The Lazy Blogger

So 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. ~.~

Wheeeee, time for another poll. For those who don't know, I 1) Am not going to have long in Japan this next trip cause I want to be in Tokyo on 10/10 but need to come home 10/12 for Yom Kippur, and 2) I've also decided despite not hearing back from Volks yet, to go to Kansai first, so at the very least I can see some good friends. ^^ The problem with Kansai (KIX Airport) is there are no direct flights from NY, so... hence the poll.

[Poll #555634]

To give a little more info, all flights are on the same airline. The 7 am ORD flight is 90% on time and the 8 am is 80% according to the website. There is only one flight a day to KIX. ORD gets quite a few flights from NY and is only about 2 1/2 hours away. To catch the 7 am flight I need to leave my home by 5:30 am and to catch the 8 am I need to leave by 6:30 am.
Thanks! ^_^