Travel to India using Business Saver award on United Airlines
 

Need advice please! I am traveling to India late January-February 2014. I am using a Business Saver award on United.

Departing from Denver, I am currently going east through Washington DC and Frankfurt, arriving in Mumbai. I am flying United to Frankfurt (777-200) and then connecting on Lufthansa for a flight to Mumbai (747-400).

On my return, I am debating between the following routings: 1) flying east from Delhi to Tokyo to Denver OR 2) flying west from Delhi to Newark to Denver. The Delhi to Tokyo flight would be on an ANA 767-300 which is NOT lie flat (only 160 degrees - ugh), which is an 8-hour flight leaving at 1:15 a.m., but I would connect in Tokyo onto a United 787 dreamliner. The alternative, if I can get it, would be flying out of Delhi to Newark on a United 777-200 and then connecting through Chicago. The travel times are about the same.

Would love any insights on which direction is best to travel and which carrier(s)/planes are best.

Thanks in advance!

I realize you're asking about carriers and specific aircraft, but for me, the Chicago connection would be the deal breaker. I avoid ORD like the plague in the winter.

Haha, this sounds a bit like a first-world problem if you can grab saver business awards right now. Anyways, personally, I'd take the ANA route, even if it's not lie-flat. Service on ANA can't be that bad, and the lounges in NRT much better than EWR/ORD you'll use. Also, you don't have to go through immigration in EWR and reclear security.

Those alone is enough for me, even if I agree that it'd be nice to have a flat-bed to fly out of Delhi in the evening. The chance to try the 787 will just be a bonus.

Melnq8 and rkkwan, Thank you both for your thoughtful responses. Very helpful! It's been work to grab the saver business awards but I'm grateful to have them.

I agree with rkkwan. You can endure the ANA angle seats and recover with a shower and a meal at the lounge at NRT. Then snooze in the 787's bed to Denver (better cabin air/pressurization, lighting.) Sounds way better than a crack-of-dawn scrum at Newark, plus related joy to follow.

And I want to add that we have flown on ANA and their service is wonderful!!!!!