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We're about halfway through the Holiday Fare season, but there's still time to book Business Class seats to Asia at big savings if you act quickly -- even with most itineraries requiring a 21-day advance purchase. Discounts can reach as high as 81%, so it's well worth the effort.
Among US carriers, Continental, Northwest and United are the main players to Asia, and they're all offering similar (or identical) reduced fares to popular destinations like Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore, and Taipei. With the price factor eliminated, choosing an airline comes down to questions of whose Business Class cabin is most luxurious and whose mileage plan you belong to.
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For those who value comfort, Continental's Business Class seat is our top choice among American carriers to Asia, with Northwest close behind. United's Business Class seat is least appealing of the three, but that will change when their Pacific-route aircraft are upgraded with the new lie-flat seats that recently debuted on routes to Europe.
For those seeking a year-end "mileage run" to maintain elite status, holiday fares to Asia present a great opportunity to cover a long distance at a low per-mile cost. And Business Class bonuses can yield 150% elite and mileage credit.
For more information, see the November issue of First Class Flyer.
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Recently I experienced business class for the first time (and will never fly economy again), when I was bumped up to business from over-booking on Delta. The flight was from Canton, China to Chicago and I ate filet mignon, all the wine I wanted and CHEESECAKE-ha ha. The large consel seperated me from a beautiful lady, and these seats did lie nearly flat for sleeping. Now I did to go back to China to see my wife (a Chinese doctor) and work on a new book about Chinese adventures. I would like any information on direct flights from Atlanta and, of course, how to fly business class...I think I'd like to try fist class too. Now that might be an adventure.
I finally experienced for the first time International Business Class travel back in December upon my return to the US after being overseas for a year on study abroad. I flew on Korean Air. Man was the experience awesome.. constantly was fed whatever i wanted to eat or drink nonstop. Was unbelievable!
Recently flew business class All Nippon Air from Tokyo Narita to Chicago. The service was great and about the best airlaine food i have had. First class ahd its own business deska for each seat and a full lseeper. Their seemed to be 2 business classes. My seat was only 18.5 inches wide!! but reclined at least 150 degrees. Unlimited legroom but it seemd like they had taken two econmy width seats and converted them to a business class sction. No one spoke english very well but i could not get into the othe business class area with leather seats that were wider. They said it was full . So if going ANA make sure you have wide seats. My seat had a wooden divider between me and the person next to me. Very different. John sinnott
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