Introduction: Zipping To Tokyo Via Mongolia

Ben Schlappig
Published: February 26, 2024
Updated: March 26, 2024
17

Why I took this trip

This was a pure review trip, plain and simple. That’s to say that I took this trip exclusively to be able to review certain premium airline products, all while being away from home for as little time as possible. This trip was a bit longer than usual, and took nearly a week, as there were several experiences I was trying to squeeze in, and that’s just how the timing worked out.

The planning for this trip started with a speculative award booking back in March 2023. Japan Airlines had unveiled its new A350-1000 first class, and we knew New York would be the first destination to get this product, but at the time we didn’t yet know when that service would start.

Fortunately I had tentatively booked a Japan Airlines first class award from Tokyo to New York for January 30, which happened to be within a week of when the A350 entered passenger service. Once that was confirmed, I knew I had to take that flight, and I set out to create an exciting outbound journey to get me to Tokyo, which ended up involving Air France, MIAT Mongolian, and ZIPAIR.

The airlines I flew on this trip

I booked this itinerary as five separate tickets, so let me share the details of the tickets in the chronological order that I traveled.

To kick off the trip, I had to position to New York, so I booked the following ticket for $138 in economy, and received a complimentary first class upgrade as an AAdvantage Executive Platinum member:

1/24 AA2347 Miami to New York departing 2:03PM arriving 5:03PM

Then for the next portion of my trip, I flew from New York to Frankfurt in Air France business class, with the New York to Paris flight being in Air France’s new A350-900 business class, and the Paris to Frankfurt flight being in Air France HOP’s E190 business class. I booked the following for 50,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles plus $226.70 in taxes and fees:

1/25 AF9 New York to Paris departing 11:30PM arriving 12:40PM (+1 day)
1/26 AF1318 Paris to Frankfurt departing 3:25PM arriving 4:45PM

Air France Airbus A350-900 business class

Air France HOP Embraer E190 business class

Next up, I had been intrigued by MIAT Mongolian’s new 787 business class and MIAT Mongolian’s 737 business class, and fortunately the airline has attractive paid business class fares. So I booked the following for $1,113.40 one-way:

1/27 OM138 Frankfurt to Ulaanbaatar departing 2:30PM arriving 5:40AM (+1 day)
1/28 OM301 Ulaanbaatar to Seoul departing 7:45AM arriving 12:05PM

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 787-9 business class

MIAT Mongolian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 business class

Next up, I needed to get to Tokyo. Rather than booking a comfortable business class award itinerary to Haneda Airport (where I actually needed to go), I booked the world’s most basic business class product to Narita Airport. Specifically, I booked ZIPAIR’s 787 “Full Flat” (business class) product. I booked the following for $311.17 one-way (and that includes all kinds of add-ons, which I’ll cover in the actual review installment):

1/29 ZG42 Seoul to Tokyo departing 1:10PM arriving 3:30PM

ZIPAIR Boeing 787-8 Full Flat business class

Last but most definitely not least, it was time to fly Japan Airlines’ new A350 first class from Tokyo to New York. I booked the following for 80,000 American AAdvantage miles plus $51.85 in taxes and fees:

1/30 JL6 Tokyo to New York departing 11:05AM arriving 10:00AM
1/30 AA2786 New York to Miami departing 12:30PM arriving 3:44PM

Japan Airlines Airbus A350-1000 first class

In addition to flight reviews, I also checked out several lounges. You can expect reviews of the following airport lounges:

Japan Airlines First Lounge Tokyo Haneda

The hotels I stayed at on this trip

Often when I take quick review trips, I don’t spend a single night in hotels. This trip was a different story, as I didn’t want to cut things too close and end up missing my Japan Airlines A350 first class flight. So I had overnight stays at the following airports:

New York (JFK)
Frankfurt (FRA)
Seoul Incheon (ICN)
Tokyo Haneda (HND)

Where did I stay in each city? In New York, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World New York. I won’t be reviewing that this time around, since I did so recently.

Then in Frankfurt, I decided to mix things up. I’ve recently reviewed all four hotels connected directly to the airport — the Hilton Frankfurt Airport, Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport, Marriott Frankfurt Airport, and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport. This time around I decided to stay at the Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport, which was an interesting experience, as it was unlike most Hyatt Place properties I’ve stayed at.

Next up, at Seoul Incheon Airport I stayed at the Incheon Airport Transit Hotel, located airside. You can’t beat the convenience of not even having to leave immigration, if you do plan to stay near an airport. However, the lack of windows may get to some people…

Lastly, I had a night at Tokyo Haneda Airport, and I stayed at the Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport, also connected directly to the airport. This hotel kind of confused me.

