20,000+ Miles In 72 Hours: Introduction

Did you book HKG-CGK-NRT-JFK as a single award?

@ Brandon -- Nope, it was technically TPA-ORD-HKG-CGK on one award, and CGK-NRT-JFK on the other award.

I just booked RT JFK-CGK route for next year in F. Do you think they will downgrade me for NRT-CGK segment? - Since you mentioned they will be discontinuing F for that route.

@ Shanz -- Ah, maybe they won't be. I know they were planning on it, though maybe they reversed course on it. You should be fine if you're confirmed on it.

AA doesn't allow a stopover, so how did manage to have a stopover in HK? Was your stay less than 24 hours?

@ Luis -- Yes, less than 24 hours.

@Ben - I know HKG is one of your favorite cities in the world... however i just got back... honestly, not sure why HK would be better than FCO/AMS or even LHR. There's little entertaining historical value and its very modernized, except when it isn't... Stanley Market... And walkability is a big one for me. So perhaps HKG failed in that regard... Overall the trip was okay. I presume I would prefer Europe in general, much better. And perhaps you didn't have time or generally don't go into in your posts, but I would like your trip reports to include stuff you do in the city, what makes it worthwhile... my two cents. Generally, I know your posts are mostly reviews of airlines and hotels.

@Ben - Lastly, I also stayed at the Grand Hyatt in HK, got upgraded to Executive Suite with 270 degree views (DIA upgrade cert). WHAT a room. Comically, I thought it was too big. Looking forward to your trip report.

@Lucky
To quote somebody I used to work with, haven't you hear of video conferencing?

He seemed to think I was a bit to eager to jump on a plane. Oh shit now I have become the grumpy old guy.

Joking aside, what comes after this trip report? Lisbon or Iceland?

Ben, so envious of you! Is this going to be in 2016 trip?
Do you have posts about the best first class out there and how to redeem miles for them? I am planning on doing first class trip!

@Ben - Why didn't you book with 120k US instead?

When you alerted us about JAL having great availability about six months ago I booked TPA-ORD-NRT for July (then to Sydney) I am really looking forward to your review of their product.

Looking forward to your thoughts on CX regional J. I've recently booked PVG-HKG-NRT on KA J and CX J even though there was direct JL J available. Some people say CX regional J is great and worth the detour, others say its marginally better than Y and I should have taken the direct flight instead. We'll see!

@ Ben- Flying PVG-NRT via HKG more than doubles your flying time. Even the best first class service wouldn't justify the hassle (and increased chance of delays). And JL business class isn't signficantly inferior to CX - in some ways it may even be better.

@ Ben -- I was rather disappointed by Cathay's new business class. Really restrictive due to the "shell" design. I certainly wouldn't route out of my way to try it.

@ Charlie -- I'm sure you'll have a hell of a trip!

@ shudog -- Because it would have cost 160,000 miles, given that my destination was in South Asia.

@ No Name -- Hah, that wasn't an option in this case. Stay tuned. 😉

And as far as the next report goes, I'll figure that out once I finish this one!

@ tri n -- Thanks for the feedback, and sorry you didn't enjoy Hong Kong as much as I do. Did you see this post about why I like it so much?
https://onemileatatime.com/love-hong-kong/

Ben, I think you should have booked the Garuda Indonesia first class for the CGK-NRT sector ):)

@ Andrew -- If only there were an easy way to redeem miles for it!

Curious to hear about Regional CX J, to compare it to KA J on the A330. The product looks to be the same, and from what I understand, the overall experience should be nearly the same between the two.

I found the KA J seat pitch to be akin to Domestic F. Probably a bit more legroom, and somewhat better food (I recall the KA J meal being the worst of my RTW trip a few months ago). KA J is still better than AA's NGBC seat in the 772/763 ...

Lucky, you are such a tease.

Come on! I have been anxiously awaiting to read about your ultimate decision as to how to get to the Maldives. So...what did you ultimately decide?!?

I mean, yeah...I'm glad that there's a review of JAL's refined first to look forward to but I have been ready to cream my pants in anticipation of reading about the Odyssey to Male.

Sorry about the bluntness. Just got back from a spectacular business dinner at the Iron Gate Tasting Room in Washington DC where I was plied with many glasses of a most delicious vodka from... Pennsylvania!

hey, how did you book one way CGK-NRT-JFK with AA miles? they don't allow transit at Aisa 1 (Japan) between Asia 2 and North America.

Which miles that you using for this trip? I tried to replicate it on asiamiles and its cost me 260.000. Thanks

@Lucky How was your transit experience in Jakarta ?

Too bad, your trip is already finished...next weekend I'll be flying CX F to HKG and JL F back to FRA, both for the first time. I'm really excited, since I have only tried international F one time before (LH 747-400 with the bed). Would have been really cool to meet you incidentally in a lounge in HKG or NRT....Maybe another time 🙂

We've done JL F and found it either amazing: http://milesdownunder.com/2015/02/review-jal-first-chicago-tokyo/

Or awful: http://milesdownunder.com/2015/01/review-jal-first-tokyo-nrt-sydney-syd/

Interested in how you found the consistency of the service on your flights.

@ Imperator - Lucky had to get to the Maldives within a day, so was forced to book China Southern business class the whole way. He booked Cathay Pacific business class on the way back.

@ Thomas -- Have a great trip!

@ indra -- Stay tuned, was a story in and of itself. 😀

@ Edy -- AAdvantage miles.

@ Ding -- They DO allow you to transit Asia 1 when enroute from Asia 2 to North America:
https://onemileatatime.com/how-to-use-american-airlines-miles/

I think that somehow you have lost the Iceland trip report!

@Ben, Your destination was HKG, but you transited through South Asia for your return.
Either way I am sure you could have gotten US to price it at 120k.

@ Shudog -- Probably, but wasn't worth the effort, fees (close-in ticketing fee plus processing fee), and lack of flexibility just to save 15K points.

Any particular reason you'd care to share with us as to why you had to be in Hong Kong 'for a morning' on 02/14? As in 02/14? 😉

@ Charlie -- Hah, funny coincidence!

Hello Lucky! I tried JAL biz with 787, and it was amazing. I really want to try first, but how do you book the flight since they have 60 days release award seats to book rule before the departure date from the government. Do you just book on the extact 60th day before? Thanks!!

@ Wesley C -- Sorry, what do you mean regarding the 60 day rule? They definitely release longhaul first class award space further out than that.

I asked the aa agent to book an first on JAL but the agent told me the JAL award avalability is not on aa booking system because Japan government has implemented the rule that the award seats on JAL can be bookable via aa only within 60 days of your departure....it is so weird and I tried to confirm with the on duty manager in aa agent, she told me the exact same story. I'm curious how would you book JAL with aa?

@ Wesley C -- They're wrong. I'd recommend hanging up and calling again.

Thanks Lucky. I am sure you now are on your way to maldives if I follow correctly...which one would you pick from north america to asia 2 between JAL first or Cathay first? From what you posted, I found it pretty hard to pick...haha.

@ Wesley C -- They're both generally fantastic. I'd probably do one in each direction if I had the option.