astronomer655 wrote:

plus im 13

That explains a lot.

Tu_triky wrote:

I shall propose that flight attendants be equipped with tranquilizer dart guns that can be conveniently turned on passengers so as to induce sleep to help pass the time on long haul flights.

That would be nice but what if you're in an aisle seat. Oh, but if everyone is knocked out then it'll be OK!!

Sengo wrote:

That would be nice but what if you're in an aisle seat. Oh, but if everyone is knocked out then it'll be OK!!

Good point.

I'm currently looking at a $300 difference between United/AA and ANA/JAL. Worth it?
_________________

WhiteHawk wrote:

I'm currently looking at a $300 difference between United/AA and ANA/JAL. Worth it?

Wow, that's a pretty significant difference. I would personally prefer to fly on a Japanese carrier but at that price differential it's probably best to save your money and use it toward expenses on your trip when you hit the ground (i.e. towards lodging, food, shopping, etc.)

I'm kind of shocked the difference is so big. I've done recent searches and usually the price difference is within 100 dollars or so. Where are you departing from?

Tu_triky wrote:

Wow, that's a pretty significant difference. I would personally prefer to fly on a Japanese carrier but at that price differential it's probably best to save your money and use it toward expenses on your trip when you hit the ground (i.e. towards lodging, food, shopping, etc.)

Especially food.

bmwracer wrote:

Especially food.

Yeah. $300 is a lot of money. That could buy you many good meals in Japan or a few outstanding ones.

In light of the depreciated value of the dollar versus the yen, one is or should be highly conscious of the fact that the US Dollar does not go as far in Japan...so best to save your chips (as worthless as they are) for having fun on your trip instead of spending it on the air fare.

Tu_triky wrote:

In light of the depreciated value of the dollar versus the yen, one is or should be highly conscious of the fact that the US Dollar does not go as far in Japan...so best to save your chips (as worthless as they are) for having fun on your trip instead of spending it on the air fare.

Yup.

Though a 15-hour flight in cramped quarters is quite taxing.

bmwracer wrote:

Yup. Though a 15-hour flight in cramped quarters is quite taxing.

Yes, it is. Too bad business class tickets are triple or quadruple the price of economy class tickets. I flew on business a few times several years back...it's so much more comfortable it's not even funny.

Tu_triky wrote:

Yes, it is. Too bad business class tickets are triple or quadruple the price of economy class tickets. I flew on business a few times several years back...it's so much more comfortable it's not even funny.

Yeah, when our sales/support engineer flies out to Asia, he always insists on business class... If management refuses, he won't go.

bmwracer wrote:

Yeah, when our sales/support engineer flies out to Asia, he always insists on business class... If management refuses, he won't go.

HAHAHAHA. Dayem. That's nice.

Tu_triky wrote:

Wow, that's a pretty significant difference. I would personally prefer to fly on a Japanese carrier but at that price differential it's probably best to save your money and use it toward expenses on your trip when you hit the ground (i.e. towards lodging, food, shopping, etc.) I'm kind of shocked the difference is so big. I've done recent searches and usually the price difference is within 100 dollars or so. Where are you departing from?

Nashville, Tennessee. I've eliminated airports that would keep me in the air longer (NY/NJ/DC), in an attempt to keep myself moving in the proper direction, and also to keep that second flight shorter.

bmwracer wrote:

Especially food.

Indeed!
_________________

www.YouShouldVisitJapan.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouShouldVisitJapan

WhiteHawk wrote:

Indeed!

Given your port of embarkation, I might suggest the following:

Have you tried to mix and match airfares? Try to find a cheap domestic flight out to San Francisco or Los Angeles from Nashville on an American carrier (well since it's a domestic flight it'll have to be an American carrier) and then from there take a direct flight out to Tokyo (if that's where you are going).

The fare differential from LAX to Tokyo, when comparing ANA/JAL/Singapore & United/AA, will probably be less than 100 dollars.

