Planning ahead to use frequent flyer miles Chicago to Bangkok (American, which will get me on them (through Tokyo and connecting to on one of the Japanese carriers) or Cathay Pacific (connecting through LAX, SFO or Vancouver first and then Hong Kong). We will be using business class level awards. We have previously flown American to Tokyo and it was fine. The reviews of Cathay Pacific service, however, make me lean toward them rather than American despite the two rather than one connections. Flying time is about the same (around 21 hours). Any thoughts on how to decide? The American flights through Tokyo leave at about noon and arrive about 10:00 p.m. 2 days later. The CP flights through LAX or SFO leave about 7:00 p.m. and arrive about 10:30 a.m. two days later. The CP flight through Vancouver leaves at about 9:00 a.m. and arrives just before midnight 1 day later. The difference seems to be what time to leave, what time to arrive and where and when your 4 hour layover is (Tokyo in mid-afternoon, California at 10:00 p.m. or Vancouver at noon). Any thoughts about choosing that would minimize jet lag when we land? (Time from Chicago to Bangkok is just about opposite from a.m. to p.m.) Any thoughts about issues or delays in transit connecting at any of these airports?

I live in Chicago and if you are using American ff miles you should be able to use them on Japan Air which goes nonstop to Tokyo and then to Bangkok. It is a MUCH better flight than if you fly American. Cathay Pacific is better than Japan but not enough to warrant the extra stop in my opinion. Japan Air business class is a very pleasant experience in every way. However, if for some reason you can't use your miles on Japan Air (I do it all the time so unless something has changed in the last month or so it shouldn't be a problem) and your choice is American or Cathay -- go Cathay even with the extra stop.

laurie_ann:

>>The American flights through Tokyo leave at about noon and arrive about 10:00 p.m. 2 days later.<<

I believe this is 1-day later.

This to me seems the best, as you don't have to be up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport and when you arrive you can just go to sleep. Besides it's a simple transfer in NRT. We transfered thru here on a United flight and it was a breeze. A simple walk thru the terminal to the connecting gate on a 2-hr layover from the States. Though if your layover is 4-hrs that's something to consider.

The CP flight thru LAX or SFO arrives 2-days later and in the morning - you'll have to do everything imagineable to stay up all day before sleeping that night. And for the other CP flight, you have to be up at the crack of dawn to be at the airport on time; and this one has two connections. Personally, not thrilled with this last flight.

Decisions, decisions. How about tossing a coin.

The Japan Air flight is on a similar time schedule as American -- you get in at around 11 PM. If you decide to fly Japan Air make sure you check the flights and that they are really JAL-- not a codeshare with American that uses the American plane and crew.

I can't comment on the airlines as we usually end up on DL or one of its partners for most of our flights.

The last time we flew to BKK we were scheduled to arrive at 10pm or so via NRT using Thai Airways for that leg. However, with delays we didn't arrive until after midnight, our scheduled driver wasn't there so we eventually hired a ride, arriving at hotel at probably 2am local time then tried to get up and start next day at 7am to adjust to local time. I was jetlagged all week.

I'm thinking for our upcoming trip to BKK that I am going to try a different option like you are discussing to schedule an earlier arrival to see if that helps.

I have suffered jetlag arriving in Hong Kong in a.m., but not as bad as this. My best experience was flight to Seoul (of course, shorter) that arrived in afternoon, so by the time I took bus to hotel, checked in, showered and ate dinner I just went to bed.

So, I'm curious as to others' experience as well.

northwest is also another choice from chicago if you have miles with them...don't know what experience you will have but i have been unable to ever get a business FF seat, especially on the toyko-bangkok leg...it is always sold out...also you need to book very early...i booked my may trip about 10 months early and had trouble with getting 2 seats for that and of course no bus. class....

i have often thought that arriving earlier in the day would be nicer...we always arrive about midnight....you do get right through immigration however, although there are a number of flights from usa at that time... also being able to leave other than at 6AM would be nice too....i think cathy has better service...had you thought about a stop say in HK overnite on the way??

i find that we plan to do nothing on day one in bkk as we are too exhausted...it was 2:30AM when we got into bed in may and i was up by 7...my clock was all messed up.....we also take a sleeping pill from the usa to asia on the transpacific leg...it helps...

Travelling via NRT is a lot shorter than the CP trips (based on the info you provided).

American/JAL leaves at noon, arrives 10PM +1 day

CP leaves 7PM, arrives 10:30AM +2 days

So, the CP trips via LAX/SFO leave 7 hours after the AA flight but arrives 12h 30 min after the AA flight, so it is five and a half hours longer.

The CP trip via Vancouver leaves 3 hours before the noon AA flight and arrives almost two hours after the AA flight, so it is a bit less than 5 hours longer.

That means that the CP trip would probably be 9 hours longer than on JAL, roundtrip.

The only reason I would get the award on CP would be if I wanted to take the FREE STOPOVER in Hong Kong instead of a FREE STOPOVER in Tokyo (an unlikely event). You will be able to use the JAL business class lounge at NRT. Four hours at NRT goes by quickly.

In JAL Executive Class out of ORD you want to take JL 009 and return on JL 010 to get a "Shell Flat Seat". See:
http://www.japanair.com/e/travelplan/cabin_c.php

In addition to making sure that a JAL flight was not a codeshare operated by AA, as glorialf recommended, you also want to not dismiss an AA flight because it might actually be operated by JAL.

There are some reasons to take CX, even if it's a longer trip. For example, if you have limited vacation time and want to maximize your time in Asia, you can finish a day's work in Chicago (say Friday afternoon), and arrive in BKK Sunday mid-morning, 12 hours earlier than if you wait until the next day to fly out of Chicago.

I did the same trip last May but the other way around, Bangkok - Chicago and return. Flew JAL and found the connecting time and over all flight time for JAL as the best possible. Here's the flight number for the ORD - NRT - BKK route:

ORD - NRT JL 009 Depart 11.35 arrive 14.40(next day)
NRT - BKK JL 703 Depart 15.45 arrive 20.15

As of last may the JAL flight, with their new sleeper seats in business, operate every other day so you better check which day they have the new seats as it will be worth it.