNG = Hienghene airport in New Caledonia
HKG = Hong Kong International Airport

I suspect you are referring to the latter

I don't think CX fly to HNL, they use JL as codeshare. Unfortunately it's almost as hard to find 2xJ on JL to HNL but worth calling QF to ask, nothing to lose.

In case all redemption avenues fail the next best option is to book JQ J for ~$AU1,000. Not the best J out there but reasonable price for 10hr flight.

 

[grussellt]

You can check JL awards by joining Mileage Bank or use Awardnexus

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Would like to know if you got the seats released.

 

[sanne]

Oops sorry, yes I did get Dr Ralph's post wrong.

I haven't been in touch with QF yet as its a few weeks away but I will post what the outcome is.

The problem with JQ as far as I know is that it is an overnight flight on non lie flat seats. Due to medical reasons I need to keep my legs up on a long flight.

 

[Mattg]

How soon do JL award flights become available? Same as QF?

Japan Airlines generally releases (at least) 2x business award seats on their SYD-NRT and NRT-HNL flights, and the connection times in NRT are pretty good. If you book well in advance and are a little flexible with dates you can usually find something on JL. Obviously it'll cost more points than booking on the QF flight, but there are no/very low fuel surcharges.

JL awards are released 330 days before the departure date - so around 3 weeks later than QF flights.

 

[sanne]

Thanks Mattg for that information about JL. I would like to leave from Brisbane if possible, does JL fly from there too? We have never flown JL so not familiar with their routes.

 

[Mattg]

Thanks Mattg for that information about JL. I would like to leave from Brisbane if possible, does JL fly from there too? We have never flown JL so not familiar with their routes.

JL doesn't fly to BNE, but QF does. So you could fly QF BNE-NRT, then JL NRT-HNL.

JL do fly to MEL, but the timings require long layovers in NRT.

If you wanted you could even spend a night or two in Tokyo - it wouldn't make a difference to the number of points in this case due to the QF/JL combination.

 

[sanne]

Mattg - thanks for your help with my questions. I now have an alternative if we don't have any luck with QF. I'll post the outcome so this may be helpful to someone else.

 

[tizey]

Provided you can get to Japan in the first place, you should have very little difficulty in getting 2x J flights to HNL if you're organised and early in booking. Their are an abundance of daily flights (all leaving in late afternoon/evening) from NRT, HND, KIX and NGO to HNL with JL. HA also flies NRT-HNL I believe.

Just be aware - not all planes are equal on that route. There are varying flight configs, so make sure you're targetting the right J config you're after as JL seems to have quite a mixed bag.

We booked 2xJ seats HND-KIX-HNL with JL for April 2018. HND-KIX in Y which is very early to spend literally the day in Osaka before headed to HNL. Could have very easily gone NRT-HNL direct, but wanted a day to eat all the delicious things Osaka has to offer.

 

[sanne]

Thanks tizey - excellent information. I guess I can find out the plane details on the JL web site? We will probably prefer to not stop over anywhere, we are cruising for 6 weeks and have been to Japan several times.

 

[tizey]

Yes look at it on JL Website. I'd try and help, but I've already forgotten whats what as its quite confusing. You're best to sign up to JL to get access to their search function - they tell you how many seats are available/etc and importantly what configuration. It looks incredibly old, but functions very well once you navigate your way into it.

The stopover was only because we wanted to. We booked using AA Miles, and had every option available to us when I booked the day they opened. If you're booking with QFF, be ready to hang up and call again as agents can be very hit/miss on finding JL availability.

 

[sanne]

Yes look at it on JL Website. I'd try and help, but I've already forgotten whats what as its quite confusing. You're best to sign up to JL to get access to their search function - they tell you how many seats are available/etc and importantly what configuration. It looks incredibly old, but functions very well once you navigate your way into it.

The stopover was only because we wanted to. We booked using AA Miles, and had every option available to us when I booked the day they opened. If you're booking with QFF, be ready to hang up and call again as agents can be very hit/miss on finding JL availability.

OK, I will sign up to JL.

Have you by any chance flown Fiji Air? I dismissed them as I am a nervous flyer and was worried about their planes?

 

[BAM1748]

Air Fiji - went to pick someone up off a flight and they took nearly 3 hours from touch down to emerging. Couldn't get the front left door open!

You can draw you own conclusions.

 

[Mattg]

In case anyone is interested, I just called Qantas to check for JL availability SYD-NRT-HNL. There were business award seats available. The cost was 121,000 QF points and $137.51 taxes, one-way.