Understandably, some people may say “well why didn’t you stay in the city in each case, that would have been a lot more fun.” Totally true, though see my post about the unglamorous reality of my review trips. I always like to be at the airport first thing in the morning, so that I can review lounges as they open.

Bottom line

I had a really fun review trip that included flights on American, Air France, MIAT Mongolian, ZIPAIR, and Japan Airlines, with everything ranging from the world’s most basic business class to the world’s best new first class. On top of that, I got to visit several great new lounges, which I look forward to reviewing.

Stay tuned, and thanks for reading!

Conversations (17)

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isakchai New Member
February 27, 2024, 1:07 pm

Ben, next time on your RTW trip try to fly WEST against earth rotation, you would experience much less jetlag.

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1. red_robbo Gold
  March 11, 2024, 10:09 am
  
  Erm.... Given the number of miles Lucky has flown, I think he already knows what's best for him.
  
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guytp Guest
February 26, 2024, 11:21 am

We need to stop missing each other. I missed you at Heathrow by a day end of last year and Tokyo by two days this time!

If you’re ever in T5 and need guesting to CCR give me a shout!

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claude depardieu Guest
February 26, 2024, 11:07 am

I feel like I've read all these reviews already...?

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1. InternationalTraveler Diamond
  February 26, 2024, 5:48 pm
  
  Ben usually writes a shorter article with his first impressions first shortly after the trip. This is followed by a second in-depth write-up of the actual review a bit later.
  
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derek Guest
February 26, 2024, 9:57 am

The hotel stay for JFK was a missed opportunity. If the hotel was reviewed by you before, then choose another hotel, even if it has to be a Rodeway Inn!

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1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT
  February 26, 2024, 9:59 am
  
  @ derek -- I hear you, but I arrived at the hotel at 10PM and left before 4AM, so I didn't think that left enough time to even do a proper review of a new hotel.
  
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Laurel Guest
February 26, 2024, 9:11 am

How did you get access to the oneworld lounge in Seoul flying Zipair?

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Lee Guest
February 26, 2024, 9:07 am

Please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe JAL releases only one first class award seat on each flight. If this is correct, everyone should set their expectations accordingly.

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Abidjan Gold
February 26, 2024, 7:23 am

This trip looks super. Can't wait for the reviews.

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Sky Guest
February 26, 2024, 7:17 am

“1/25 AF9 New York to Paris departing 11:30AM arriving 12:40PM”

I got excited for a late morning flight to Paris but alas it is an 11:30pm departure.

Thank you for the reviews.

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1. Ben Schlappig OMAAT
  February 26, 2024, 9:59 am
  
  @ Sky -- Fixed, thanks!
  
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Willem Guest
February 26, 2024, 6:54 am

Very excited for the reviews to come out, thanks for your continual effort on these!

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1. N515CR Member
  February 26, 2024, 10:40 am
  
  @Ben - how did you do the NRT-HND transfer? I did the bus a few years ago in the opposite direction and it was pretty simple and efficient, but I’m curious if there’s a better way.
  
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2. Ben Schlappig OMAAT
  February 26, 2024, 10:47 am
  
  @ N515CR -- I did the bus as well! It was super efficient. There's frequent service, and as you'd expect in Japan, it's punctual. I don't think there's a more efficient way to do the transfer.
  
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3. Ricardo Guest
  February 26, 2024, 11:54 am
  
  In 2020 I take the direct train from NRT to HND, it was 90 minutes trip and about USD 11.
  
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4. Japan Starts Here Guest
  February 26, 2024, 8:55 pm
  
  @N515CR You can also ride the Keikyu Line, although only some services are direct/through. Alternatively, you can ride the Narita Express to Shinagawa and transfer to the Keikyu Line there.
  
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Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

claude depardieu Guest

February 26, 2024, 11:07 am

I feel like I've read all these reviews already...?

Ben Schlappig OMAAT

February 26, 2024, 9:59 am

@ derek -- I hear you, but I arrived at the hotel at 10PM and left before 4AM, so I didn't think that left enough time to even do a proper review of a new hotel.

Ben Schlappig OMAAT

February 26, 2024, 10:47 am

@ N515CR -- I did the bus as well! It was super efficient. There's frequent service, and as you'd expect in Japan, it's punctual. I don't think there's a more efficient way to do the transfer.