JAL business class Melbourne - Tokyo. Is it worth it?

[cosi]

3) Will my unlocked iPhone work on Japanese networks with a local Japanese prepaid SIM? I seem to remember reading years ago that their mobile network operates on a different frequency or something like that?

Yes, you can purchase this data sim card at Narita airport and simply use Whatsapp for all calls.

Purchase Yen in Oz before going and you get a better exchange rate.

My number 1 tip for visitors to Japan, is to visit the Basement of a department store. The selection of anything related to food is amazing.

Enjoy and don't be frighten to ask for help.

 

[Himeno]

Couple of questions.......

1) So will we receive lounge access because we have J tickets or do we need to be members? (are there any other perks included?)

You'll get lounge access as part of the ticket. Without QF Platinum/oneworld Emerald status, you'll be able to use the QF or CX J lounges in the terminal basement or the JL contract lounge (Marhaba Lounge) upstairs near the QF F lounge (escalator near gate 11).

2) How do we choose our seats for JAL? Or will that happen upon check in at Tullamarine?

You will need the JL PNR, Qantas should give you this, which you can use to log into the manage booking area of the JAL website and select seats.

3) Will my unlocked iPhone work on Japanese networks with a local Japanese prepaid SIM? I seem to remember reading years ago that their mobile network operates on a different frequency or something like that?

Not really any need to change SIMs. Japan uses a different band for their mobile networks then Australia does. (as does the US). You'll need a triband or qaudband phone to work there, however most modern phones will work (my Galaxy S4 doesn't have any issue in Japan).
Rather then getting a Japanese SIM, you might be better off renting a mobile wifi router and using an app for phone calls. There are a number of companies that rent routers and you can collect/return at airport counters.

What do you plan to do in Japan? Are you staying in Tokyo?

 

[chodo]

Can anybody recommend which lounge is best to use? QF, CX or JL? Remember, our flight is a few minutes after midnight, if that has bearing on which lounge to choose.

I'm on an iPhone 7 and more interested in having a prepaid SIM with data rather than needing a local number to be contacted on or call out from.

We will start and end in Tokyo. In between is yet to be organised or decided, but we have 18 days/nights!

Cheers,

 

[Himeno]

The CX lounge is small and CX178 departs about 10 minutes before JL774. The lounge is likely to be busy.

When I used JL774 about 2 weeks after it started last September, I used the QF F lounge, then moved across to the JL lounge closer to the flight.
With the recent changes to the MEL international QF flights, I'm not sure if the QF lounges would still be open that late.

The idea of a wifi rental is to avoid the often expensive data roaming charges. It doesn't change your phone number like a SIM or handset rental would. It just uses the phone wifi connection rather then mobile data.

If you're going to leave Tokyo, you can look at a JR (Japan Rail) pass. There are a number of types. They give free travel on most JR services, but are limiting in the cities (eg, Tokyo has about 50 different train lines passing through or wholly in the city. A JR pass is only usable on about 15 of them.)
JR passes aren't really worth it unless you are getting at least 3 long distance trains.
You should plan to get a Suica. Available from selected train station ticket machines (which have english modes). They are just like a Myki and are interchangable with other "IC" cards in Japan (You can use a Suica, issued by JR East, in place of an ICOCA, issued by JR West, PASMO, issued by the other transport companies in Tokyo, etc). They can also be used at many vending machines, train station coin lockers and some stores. It is possible to add Suica to Apple Pay.

Do note that lots of stores in Japan don't take cards and prefer cash and most ATMs in Japan are not connected to the international network. Although this is improving in the lead up to the 2020 Olympics, in general you'll need to go to a 7andi bank or JPbank ATM (7-11 and Japan Post office) to get cash. These ATMs have english modes. The stores that do take cards are connected to the international network.

 

[TomVexille]

I haven't ever heard anything nice about the CX Lounge at MEL.

The QF lounges stay open until the NZ flights leave just before midnight at the moment

 

[love_the_life]

hey Tom,

Sorry for my ignorance, but is PNR a Pin Number Request?

If you look at your QF eTicket, you should see a reference number for JL on it somewhere. Not sure if you can select seats on the QF site (Manage my Booking) but usually can't for other airlines or I've heard that the chosen seats don't stick. They probably have already allocated seats but you should be able to change them by going to the JAL site and managing the booking there. That's when you use the JL booking reference.
So jealous - I'm off to Tokyo in about 6 weeks but travelling on a dirt cheap Y fare on QF

 

[LadyC]

Has anyone seen anymore than 2 J awards from AU-Japan available on JL? I have previously seen up to 4 (looking via the BA avios site) but now can only seen 2.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

JL uses the lounge next to the QF F lounge, where the EK lounge used to be.
JAL doesn't have any AU-HND rights, they use NRT. NRT has a 6am curfew.
JL774 departs MEL just after midnight and arrives at NRT just after 9am.
The JAL flights from Australia are MEL - night, SYD - day. Back from NRT are MEL - day, SYD - night.

RE: saw the Marhaba lounge, yes, just noted that one when I passed to get to the new EK F/J in MEL few weeks ago, nearly went into that one, thinking it was linked to the EK, but then found that the EK was another set of escalators.
Didn't know that JL uses Marhaba, learn something new every day. Knew they didn't have their own lounge in MEL.
Because its one level up, maybe use that one instead of the QF J basement lounge, at least get some view of the outside.
I haven't tried the Marhaba yet though.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In the cities there's no problem getting cash out of ATMs, just go into any 7/11 and use their one. The rates for a transaction and fee-free debit card (like Citi) are going to beat just about anything in terms of money changers here in AU. And you won't be stuck carrying large amounts of cash.

