Tips for QF/JL to NRT in Y?

[Lisee]

Hello. My brother, sister-in-law, & 2 year old nephew would like to travel to Japan in 2015. Due to restrictions around leave from work... their travel dates are quite specific. They would like to fly from Brisbane to Tokyo on 4 or 5 or 6 Feb (1 adult, 1 child) & return to Brisbane commencing 18 or 19 Feb (2 adults, 1 child). Having already experienced flying LCC in long-haul twice with the toddler, they are super keen to travel on a full service carrier only.

I have tried to help them by searching for any options I am aware for comfortable flights at reasonable cost - e.g. CX via HKG by purchasing Alaska miles during bonus period or combos of CX/JL/QF/MH/SQ/VA via SIN or HKG or KUL.

Due to personal circumstances, they have a strong preference for QF (night flight) or JL (day flight) BNE-SYD-NRT return. Of course, lots of other travellers have a liking for this 'direct' route on these carriers also! That translates into a high price for the required dates. I have priced the itinerary on QF & JL websites plus what feels like every 3rd party website possible

If anyone has any tips or suggestions for a cheapish way to go about this I would greatly appreciate the assistance!!! I am very happy to invest time in searching; I just don't know where else to look now really (have tried search function on AFF also for previous posts). Many thanks!

 

[defurax]

Some good prices on KE:

Itinerary details
Itinerary

[TABLE="class: dijitReset itineraryDetails, width: 100%"]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]Brisbane (BNE) to Tokyo (NRT) - Thu, Feb 5[/TD]
[TD="class: itaSolutionWarnings, colspan: 2, align: right"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrierIcon"]

[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 20"]Brisbane (BNE) to Seoul (ICN) - Thu, Feb 5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrier"]Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. 124[/TD]
[TD="class: departure"]Dep: 8:20AM[/TD]
[TD="class: arrival"]Arr: 5:30PM[/TD]
[TD="class: duration"]10h 10m[/TD]
[TD="class: aircraft"]Airbus A330[/TD]
[TD="class: cabin"]Economy (Q)[/TD]
[TD="class: itaInflightServices"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: codeshare itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"]Layover in ICN[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"]1h 5m[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 20"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrierIcon"]

[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 20"]Seoul (ICN) to Tokyo (NRT) - Thu, Feb 5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrier"]Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. 705[/TD]
[TD="class: departure"]Dep: 6:35PM[/TD]
[TD="class: arrival"]Arr: 8:45PM[/TD]
[TD="class: duration"]2h 10m[/TD]
[TD="class: aircraft"]Boeing 777[/TD]
[TD="class: cabin"]Economy (Q)[/TD]
[TD="class: itaInflightServices"] [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: codeshare itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 20"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 20"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 6"]Tokyo (NRT) to Brisbane (BNE) - Thu, Feb 19[/TD]
[TD="class: itaSolutionWarnings, colspan: 2, align: right"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrierIcon"]

[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 20"]Tokyo (NRT) to Seoul (ICN) - Thu, Feb 19[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrier"]Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. 704[/TD]
[TD="class: departure"]Dep: 1:55PM[/TD]
[TD="class: arrival"]Arr: 4:35PM[/TD]
[TD="class: duration"]2h 40m[/TD]
[TD="class: aircraft"]Boeing 777[/TD]
[TD="class: cabin"]Economy (Q)[/TD]
[TD="class: itaInflightServices"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: codeshare itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"]Layover in ICN[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"]3h 0m[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 20"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrierIcon"]

[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 20"]Seoul (ICN) to Brisbane (BNE) - Thu, Feb 19[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: carrier"]Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. 123[/TD]
[TD="class: departure"]Dep: 7:35PM[/TD]
[TD="class: arrival"]Arr: 6:20AM[/TD]
[TD="class: duration"]9h 45m[/TD]
[TD="class: aircraft"]Airbus A330[/TD]
[TD="class: cabin"]Economy (Q)[/TD]
[TD="class: itaInflightServices"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: codeshare itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"]Fri, Feb 20[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: dividerContainer, colspan: 20"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 20"][TABLE="class: dijitReset itaPricingDetails, width: 100%"]
[TR="class: fareSubtotal"]
[TD]Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees)[/TD]
[TD="class: farePrice, align: right"]AU$1,355.00[/TD]
[TD="class: itaGreyText, width: 45%"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: fareTotal"]
[TD]Total cost for 1 passenger[/TD]
[TD="class: farePrice, align: right"]AU$1,355.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[greenfish]

I understand the preference for a full service carrier, but how about Jetstar direct from the Gold Coast in business class on the 787 (Dreamliner)?

At least there is no stopover, but a bit exxy as not on sale at the moment. Around AUD1550 return. Jetstar business class is somewhere around the standard of QF Premium Economy.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I understand the preference for a full service carrier, but how about Jetstar direct from the Gold Coast in business class on the 787 (Dreamliner)?

At least there is no stopover, but a bit exxy as not on sale at the moment. Around AUD1550 return. Jetstar business class is somewhere around the standard of QF Premium Economy.

What he said. Do OOL-NRT in J* business. It's the same as QF domestic J or QF international PE but cheaper than PE for more SCs (if that matters and you select the Max bundle). Also in J, J* is pretty much full service.

 

[blu]

+1
Day flight up. New aircraft, small cabin & only 9 hours direct.
See seats here: Review: flying on Jetstar's Boeing 787 Dreamliner - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller