[Closed] Going to Japan who is best to fly with?

The ones that land there I reckon..... 😀

I doubt anyone will fly direct from Manchester, so probably better off with either one of the Gulf carriers or Turkish via Istanbul. I think Cathay Pacific also fly out of Manchester now.

Best?

I'd go with BA or JAL, direct. In First. After a private transfer from MAN to LHR.

Or did you mean cheapest? 😉

Cfh.....middle ground....value, service, comfort. Okay pick 2 from 3....

Finnair are pretty good. Lots of stops, but good value for money.

In cattle, CX via HKG or Singapore via SIN are both good.

However, usually worth looking at a flag carrier from your destination or departure first. So, BA or JAL again.

BA from LHR direct

If you want to save some £ you can look at a stop inc travelling via say Paris, from memory the roite is up over the top so none of the usual suspects like Middle East carriers work. You might want to look at say Cathay via HK

Edit: seem cfh post, Singapore air are fabulous (lived theer 2 years and use them a lot) but imho Sing is a bit too far South to make sense for uk to Japan

South, yes, but a good airline counts for a lot over those distances!

Virgin, though you'll have to get to/through theifrow.

Failing that, we generally chose KLM for a Schipol change to stock up on cheese and stroopwaffels at the airport (living in Japan and visiting the UK/Europe). Though the kettling system at Schipol for the flights to the UK is crap, especially when there's a delay.

Of course it may depend where you're going in Japan - I'm assuming Tokyo.

Paris and Frankfurt are the two other obvious 1-stop routes - I wouldn't go for a far east stopover myself.

We have had some pretty ropey flights from Nepal over the years and actually fro m USA...so would like a good airline. Just looked at Finn air lots of stops....

I'd forgotten Virgin go direct. We've used Virgin a lot for US flights over the years and for economy I'd say they are better then BA.

All Nippon airways???? Anyone used them?

Just don't fly Alitalia, worst flight i've ever been on.

Last time I dared to use a Japanese carrier for long-haul the seat pitch seemed ridiculous - might have just been unlucky, the internet suggests they are all much the same really. Would be ok if you're under 5'6" though, and the food will add to the experience, as will the 250 Japanese gawking at you and asking if you can use chopsticks (don't worry, I'm joking, that only starts when you land there).

ME!!!! I fly 777 for BA and fly to Tokyo, either HND OR NRT twice a month. Let me know when you are flying and I'll get on the trip!

Virgin pulled off all Japan flights last year.

Dantsw....does it make any difference which airport we land at?

dantsw13, I'm a regular in CW or F to the US, about once a month. Heading back to Asia on a more regular basis again now as well. Spend plenty of time in the 77, depending on routes obviously.

Will have to track your sectors! Come and join me for a refreshing beverage when you're on crew rest. Or, even better, make sure I'm in F more often...! 😉

Really depends where you are trying to get to in Japan..

If Tokyo, imo the best (& i think quickest) route from Manchester is via Helsinki so worth checking with BA & Finnair..

15 posts between question and actual pilot for the flight your after

Not bad

Dirtyrider...I know so cool eh.....

Vondally, not really. Until recently International carriers were only allowed into NRT, HND was JAL ANA only. BA recently supported JAL through bankruptcy, and part of the deal was a slot into HND. Its like LHR/LGW really.

CFH - I mainly fly HND/NRT/PVG/HKG/EZE/GIG, but I occasionally venture west to SEA/DEN/SAN/SFO, in fact I'm off to SEA tomorrow. I take my bike nearly everywhere - Im planning a ride around Bainbridge Island, but someone planned the rugby for 0900 West Coast time so I can't decide which one misses out!

I'll keep an eye open for you on my flights - I'm assuming your sartorial elegance will make you obvious?

Hmm, I do SFO occasionally, and SEA about twice a year en route to Montana. I've got HKG coming up soon as well, and a possible PVG. Will have to drop you a line...! 🙂

We flew Air France from Edinburgh via Charles de Gaulle to Narita, and they were great. Sign up for the Flying Blue club and you get into the AirFrance lounge for free food & booze and time away from the hoi polloi.

If you mention your trips on here I'll notice if I'm away the same time, and we can have a beer.

Emirates airline perhaps? Changing at Dubai.

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^^ 😆

Marvellous!

These aren't just acronyms!
They're TLAs!

LOL!

BA and Air Nippon in business were much the same IIRC

TLA? Never flown there. Looks pretty wild country, though.

[img] [/img]

I fly Qantas to Haneda relatively often...... don't s'pose that really helps?

IGMC

We're off there next month, Air China going Heathrow - Beijing - Tokyo. Let you know how it goes. 🙂

Korean Air lines.

Pondo please update when you get back.

No sweat, will do, buddy. 🙂

Don't go from Heathrow unless it's a lot cheaper. It's a god awful place that is horrendous to get to. If Manchester is your local airport then I suspect one of the gulf carriers will be the cheapest and best. Emirates, Qatar and Etihad all fly out of Manchester. They are basically the best airlines in the World. Why would you go to eat grow to fly a worse airline?

Just flown back from Osaka to Manchester with Emiratres changing at Dubai. Although Emirates was good and the flights were on time it is the bloody long way round compared to over the top from LHR or Schiphol and if things go wrong with your transfer you'll be stuck in Dubai seven hours from home. On the way out to Shanghai the A380 was stuck on the tarmac at Manchester for 3 hours due to technical problem which meant I missed my connection in Dubai and had to re-route via Taipei. Next time I need to go to Japan I'll probably go back to using KLM from Schiphol.

I've been lucky enough to do Lufthansa business, BA business, JAL F and business from the UK and NZ business from NZ.JAL was head and shoulders above the others.

Whatever you decide, enjoy being there. That's the important bit and I'm very jealous

I went with KLM.

Don't go with KLM.

If by best you mean cheap, then Google Flights is your friend if you are flexible on dates or have specific requirements. You can search multiple airports by code and stick to certain alliances or airlines if you are fussy. For Tokyo, Haneda is much more convenient (public transport will get you in to the central area in 30 mins) but Narita will, most likely, be cheaper (1 hour train or bus on separate ticket to your tourist train pass, assuming you want to use the Shinkansen). I would also consider KIX (Kyoto-Osaka) for a tourist visit.

Assuming you are looking at economy, it can also be worth aiming to arrive later in the day to have the best chance of beating the jet lag. If you haven't slept on the night flight and arrive early, then trying to stay awake the whole day is a real pain.

EDIT: In response to HTS's post, I flew KLM economy a few years ago and it was fine. To m,e all the major airlines have similar offerings in economy.

I do it three times a year ...
Anyone who does it direct ...

Connection flights are a pain in arse and make it seem 3 x as long (says he about to fly to Singapore with a 5 hrs transfer on Monday early am!)

Well going direct is always best if you live a sensible distance from an airport that has that option. Though direct flights are usually more expensive. But I fly long haul every 6 weeks or so and living in the East Midlands I'd rather fly from a local airport via somewhere than take the horrendous option of driving down to Heathrow. You can't fly direct to Japan from Manchester so a connection is probably the best option and will be the cheapest. There is nothing worse than landing at Heathrow at 5am after a sleepless long haul flight facing a 3hr or more haul up the M1 or M40 to get home. Similarly there is nothing worse than getting up at 5am to drive down to Heathrow hitting the M25 at rush hour then battling through the chaos that is Heathrow on your outbound flight. You feel like you've had enough of travelling before you even get on your 13 hour flight. Flying from Manchester or Birmingham is a doddle for me, so I assume it will be for the OP. Less than an hours transfer to either airport, the airports themselves are far less busy and easier to navigate and less stressful. It's just a doddle.

Make your life easier, fly one of the Gulf carriers from Manchester. Second option go with Turkish via Istanbul or Cathay via HK. The next league down is Air France and KLM - but take half your clothes in your hand luggage and make sure you've got good insurance.

I would personally say avoid KLM. The food and Infotainment in business was rubbish - hate to think what it is like in paying for it yourself class

Captainflashheart: you either work in the travel business or travel too much - or both. I'm a travel manager for a corporate and I don't know half of those airport codes! I'm mainly Europe and Africa. And India for my sins.