Taxes on Avios redemptions to Japan – doubled for connecting flight vs separate
Discuss today's stories:
-
Was looking to book a one-way flight from LHR to Sapporo (CTS). Searching on BA.com, there was availability, with a connecting flight. BA to HND, and then JAL for the flight to CTS.
Total cost: 22,700 avios and £580 in taxes for economy.
However, if you price the two flights separately…
LHR to HND in BA: 15,000 avios and £230 taxes
HND to CTS in JAL: 7,700 avios and £35 in taxesIts nuts that for both flights on one ticket, BA wants an extra £225!
If I book these redemption tickets separately, is it easy to get the check-in desk at Heathrow to check my luggage all the way through to CTS and issue boarding passes? Since they’re both on Oneworld?
Not the end of the world as I have BA Gold, and wouldn’t mind spending a few hours in the JAL lounges in HND airport…
(actually, can I access them with OWE on a domestic flight?)In line with One World policy BA won’t interline bags on separate tickets.
They won’t check the luggage through on separate bookings, even if it’s the same airline.
Even if you have a single ticket going LHR-HND-CTS, it is worth noting that you must collect all of your luggage at Haneda to clear customs and then check in the luggage for the domestic flight.
From the JAL site (https://www.jal.co.jp/jp/en/inter/airport/hnd/transit/#block02)
“all passengers who arrive at Haneda airport must clear the customs inspection at Haneda. Please pick up all of your checked baggage at the baggage claim area and then proceed to the customs inspection. After the clearance of the customs inspection, please go to the connection service counter for Japan domestic flight located in the arrival lobby to check in your baggage.”
Yes you can access the lounge. But be mindful that the internal lounges (even first class one) are nothing special.
A HND to CTS cash Jal flight could be much cheaper than 7,7000 avios and £35 (maybe around £70-80). Check on the Japanese website (in English) for the local prices in yen.
RK228 – good to know that bags still need to be collected and re-checked in for domestic. Looks like the same system as they have in the USA.
Yonasl – yeah, I guess I’ll only be accessing the domestic lounge for JAL, not their famed international lounges.
In line with One World policy BA won’t interline bags on separate tickets.
Although of course other OW airlines will interline bags on separate tickets.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
