Questions and Answers

Hi friends,

I’m currently in the process of booking a OW flight from SE Asia to BOS around 11/27 and I’m looking to use AA miles, I currently have ~98K AA miles and while I have an upcoming Qatar Business class flight from YUL –> DOH –> BKK in early Nov, it unfortunately wont credit in time to give me the 110-115K miles I would need to book the award flight before availability tanks, so I’m stuck with having to buy the miles now (~$500) and leads to my question:

Unfortunately the booking system is quite convoluted and annoying, I have the option of flying from KUL –> MNL –> NRT –> BOS in JAL Business for 70K miles on 11/27 or go from BKK –> NRT in econ and then NRT –> ORD First both in JAL then ORD –> BOS F in Alaska all for 110K miles. I would of course ideally love the opportunity to try JAL First but the 1st leg in Econ and higher cost makes it less attractive. Would you consider it smart redemption nonetheless?

Alternatively, I could fly from from BKK –> AUH using 70K delta miles and a long routing, then go from AUH –> MUC Etihad F, MUC –> LHR –> BA F for 115K miles and $343 in taxes, also have the option of doing a much simpler AUH –> LHR EY Business and LHR –> BOS in BA Business for 70K + $280. The apartments would be a fantastic option however, I’m already spending a lot of money on this trip.

Which of these options do you think provide the best redemption value? Additionally, Etihad Apt or Business vs JAL F or Business which would you prefer? Apologies for the long post and word vomit. Just looking for guidance and advice!

Knowing that availability constantly changes, I think you almost have to book the first option at 70k miles on JAL the whole way. That way you are locked in and don’t have to risk losing all options when you buy miles or wait for that trip to post.

JL in F really is a special experience. I’d say it’s worth the other sacrifices to do it. Maybe you would at some point be able to upgrade the BKK to NRT segment to business if space opens up.

[QUOTE=”Michael M, post: 66588, member: 3388″]JL in F really is a special experience. I’d say it’s worth the other sacrifices to do it. Maybe you would at some point be able to upgrade the BKK to NRT segment to business if space opens up.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=”rickyw, post: 66587, member: 1436″]Knowing that availability constantly changes, I think you almost have to book the first option at 70k miles on JAL the whole way. That way you are locked in and don’t have to risk losing all options when you buy miles or wait for that trip to post.[/QUOTE]

Thanks to you both for your responses! I was actually able to call AA in Australia and right now I have AUH –> IAD in F on hold for 110K miles as well as NRT –> ORD in F for 80K miles on hold. Based on what you two are insinuating I might be better off booking the JAL First and maybe getting a separate Business class from BKK –> NRT using either my remaining AA miles or even Delta, i think I saw a Korean Air option or Garuda.