Airfares and other travesties
Feb. 11th, 2009 03:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rkoldSo I'm attempting to figure out the best airfare and plan for Japan and I'm being cruelly teased. I keep seeing an airfare I want on the website but I can't ACTUALLY book this fare because when I go to book it announces the fare is wrong. ~.~ Now on one hand it makes sense since the fare is $150 more on the ANA website, but it is damn frustrating since I want this fare.
Assuming I can't get it, my other options are: NY to San Fran to Narita and then coming back Narita direct to NY or I can do NY direct to Narita and then Osaka to SanFran to NY.
There are distinct pluses and minuses to them all. If I end at Narita, I need a 2 week rail pass as Volks has not said when the Sato event is and I suspect it will be Friday, which is around $180 more than 1 week. However it also means I can pretty much go anywhere and don't have to worry about fares. The other pluses are I can stay in Japan until Friday, I actually get in 1 hour before I leave, all my flights are 777s. (777s have MUCH better economy seats while 747s have much better Business Class seats) I also much prefer transferring through San Francisco going to Japan (when one doesn't need to go through Customs) as SanFran's security is a pain in the ass when you have to go back through after you get your suitcases in Customs. (The reason being security in NY clearly sees that all your items fit in your 2 allowed carry-ons and lets you remove your laptop and toiletries before you reach the actual physical check point with conveyor belt, while SF insists you must have everything in 2 bags until you reach the actual physical conveyor belt, so then I have to take out my doll bag to get to my laptop. ~.~ )
The pluses of going through KIX is it might be a little cheaper since I don't necessarily need a 2 week pass, but it also means I can't leave Tokyo until Thursday since I will just have a 1 week pass.
Both the connecting flight and the direct reach Tokyo about the same time because the connecting flight leaves from NY super early.
I also wish United would make up their mind on whether I am Premier Exec or Premier. My newly arrived materials say just Premier but the website says Premier Exec.
Ah the vagaries of flying. ~.~
Assuming I can't get it, my other options are: NY to San Fran to Narita and then coming back Narita direct to NY or I can do NY direct to Narita and then Osaka to SanFran to NY.
There are distinct pluses and minuses to them all. If I end at Narita, I need a 2 week rail pass as Volks has not said when the Sato event is and I suspect it will be Friday, which is around $180 more than 1 week. However it also means I can pretty much go anywhere and don't have to worry about fares. The other pluses are I can stay in Japan until Friday, I actually get in 1 hour before I leave, all my flights are 777s. (777s have MUCH better economy seats while 747s have much better Business Class seats) I also much prefer transferring through San Francisco going to Japan (when one doesn't need to go through Customs) as SanFran's security is a pain in the ass when you have to go back through after you get your suitcases in Customs. (The reason being security in NY clearly sees that all your items fit in your 2 allowed carry-ons and lets you remove your laptop and toiletries before you reach the actual physical check point with conveyor belt, while SF insists you must have everything in 2 bags until you reach the actual physical conveyor belt, so then I have to take out my doll bag to get to my laptop. ~.~ )
The pluses of going through KIX is it might be a little cheaper since I don't necessarily need a 2 week pass, but it also means I can't leave Tokyo until Thursday since I will just have a 1 week pass.
Both the connecting flight and the direct reach Tokyo about the same time because the connecting flight leaves from NY super early.
I also wish United would make up their mind on whether I am Premier Exec or Premier. My newly arrived materials say just Premier but the website says Premier Exec.
Ah the vagaries of flying. ~.~
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-11 10:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-11 10:33 pm (UTC)It's really hard because the dollar is so weak so hotels and trains are so much more money! I can book a single for like 8500 yen which use to seem so cheap and now is not lol
The prob is the surcharges really need to go down because the fares are about as low as they ever get when you look at the breakdown. *sighs*