Re seat selection on JAL... QF will provide the booking reference then head over to the JAL website and use their manage booking function. I never trust selecting seats on any other website except the airline's own.

And yeah, the only good thing about the CX lounge in MEL is that it's not the QF lounge.

 

[chodo]

I have the Citibank debit card which I load up and pull money from either a Citibank ATM or their local partner. This has served well across the rest of Asia and kept fees to a minimum and provided a decent rate. There seem to be a few Citibank and SMBC Trust Bank ATM;s around Tokyo to use.

I don't know if I'm pushing my luck, but any recommendations for accommodation? I have been checking out the APA hotels and they seem to look ok. We just need clean and modern-ish, unfortunately no budget for the Park Hyatt!

 

[mrsterryn]

Using a local SIM is fine.
I have a Samsung 8plus dual SIM
Much easier to have local SIM especially for Data.
I have bought my SIM at a local electronics store in Tokyo

 

[Shan Man]

QF & JL use the same PNR, so whats on your QF E-ticket will be the same for JAL.

You can use the JAL website to select seats but I would use Malaysia Airlines manage my booking page as I have an aneurysm every time I try and use the JAL website. Just enter your PNR & Last name.

I flew Jal's 787-8 J HND-LHR last month, the seats are amazing, comfortable & the window seats feel like a suite with direct access to the aisle and it being enclosed. Japanese service is always top notch and hard to beat.

RE Data roaming, you can buy sim cards locally yes but I found when staying there that alot of AirBnBs offer free portable wifi's to take around with you. For the time's I didn't have it (i.e between Airbnbs in cities) I just used my local sim with vodaphone $5 a day roaming.

 

[love_the_life]

QF & JL use the same PNR, so whats on your QF E-ticket will be the same for JAL.

You can use the JAL website to select seats but I would use Malaysia Airlines manage my booking page as I have an aneurysm every time I try and use the JAL website. Just enter your PNR & Last name.

I flew Jal's 787-8 J HND-LHR last month, the seats are amazing, comfortable & the window seats feel like a suite with direct access to the aisle and it being enclosed. Japanese service is always top notch and hard to beat.

RE Data roaming, you can buy sim cards locally yes but I found when staying there that alot of AirBnBs offer free portable wifi's to take around with you. For the time's I didn't have it (i.e between Airbnbs in cities) I just used my local sim with vodaphone $5 a day roaming.

That's good to know (about the same PNR) - I know EK always has a different one. A couple of the hotels had a free phone to take with you with data and free local/international calls. Found it great. We don't bother with foreign SIM cards usually and just rely on the free wifi in hotels. Download offline maps for places we need.

 

[Pele]

Has anyone seen anymore than 2 J awards from AU-Japan available on JL? I have previously seen up to 4 (looking via the BA avios site) but now can only seen 2.

Gday

Yes. Both SYD and MEL I have seen more than 2 J seats available but usually within 3 weeks of departure. Sometimes over 10 seats. Having said that there are also random batches of good availability for example 23rd October SYD-NRT has 6 J seats left. In my experience as soon as the window opens they release two seats and then depending on their forecast sales sometimes randomly release more as the departure date approaches.

Pele.

 

[TomVexille]

QF & JL use the same PNR, so whats on your QF E-ticket will be the same for JAL.

I stand corrected. I had completely forgotten that JL transitioned to Amadeus late last year. Good pick up

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

As for accommodation, if you go to youtube and type in airbnb Tokyo, some are mentioning about USD$35 which is cheaper than hotels, and you can pick to stay on quieter areas a bit outside of the CBD, which can be quite noisy.
I have not been to Japan, but watch a lot of videos of people going there, its on my bucket list.
And yes, I will pick to go JAL one Dec sooner or later, the 787 windows would be great for views, sunrise or sunset, and they are newer than what QF has on the flight to Japan.
If you can, go in Dec, they say that the snow season up there for skiing is great.
Edit: while AirBnB is not really my cup of tea, some love it.
Just had a look, Koko house near underground station, in/near Tokyo is asking for Aud$40 a night per couple, plus $7 service fee.
Compared to Ibis in Tokyo, asking about Aud$145.
AirBnB bookings also earn you QFF points these days.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For Tokyo - the Lonestar Shinjuku is a solid hotel (Japanese style). Smallish rooms. Spotlessly clear. Great location (10 mins walk from Shinjuku station, or right by a metro stop). Sub $100 aussie a night. But Tokyo is so huge. You have to work out where you want to stay first, then look for hotels!

 

[chodo]

From the research I’ve done and advice from friends, Shinjuku seems to be the place to stay for our first few nights. We will return to Tokyo for a couple of nights at the end of our trip and might try a different neighborhood.

Anybody been to Okinawa? Jetstar have cheap flights from Tokyo and it seems tropical and beach, so my girlfriend can get a few days of beach time.

 

[travelislife]

I have the Citibank debit card which I load up and pull money from either a Citibank ATM or their local partner. This has served well across the rest of Asia and kept fees to a minimum and provided a decent rate. There seem to be a few Citibank and SMBC Trust Bank ATM;s around Tokyo to use.

You don’t need to stick to Citibank or their partner ATMs. The plus card is fee free at most ATMs.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Marhaba wins.
Just had a look at it on YouTube.
Much better than the QFi MEL J lounge.