Welcome to my subsequent journey report sequence, overlaying my latest evaluate journey to Japan. This was a fairly superior journey, from having fun with a stunning dawn in Mongolia, to flying the world’s most simple enterprise class, to flying the world’s most anticipated new top notch. In complete, I flew eight segments, and lined simply over 19,000 miles.
On this sequence you possibly can anticipate flight critiques of American’s 737 top notch, Air France’s A350 enterprise class, Air France HOP’s E190 enterprise class, MIAT Mongolian’s 787 enterprise class, MIAT Mongolian’s 737 enterprise class, ZIPAIR’s 787 enterprise class, and Japan Airways’ A350 top notch. There will even be critiques of a number of lounges, plus critiques of some (not so glamorous) airport inns.
On this submit I’ll define all of the fundamentals of the journey, after which I’ll publish your entire journey report sequence within the coming days and weeks.
Why I took this journey
This was a pure evaluate journey, plain and easy. That’s to say that I took this journey completely to have the ability to evaluate sure premium airline merchandise, all whereas being away from residence for as little time as doable. This journey was a bit longer than ordinary, and took almost every week, as there have been a number of experiences I used to be attempting to squeeze in, and that’s simply how the timing labored out.
The planning for this journey began with a speculative award reserving again in March 2023. Japan Airways had unveiled its new A350-1000 top notch, and we knew New York could be the primary vacation spot to get this product, however on the time we didn’t but know when that service would begin.
Fortuitously I had tentatively booked a Japan Airways top notch award from Tokyo to New York for January 30, which occurred to be inside every week of when the A350 entered passenger service. As soon as that was confirmed, I knew I needed to take that flight, and I got down to create an thrilling outbound journey to get me to Tokyo, which ended up involving Air France, MIAT Mongolian, and ZIPAIR.
The airways I flew on this journey
I booked this itinerary as 5 separate tickets, so let me share the main points of the tickets within the chronological order that I traveled.
To kick off the journey, I needed to place to New York, so I booked the next ticket for $138 in financial system, and obtained a complimentary top notch improve as an AAdvantage Government Platinum member:
1/24 AA2347 Miami to New York departing 2:03PM arriving 5:03PM
Then for the following portion of my journey, I flew from New York to Frankfurt in Air France enterprise class, with the New York to Paris flight being in Air France’s new A350-900 enterprise class, and the Paris to Frankfurt flight being in Air France HOP’s E190 enterprise class. I booked the next for 50,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles plus $226.70 in taxes and charges:
1/25 AF9 New York to Paris departing 11:30AM arriving 12:40PM
1/26 AF1318 Paris to Frankfurt departing 3:25PM arriving 4:45PM
Subsequent up, I had been intrigued by MIAT Mongolian’s new 787 enterprise class and MIAT Mongolian’s 737 enterprise class, and fortuitously the airline has enticing paid enterprise class fares. So I booked the next 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
Subsequent up, I wanted to get to Tokyo. Moderately than reserving a snug enterprise class award itinerary to Haneda Airport (the place I really wanted to go), I booked the world’s most simple enterprise class product to Narita Airport. Particularly, I booked ZIPAIR’s 787 “Full Flat” (enterprise class) product. I booked the next for $311.17 one-way (and that features every kind of add-ons, which I’ll cowl within the precise evaluate installment):
1/29 ZG42 Seoul to Tokyo departing 1:10PM arriving 3:30PM
Final however most positively not least, it was time to fly Japan Airways’ new A350 top notch from Tokyo to New York. I booked the next for 80,000 American AAdvantage miles plus $51.85 in taxes and charges:
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
Along with flight critiques, I additionally checked out a number of lounges. You’ll be able to anticipate critiques of the next airport lounges:
- The Chase Sapphire Lounge New York (LGA)
- The Chase Sapphire Lounge New York (JFK)
- The VIP ONE Lounge New York (JFK)
- The Turkish Airways Lounge New York (JFK)
- The Primeclass Lounge New York (JFK)
- The Air France Lounge New York (JFK)
- The Primeclass Lounge Frankfurt (FRA)
- The MIAT Mongolian Blue Sky Lounge Ulaanbaatar (UBN)
- The Oneworld Lounge Seoul Incheon (ICN)
- The TIAT Lounge Tokyo (HND)
- The Cathay Pacific Lounge Tokyo (HND)
- The Japan Airways First Lounge Tokyo (HND)
The inns I stayed at on this journey
Typically once I take fast evaluate journeys, I don’t spend a single night time in inns. This journey was a distinct story, as I didn’t need to lower issues too shut and find yourself lacking my Japan Airways A350 top notch flight. So I had in a single day stays on the following airports:
- New York (JFK)
- Frankfurt (FRA)
- Seoul Incheon (ICN)
- Tokyo Haneda (HND)
The place did I keep in every metropolis? In New York, I stayed on the Hyatt Regency JFK at Resorts World New York. I gained’t be reviewing that this time round, since I did so lately.
Then in Frankfurt, I made a decision to combine issues up. I’ve lately reviewed all 4 inns linked on to the airport — the Hilton Frankfurt Airport, Hilton Backyard Inn Frankfurt Airport, Marriott Frankfurt Airport, and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport. This time round I made a decision to remain on the Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport, which was an fascinating expertise, because it was not like most Hyatt Place properties I’ve stayed at.
Subsequent up, at Seoul Incheon Airport I stayed on the Incheon Airport Transit Resort, positioned airside. You’ll be able to’t beat the comfort of not even having to depart immigration, in the event you do plan to remain close to an airport. Nevertheless, the dearth of home windows might get to some folks…
Lastly, I had an evening at Tokyo Haneda Airport, and I stayed on the Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport, additionally linked on to the airport. This resort type of confused me.
Understandably, some folks might say “nicely why didn’t you keep within the metropolis in every case, that will have been much more enjoyable.” Completely true, although see my submit concerning the unglamorous actuality of my evaluate journeys. I at all times wish to be on the airport very first thing within the morning, in order that I can evaluate lounges as they open.
Backside line
I had a extremely enjoyable evaluate journey that included flights on American, Air France, MIAT Mongolian, ZIPAIR, and Japan Airways, with every little thing starting from the world’s most simple enterprise class to the world’s greatest new top notch. On prime of that, I acquired to go to a number of nice new lounges, which I look ahead to reviewing.
Keep tuned, and thanks for studying!
