Japan Avios Availability

[JamesF300]

I’m currently sitting on three Barclays vouchers and a relatively decent number of avios, and am thinking of travel next year.

Japan has been on my list for a little while, and I’ve noticed that availability in CW is virtually nonexistent. Is this a similar case to Australia where you really need to call at midnight on T-355 to get hold of the tickets as they drop?

As it stands, it feels like the value in the vouchers really comes from TATL flights, which is something I’m feeling les inclined to do of late.

Thanks!

[Aston100]

Japan reward bookings seem like a bit of a mission these days.
You’d probably have better luck with Iberia or Finnair, without a Barclays voucher.

And yes, you’ll need to call at t-355 or have very fast fingers online for peak periods.

[JamesF300]

Thanks, I suspected that might be the case.

I’ve been debating ditching the credit card if I can’t secure much value for the voucher, so maybe it’s better to save myself the £20 a month!

[RK228]

If you can’t get Tokyo flights, you can also consider booking with BA to Shanghai or Beijing, which are much easier to get, and then flying on from there (I think you should be able to find JAL flights from Beijing or Shanghai to Tokyo using Avios via BAEC).

[Matlo]

If you can’t get Tokyo flights, you can also consider booking with BA to Shanghai or Beijing, which are much easier to get, and then flying on from there (I think you should be able to find JAL flights from Beijing or Shanghai to Tokyo using Avios via BAEC).

This is exactly how I’ve booked my japan trip. Barclays upgrade vouchers to Shanghai. JAL avios flight to Tokyo. Then Qatar (cheap taxes) back to the UK from Osaka. Worked out really good value.

[FlyingTayto]

You could look at an avios redemption to Hong Kong then a cash fare from there?

Not ideal, but would give you use of the voucher at least.

[Reney]

Maybe move to the free card and take the 7k points instead of the voucher!

[Reney]

HKG not much easier esp if they are moving to 1 flight per day. It is easier esp if you have seat spy but not that much better!

[RK228]

For what it’s worth, I’ve booked to fly to or from Tokyo a number of times for three people and have never called at 12pm/1am to get those tickets. A SeatSpy subscription has helped with this. We’re usually going in June and July though; the situation is likely different at other times of the year, especially around April.

[LD27]

Have only managed to get to Japan end March/April via HK and Seoul. Obviously HK likely to be more difficult as it’s dropping to one flight a day and BA no longer flies to Seoul. One can only hope that if/when Virgin starts to fly to Seoul, BA will start flying there again too!

[JamesF300]

Thanks for the really great advice,

I was able to see availability to Shanghai, but these tips make me feel more comfortable that I can actually make it happen using Avios!

[zio]

It’s been noted that BA to Hong Kong will be harder to get, but CX are another avios option (with great lounges) from there to Tokyo. Also QR via Doha if you aren’t going to use a voucher.

[Alex G]

I used my 241 on BA LHR to SIN, then a multi carrier award with JAL onto TYO and Finnair back to London. A bit out of the way, but SIN had long been on my bucket list, and it gave me a chance to fly in J on two excellent airlines.