Question for Whirlcool / Japanese Airlines

[paulg]

I have to travel to Japan in June.
What carrier do you recommend?
Thanks.

 

[whirlcool]

You have three airlines to choose from on the ORD-NRT non-stop run that I would consider.

All Nippon (ANA)
Japan Airlines (JAL)
American Airlines

The service on ANA and JAL is usually fantastic, but the seats on JAL can be a bit small if you are a large American.
I think American offers the best trans pacific service of all the United States airlines, but the Japanese airlines just beat them consistently.
ANA and American both fly the 777 on this run and JAL operates a 747-400. What class will you be flying?

 

[paulg]

Cheapest class

Thanks for the response!
As this is the work expense, I expect to be in the cheapest class available. Fortunately I am not too tall and relatively fit so any seat will do.
I didn't know there was a non-stop out of O'Hare. I thought I had to go to California and transfer!
The 777 plane with ANA/American service sounds better. This information is useful as the travel agent makes the basic arrangements but I do have some choices. Even though the 747 should last forever if maintained properly, it still sounds antiquated. If I pack a leisure suit, can I still use the swanky lounge?

 

[jamiel]

You might want to stop by the Japanese market at Golf and Arlington Heights Road (Mitsuwa Marketplace). They have a JTB counter (Japanese travel agency) with particularly good rates. You often will get slightly cheaper rates out of Chicago on Northwest or even Delta (because you stop in Minneapolis or Detroit or Atlanta). Depends on what frequent flyer program you like.

If you're into frequent flyer miles, Northwest, Delta and Continental are all reasonably integrated, ANA and United/JAL and American also.

There are some slightly more exotic options as well (Korean through Seoul, Continental through Newark, Air Canada through Vancouver, United through Honolulu!), plus various connections (gateway cities to Japan are LA, SFO, Portland, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington, Detroit, New York, Atlanta).

Also, when traveling overseas, you get 24 hours to connect at the gateway city (nice for a quick visit to, say, Seattle if you've never been there before). Finally, you frequently can have a free or very low cost several day stopover in that gateway city (even on the cheap tickets).

Your travel agent is a good investment for a trip like this to help you maximize the value of your trip

http://www.jtbusa.com/en/

 

[whirlcool]

The 747-400 that JAL operates is the latest version of the 747, they are not that old. The only disadvantage over a 777 is that there are more middle seats in coach on a 747 than on a 777.
If you were willing to change planes, I would next try Continental airlines. They probably have the best service of any US carrier.
And remember that anywhere USA-NRT is a very senior route with the F/A's on US carriers. You'll see some of the oldest ones in the industry on those flights!
You know the non-stop from ORD-NRT is over 12 hours long. A lot of companies will opt for Business Class for their employees on flights that last more than 8 hours. You may want to check to see if you qualify. That would be much nicer than coach class.

 

[paulg]

Great info!

Thanks a ton for the info Whirlcool and Jamiel! Great options. The "trick" of using business class for long flights is simply something I would never have thought of.

 

[whirlcool]

Now remember usually in order to qualify for Business Class the flight must be at least 8 hours or more long. If you connect somewhere or stopover somewhere along the way, you might reduce the time to under 8 hours and then you wouldn't qualify for the upgrade.
I would check before you book. A 12 hour flight in Y class may very well be a trip through hell.

 

[paulg]

Aiming for a direct flight.

I hate connections. I'm aiming for a direct flight. Just get it over with ya know...
.. and I have trouble sleeping on planes. Yeesh. Oh well, life isn't easy all the time.

 

[whirlcool]

Some aviation terms for you:

Direct Flight = Same Plane Service with a stop or two along the way. Example: You want to go from Chicago to Miami. A direct flight may be ORD-ATL-MCO-MIA.

Non-Stop Flight: Once you take off, the next stop is your final destination.

Did you ask your employer about the Business Class upgrade?