Vacation to Japan - QF, JL or something else?

[Homer]

Hi All

We are planning a two-week vacation to Japan (from Sydney) in late March. This will be our first visit to Japan so I would appreciate any advice on airlines, etc, that you might care to offer.

I spoke to my TA this morning and took the last four seats in J on JL on our selected dates for my wife and I plus our mums (to take care of our baby daughter and "treat" them). These were "companion fares" at about $8K per pair, so around $16K total airfares. The QF price was around $6K per seat and as Qantas doesn't have a "companion fare" that works out to be about $24K total airfares.

None of us have flown JL before so what might we expect? I understand that the JL product is a bit tired compared to QF and that they only offer a two-class service to/from Australia (not that we were considering F anyway) but is that the only difference? Is there another airline worth considering for this trip?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

There are cheaper options in business class.

For example on zuji (with availability on randomly selected dates departing late March returning early/mid April)

Eva $3435++ pp SYD-(qf)-BNE-(br)-TPE-(br)-NRT

 

[Homer]

Happy for any tips Kiwi Flyer . SQ has a companion fare for $8K plus tax. That's via Singapore and only slightly more than JL so probably worth considering if people think the JL product isn't up to scratch. CX is $6K per seat via HKG so that's a lot more pricey.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Interesting that SQ is about the same fare for companion ticket ex-Oz than a regular fare ex-NZ (for a longer flight)

Korean also showing availability (via ICN) at $4095 pp

China Airlines has a fare of $2924 pp but I haven't found availability
Thai is $3975 pp
Malaysian $4202 pp
Asiana $4212 pp
etc

 

[Homer]

As SQ is about the same price as all of these (except China) then you would have to say that SQ is the way to go, wouldn't you?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I certainly would. SYD-SIN and SIN-NRT both longhaul products (unless you take the SIN-BKK-NRT flight which is regional product) so very good. The 10 PPS sectors is 40% towards PPS qualification.

I would book the cook for SYD-SIN and SIN-SYD but not SIN-NRT and NRT-SIN since I rather like the Hanagoyomi meal option.