Kristina

I think the airlines ARE limiting award seats and I just don't know why.
Our flight LAX to Tokyo was at least 1/3 empty in Business and 1st only was about 40% full. Yet my tickets were almost impossible to get 330 days out (on AA).
Good luck Bill, keep us posted.

mrwunrfl

May, after the first week, is a great time to visit Japan. You could wait until your CO miles are in Star Alliance. Better check on what the mileage requirements would be, though.

Robbietravels

I agree, stay the course. From my chat with you at the LA GTG, I sense your heart and soul are calling Bali. Crosscheck told me that if you book one business class ticket (with its own separate confirmation number) and book one economy seat on the same route with a different confirmation number/code, your chances of getting the second BC seat are pretty good. I'm presently trying to rebook using all miles on Delta for France and they won't allow me to book one seat in BC because my husband and I are on the same itinerary, never again.

Some segments of our Bali BC ff tickets on Thai (thru United) didn't clear until days before, some at the airport, some in the ff lounge. In the end we had BC all the way and traveled May 22-June 15, 2009. Only the LAX to BKK segment was nearly fully booked; the other legs (BKK to Jakarta and Bali-BKK-LAX) had plenty of empty seats. It also seems to me that Asians book their ff seats in BC a year in advance, just in case they want to go and then cancel weeks or days before the flight.

marmot

Filmwill, You know I'm partial to Bali, but I've really enjoyed the time I've spent in Japan as well and I would agree that you could find a fair amount of "otherworldliness" there (or what we in Indonesia like to refer to as weird and wonderful).

I would consider, however, aside from the difficulties of getting there without breaking the bank, once you're on the ground Japan is likely to be considerably more costly than Bali. There are ways to live cheap in Japan and certainly ways to spend a bundle in Bali, but value to value, satay to sushi, Japan is a lot pricier.

filmwill

Okay. Here's where things get crazier. So I've tried various other combos of coach/business with still no luck. And that flight to Japan--gone!

There is a silver lining though. And here's where I need some advice again.

I'm holding 2 biz class seats on Virgin (via London) to Delhi and am thinking we might be able to finally make our India trip happen in May.

The tricky part is I don't know much about the weather in May nor the feasibility of planning a 2 week trip (we'd have 13-14 days on the ground) in/around Delhi.

In a nutshell, is this a crazy idea? Bali is definitely the first choice, but India is on our Top 3 of to-sees and it's for less mileage than Bali would be.

filmwill

hoping my good friend The Dog will chime in on his thoughts on a 14 day itinerary in India.

lcuy

Are you talking late or early May? It will be hot and humid in early May, hotter and more humid in late May, unless you get lucky and there is some pre-monsoon rain.

Last year, I was there May 8-25; this year it was May 24-June 13. Temps last year were in the mid-90s and above. this year, we were hitting 108-110 in the south, and 90-105 in the north. We did get some rain in Delhi and it was actually pleasant. Becasue of the heat, It is a low travel season, so prices and availability are both excellent. the Oberoi hotels have some great multi-hotel specials at that time of year.

I haven't done a trip report for either trip (yet), but I will tell you that if you go, I have the BEST driver to recommend to you. Bob K used his cousin too.

In two weeks, I'd drive the golden triangle (Agra-Jaipur-Delhi), plus fly to one other city. I really like Varanasi and Udaipur, but they will definitely be hot. Might be better to up into the Himalayas to Shimla or Dharamsala, where the temps will be in the upper 80s.

India travel is a lot more work than SE ASia, but it is very rewarding.

filmwill

lucy, i would love to pick your brain more...i'll send you a separate email.

and, yes, it's mid to late may--i figured it'd be hotter than hell. but as long as there's lots of water and AC in the hotels, I think we could be game.

"India travel is a lot more works than SE Asia, but it is very rewarding."

you know i like a good challenge! if we did decide to do this, it would give me a hell of a project to plan out over the next couple of months.

Craig

Just understand Will that all the sites in the Golden Triangle are outdoors and this would be more than a challenging "vacation" for you. India is fantastic but after having been there at a pleasant time of year, I would not ever consider a first time trip during late May with all of the other hassles you might encounter. From what I've read from your previous trips, you and dh would not be happy doing this. If you had more than 13-14 days, I would feel differently.

filmwill

Craig, is it THAT bad? I ask because this is actually a really good deal, miles-wise.

I'm curious as to what you mean by 'hassles' that we would encounter...

So you don't think that it could be done in 2 weeks? How would things change with, say, 3 weeks? I'm just trying to get a feel for your recommendation, because it seems strongly against when lucy's seemed pro. I know everyone has a different take on things, but could you elaborate?

Robbietravels

Will, its hard to explain but India is another planet not just another subcontinent or another country. I think India is spectacular, been to the north twice and the south once, BUT always in December when the temperature is like Southern California in early July or early October ( mid 80's). In my experience, travel in India requires near constant vigilance; nothing can be taken for granted. Everything takes much longer than anticipated. To drive the golden triangle in the heat, furgetit. I know how tempting the miles deal is but check the cost of domestic flights, the total air package might not be such a bargain I'm afraid. Hang in there, something will come together.

Craig

"travel in India requires near constant vigilance"

Will, Robbies comment above says it all...

13-14 days and an Agra, Delhi, Jaipur and one other place (flying) itinerary leaves little "chill" time IMO. In 2005 we did Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore Park and Delhi in 12 days and we were always on the go. Here's a link to my report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-and-delhi.cfm

Gpanda

Did I see India in the title of this thread? More deceptive advertising. One thing you might try is calling a second and third time to the carriers. I've gotten different answers from different operators over the years.

filmwill

UPDATE: so it looks like we're going to book our tickets to Bali, 1 in coach/1 in business...and hope and pray that another seat opens up, so we don't end up flying in two different classes--from which I'd probably have to deal with a subsequent divorce (Andy, you available for consult should that happen?)

I feel good about the chances of something opening up in the next 9 months or so...it's a lot of time for something to come up.

If not, no biggie--miles go back, and we figure out a Plan B.

Thanks again to all my friends for your recommendations and advice--glad we stayed the course. Check back with me in 9 months and see if I still feel that way, though.

Kathie

Good luck!

hawaiiantraveler

Ditto the luck! It(the luck) may have just run out though as you have now committed to an adventure with rhkkmk and the panda.......on second thought it's still not too late for planning for Japan

Aloha!

Gpanda

Yippee! FW and David in Bali with Bob and Andy. Was steerage not available? If you do have to go business/ coach, you can split up the legs, to share the luxury/suffering. Of course, justice suggests that the NC fan ride in coach the entire time.

Kristina

Congrats on getting <i>something</i> for Bali! Are you really going to be in the same place as Bob and Andy on the <i>same</i> dates? Heaven help us all. Or rather, heaven help the Balinese.

Femi

Glad you're sticking with Bali. We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Robbietravels

Way to go, Will!