Flying to Japan. BA or Virgin?
Poll: Flying to Japan. BA or Virgin?
Total Members Polled: 62
Discussion
As the title says really, planning to go to Japan in October. BA and Virgin both coming out with direct flights for £600 (same price). Which one's best?
Strangely for Pistonheads, I will be flying Economy...
EDIT- I see that BA run a lot of flights into Haneda, which seems to be massively closer to the centre. Is this a worthwhile factor???
Strangely for Pistonheads, I will be flying Economy...
EDIT- I see that BA run a lot of flights into Haneda, which seems to be massively closer to the centre. Is this a worthwhile factor???
Edited by carreauchompeur on Sunday 31st July 11:27
If you don't have any frequent flyer status (and don't intend to), I'd go with Virgin. In flight entertainment is generally better in my expereience. Plus (more importantly in my opinion), the flight attendants are way hotter (i.e. not about 50).
If you're on a 747, try to book the window seat on the second to last row. There's a good bit more space that way due to the tapered rear of the aircraft. HTH.
If you're on a 747, try to book the window seat on the second to last row. There's a good bit more space that way due to the tapered rear of the aircraft. HTH.
Been to Japan two years running and made this decision. Only reason l took BA was the ease and luxury of terminal 5. Year on year the Narita terminal for BA was changed but was equally practical.
In economy, BA (world traveler) was acceptable and the Japanese influence made the food tolerable. But yes, for eye candy, take Virgin !
In economy, BA (world traveler) was acceptable and the Japanese influence made the food tolerable. But yes, for eye candy, take Virgin !
tontoro said:
Virgin do a codeshare with ANA. Make sure you get on one of these flights
Agreed.That said, having flown long haul with both of them a great many times; in economy there really isn't much to split them. IFE on Virgin is good, but I think it has slipped a little.
Service on BA is subject to change with the wind these days. When it's good, I thoroughly enjoy it. That said, it can be hit & miss. I generally find a more cheery helpful team most consistently with Virgin.
All that said, however, given how 'much of a muchness' economy flying is, regardless of carrier, I'd say T5 is the dealbreaker tipping me in favour of a vote for BA.
996nick said:
I am thinking about Japan too - and would be interested in the view on Narita vs Haneda as well.
Its a long trip into Tokyo (on the back of a long flight!) from Narita, so Haneda seems a good bet.
The Narita Express train is very convenient and doesn't take long to get to central Tokyo. Its a long trip into Tokyo (on the back of a long flight!) from Narita, so Haneda seems a good bet.
There are various ways of getting in to the centre of Tokyo from Narita:
Airport Express Train, NEX, is clean and only stops a few times on the way in to the city. Costs about Y3000 and takes about an hour to Tokyo station area. This is a complete ballache if you are staying in Shibuya or Shinjuku as it is the wrong side of the city. You then have much fun on a local train/metro to get over there.
Local Train: If you get the Haneda express, you can get off pretty much anywhere on the east side of the city for about Y1200, takes about 90 minutes but again you are facing a change to get to the west side of the city.
Narita Limousine Bus: costs Y3000, takes about 90 minutes but if you are staying in one of the international hotels, provided you get the right one, will drop you outside the hotel door or within 5 minutes walk. This is what I use.
Taxi: don't even think about it.
Haneda: 20 minutes on a local train for Y400 but you are then looking at a metro ride from Shinagawa depending on where you are staying.
There is also the Limo bus from Haneda but I have never used it as I live a short taxi ride away from Shinagawa station. I gather the taxi is about Y4000 to the centre of the city but again, I have never done it.
For convenience, it is Haneda every time! It is a bit of a shame that the arrival times aren't great....
Airport Express Train, NEX, is clean and only stops a few times on the way in to the city. Costs about Y3000 and takes about an hour to Tokyo station area. This is a complete ballache if you are staying in Shibuya or Shinjuku as it is the wrong side of the city. You then have much fun on a local train/metro to get over there.
Local Train: If you get the Haneda express, you can get off pretty much anywhere on the east side of the city for about Y1200, takes about 90 minutes but again you are facing a change to get to the west side of the city.
Narita Limousine Bus: costs Y3000, takes about 90 minutes but if you are staying in one of the international hotels, provided you get the right one, will drop you outside the hotel door or within 5 minutes walk. This is what I use.
Taxi: don't even think about it.
Haneda: 20 minutes on a local train for Y400 but you are then looking at a metro ride from Shinagawa depending on where you are staying.
There is also the Limo bus from Haneda but I have never used it as I live a short taxi ride away from Shinagawa station. I gather the taxi is about Y4000 to the centre of the city but again, I have never done it.
For convenience, it is Haneda every time! It is a bit of a shame that the arrival times aren't great....
Tallow said:
If you don't have any frequent flyer status (and don't intend to), I'd go with Virgin. In flight entertainment is generally better in my expereience. Plus (more importantly in my opinion), the flight attendants are way hotter (i.e. not about 50).