Tu_triky wrote:

Given your port of embarkation, I might suggest the following: Have you tried to mix and match airfares? Try to find a cheap domestic flight out to San Francisco or Los Angeles from Nashville on an American carrier (well since it's a domestic flight it'll have to be an American carrier) and then from there take a direct flight out to Tokyo (if that's where you are going). The fare differential from LAX to Tokyo, when comparing ANA/JAL/Singapore & United/AA, will probably be less than 100 dollars.

Ah, haven't tried that yet. I'll check that out.

I wish I could take the business class option, but I own the business!
_________________

www.YouShouldVisitJapan.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouShouldVisitJapan

WhiteHawk wrote:

Ah, haven't tried that yet. I'll check that out.

Good luck. I think you might get lucky and save a few bucks. Of course, you might have to contend with a layover but it might be worth a substantial savings.

Quote:

I wish I could take the business class option, but I own the business!

Well maybe you can at least make a case that it's a deductible expense then for tax purposes!

So far, it looks like my best way is still pricing it as one trip. $1630 taking AA. BNA-LAX-NRT going out, and NRT-DFW-BNA coming back. Pricing non-stops independently ended up being $1744.

China Eastern Air has one-stop flights as low as $892 for LAX, but the stop is in Shanghai. ANA has flights with one stop going out (SFO) and non-stop on the way back for $966, which would save some money. If I took that last option, my airfare would be $1398.

I tried direct flights from San Francisco, but they have to go through LAX (or you pay double). Leaving LAX, they want to stop in SFO.

Hmmm... add one stop and save $232...
_________________

WhiteHawk wrote:

So far, it looks like my best way is still pricing it as one trip. $1630 taking AA. BNA-LAX-NRT going out, and NRT-DFW-BNA coming back. Pricing non-stops independently ended up being $1744.

Man, that's double the price I would pay leaving from here but then I live in L.A.

Quote:

China Eastern Air has one-stop flights as low as $892 for LAX, but the stop is in Shanghai. ANA has flights with one stop going out (SFO) and non-stop on the way back for $966, which would save some money. If I took that last option, my airfare would be $1398.

That's not bad.

Quote:

I tried direct flights from San Francisco, but they have to go through LAX (or you pay double). Leaving LAX, they want to stop in SFO. Hmmm... add one stop and save $232...

Well obviously that's a personal choice, contending with a layover.

Whitehawk, so check this out. I don't know when you are planning to travel but I planned a sample itinerary departing Nashville in April.

I searched for round trip fares from Nashville to L.A. on Google Flights.

If you left on April 16 and returned to Nashville on May 1. I found an AA ticket for $385 via Dallas.

Assuming you left LAX for Tokyo on April 16 and returned to LAX April 30 (the day before you had to return to Nashville) you could get a ticket on multiple carriers for around $870.

If you do the math that means you could fly to Japan that way for about $1255, which is a bit cheaper than the approx $1600 you quoted. But then again you also quoted approx $1300 which is pretty much in line with what I found.

Just a thought. Mixing & matching airfares seems to be the way to go for you to save some money.

Yeah, that's the thing: If I don't mind the extra connections, the time waiting and/or changing airplanes, the increased opportunities for lost luggage... I can save money. On the other hand, I need to make the most of my time away from work, because time I'm not working costs me money too. It's a vicious cycle, I tells ya! I'll have to compare scenarios and see what works out best.

Something else I realized is that I'll have to catch another flight while I'm there, as my business partner is on Hokkaido. I'll also be visiting various manufacturers, including in the Sendai region. Lots of planning ahead...

Oh, my brain's startin' to hurt...
_________________

WhiteHawk wrote:

Yeah, that's the thing: If I don't mind the extra connections, the time waiting and/or changing airplanes, the increased opportunities for lost luggage... I can save money. On the other hand, I need to make the most of my time away from work, because time I'm not working costs me money too. It's a vicious cycle, I tells ya! I'll have to compare scenarios and see what works out best. Something else I realized is that I'll have to catch another flight while I'm there, as my business partner is on Hokkaido. I'll also be visiting various manufacturers, including in the Sendai region. Lots of planning ahead... Oh, my brain's startin' to hurt...

Sounds complicated. Well you know your schedule best. If time is at a premium maybe it's best to bite the bullet and pay the extra money to shorten your travel time.