If you're on a 747, try to book the window seat on the second to last row. There's a good bit more space that way due to the tapered rear of the aircraft. HTH.
Don't book right at the back on BA, we went on a family holiday to OZ and sat in the rear, well they ran out of drinks before they got to us, they ran out of food choices etc, then you get to hear the stewardesses eating their choice of food and enjoying a drink.If you're on a 747, try to book the window seat on the second to last row. There's a good bit more space that way due to the tapered rear of the aircraft. HTH.
GlenMH said:
Narita Limousine Bus: costs Y3000, takes about 90 minutes but if you are staying in one of the international hotels, provided you get the right one, will drop you outside the hotel door or within 5 minutes walk. This is what I use.
Been a while since I was out there, but would second this suggestion. Limo bus is dead easy to both find and use.
I flew out to Tokyo last September. I went with Virgin although on the way out it was on an ANA flight (Virgin codeshare) I found the service slightly better with ANA, and they dont charge to get an Emergency Exit seat. The in-flight entertainment systems werent quite as slick as Virgin, both in terms of variety of stuff to watch and useability/speed of the system. It wouldnt put me off going with them again though. On the return leg with Virgin it was the usual Virgin treatment.
Given the choice IMO Virgin everytime. Even though Narita is a fair way out its really not that much bother getting into Tokyo itself.
I think it was around an extra 400yen.
The NEX runs to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku + Yokohama.
Given the choice IMO Virgin everytime. Even though Narita is a fair way out its really not that much bother getting into Tokyo itself.
GlenMH said:
Airport Express Train, NEX, is clean and only stops a few times on the way in to the city. Costs about Y3000 and takes about an hour to Tokyo station area. This is a complete ballache if you are staying in Shibuya or Shinjuku as it is the wrong side of the city. You then have much fun on a local train/metro to get over there.
Glen, my hotel was in Shinjuku and I took the NEX right into Shinjuku station I think it was around an extra 400yen.The NEX runs to Tokyo Station, Shinjuku + Yokohama.
carreauchompeur said:
Woohoo! After much debate I've booked flights at the end of October. Interestingly Virgin actually went down slightly in price... So I went with them.
£546 return- Direct!
Suspect that actually staying there for 2 weeks will completely bankrupt me though
Where are you intending to stay ? Are you getting a Rail pass ?£546 return- Direct!
Suspect that actually staying there for 2 weeks will completely bankrupt me though
Have you checked Emirates into Kansai?
We flew with them a couple of years ago, and they were very good (IIRC paid about £500 each, but months in advance). Kansai is closer to Kyoto than Tokyo, but depending on what you've planned it might not be a problem. Landing 'on the water' is an interesting experience too...
We flew with them a couple of years ago, and they were very good (IIRC paid about £500 each, but months in advance). Kansai is closer to Kyoto than Tokyo, but depending on what you've planned it might not be a problem. Landing 'on the water' is an interesting experience too...
Didn't see the post above - does sound like a good price.
There's a few threads on Japan, and as you say Glen is a goldmine.
Personally, we found Tokyo to be TOO big, crowded and definitely a 'megalopolis'. 2 days there was enough for us, but we're not really city people. Seeing the neon stretching upwards and the subway commuters compressing inwards were experiences, but we couldn't live there. Kyoto by contrast was great...
Check if there are any 'matsuri' (traditional festivals) on while you're there - we were lucky enough to book our flights to coincide with the April Takayama matsuri (one of the bigger ones), and it was really interesting...rather kitsch in places, but so glad we went, plus we stayed in a ryokan while up in the hills, so had a properly authentic 2 days.
JR pass is SO worthwhile if you're planning on travelling. Look into 'takkayubin' also...overnight luggage forwarding.
Must-sees for us:-
- Horseback archery at one of the shrines in Kamakura (think 2x per month - worth checking out)
- Himeji castle
- Miyajima island
- Fushimi shrine (short trip - really just the Torii tunnel)
- Golden temple in Kyoto
There's a few threads on Japan, and as you say Glen is a goldmine.
Personally, we found Tokyo to be TOO big, crowded and definitely a 'megalopolis'. 2 days there was enough for us, but we're not really city people. Seeing the neon stretching upwards and the subway commuters compressing inwards were experiences, but we couldn't live there. Kyoto by contrast was great...
Check if there are any 'matsuri' (traditional festivals) on while you're there - we were lucky enough to book our flights to coincide with the April Takayama matsuri (one of the bigger ones), and it was really interesting...rather kitsch in places, but so glad we went, plus we stayed in a ryokan while up in the hills, so had a properly authentic 2 days.
JR pass is SO worthwhile if you're planning on travelling. Look into 'takkayubin' also...overnight luggage forwarding.
Must-sees for us:-
- Horseback archery at one of the shrines in Kamakura (think 2x per month - worth checking out)
- Himeji castle
- Miyajima island
- Fushimi shrine (short trip - really just the Torii tunnel)
- Golden temple in Kyoto
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