Loved this style of vlog! It’s very informative and entertaining. Also love seeing your interactions with Tiffany! My bf and I have learned so much from you and appreciate the work you do! It’s actually because of you that he was able to fly to Japan last month with points and finally live out his dream of snowboarding in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Can’t wait to see more from you!
My man rocking a rolex with Tiffany’s Hermes and Rimowa. You should do a video about whats in your luggage and traveling camera gear. ❤ where you got the hoodie sweater from? Also you should make a video about japan in general. For example where to visit for each purposes. Like where to stay if you like to ski, or just wandering around the city, or where to see cherry blossoms, or just for instagram. If u have time of course
Max, this was a great video! Informative but also interesting. Great editing too!!! Keep ‘em coming! I love that you explained how you booked your flight. And also how you shipped your bags, booked your train ride and even your hotel. Very very useful information. 😊
Thanks for being my inspiration! Scored biz reward tickets outbound from SEA to Tokyo via EVA Air and back home via ANA for my wife and I this November. Couldn't have done it without your Aeroplan vid- I think I found my new favorite Chase transfer partner! Great video as always! Looking forward to more Japan themed ones... And praying Andaz Tokyo opens more award space closer to our trip!
super cool video, and great content as always. recently booked my first ANA awards flight through virgin atlantic and couldn't have done it without your videos
So awesome! Can't wait to to do this, this summer!! SFO - NRT, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Hubby and one kid on the SFO - HND flight... That outdoor patio is bonkers!! Thank you for sharing!!
Unfortunately it wasn't The Room! How far in advance did you book for 4 seats, or did you only do award tickets for a couple? And of course - more travel vlogs!
If I could find 4 award seats in The Room I would’ve booked that. I booked these about 3 weeks before departure. I booked all four seats with points. Two seats via air canada aeroplan for 75k + $50 each one way The other two seats via virgin Atlantic for 45k + ~$450 in taxes and fees each one way I explain it a bit in this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Zw8Q5IsTtIU.html
haha the regular TSA line at LAX was long too. I even considered booking a Southwest ticket (with PreCheck) to get through security and then cancel my ticket for a refund. That's how long it was. In the end, I didn't and just waited it out, it was painful.
What do you do for a living? I noticed the Submariner, I dig it. I also enjoyed this video. We're looking to take an ANA flight from LAX to SGN (Ho Chi Minh) down the road. I saw 2 business class seats for 200,000 miles.
Your vid was clear and concise. I appreciate your time and effort. What's your experience for last minute flights opening up during the holiday season (Xmas - 1st week in January)? Don't mind repositioning flights. Just need a lie flat seat for the long haul flight overseas.
This is so cool! We're heading to Japan in May in economy but are crossing our fingers hoping we can find more availability for ANA biz on the return trip. Also I love your video setup. What camera are you using to shoot with?
Thanks for this and all your super informative videos! Two questions.. did you buy a pocket WiFi or SIM cards for your phones prior to travel? Also, did you exchange for Yen before you left home? I’d appreciate any insight, thanks! I couldn’t find a preparing for Japan trip video but it could be really helpful for first time visitors to Japan like myself. Thanks so much!
You're videos really inspire me, very informative and inspiring. I saw on your Instagram that you book domestic flights in Japan too, we are going to Japan this June and I would like to book a flight from HND to ITM (Osaka) but I can't figure out how. Did you book your domestic flight in Japan using JAL website? Thank you!
Since JAL is a OneWorld airline that means you can book JAL flights through American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific etc. Amex points transfers to British Airways and Cathay . Chase transfers to British airways
Any reason why you didn’t use virgin miles instead of Aeroplan to book the tickets which would’ve saved some miles? I’d be guessing that availability on aeroplan would also be availability on virgin. Thanks.
Just came across your channel and have been binge watching your videos. I've been a part of the credit card game for a couple years now but I never really knew much about booking business class flights on one Airline through a partner airline to get a Redemption rate. Watching your step-by-step process has definitely helped me up as I'm trying to eventually travel to Japan myself. Appreciate all the content you've made man. What are the make/model of the suitcases you were using @ 0:20 ??
I just came to tokyo myself. Flew in ANA business class in the room from Chicago to Haneda. Great seats and service. I believe with your flight you could have used the newer United Polaris Lounge which is much better than the Star Alliance lounge but it is in another terminal… not sure if it’s connected to Bradley international terminal. BTW O’hare is a terrible airport and no true international terminal. Terminal 5 is a joke
I can normally find ANA award space 355 days out in SAS's website. But I don't know of a way to book it, by the time it is on UA or AC website it's sold. Any suggestions Max?
Headed there in Sept! We had booked ANA business w/points but found that the schedule didn't work for us so we canceled and rebooked with United Polaris for our Outbound. While I'm seeing that there may be some differences in the hard product and probably soft products / food, we'll def get lots of Japanese food while there. Our return is booked on JAL and again, I'm fine with that. Looking forward with the next few posts so we can get some tips and recommendations!
Nice! We flew JAL on the way back, so that's in an upcoming blog. United Polaris has a good hard product, but I don't think their soft product can even come close to any of the Asian carriers.
Thank you for sharing we really enjoying your video ! What kind of cell phone plan are you using for Japan ? Can you tell more details about how to book with the points and how far ahead of the time and when is the best time to book. And how to contact and deal with Air Canada customer service if I have problem with my flight I heard they are not very helpful 😢😅
Hi there! I’m going to be traveling in ANA business with my boyfriend. I noticed you and Tiffany booked 2 seats one in front of another. Would you recommend this for couples over the two in the middle (I know it’s separated by tables). Thank you!
Trying to get a flight from Bali > Japan! Struggling to find a good route. We found on ANA but there's about $700 in fees. Any suggestions for a good route? Thanks!
Hi Max. Does ANA release different seats for different partner? I saw a seat same day same flight in business ANA but Aeroplan shows 1 seat left while ANA website still showing plenty. Can I call VA and get one seat on hold and check if I can book another seat with AC just to be sure?
If I plan to fly to Tokyo but flying back from Osaka, this would be multicity trip. Would you recommend splitting it into two one way itineraries? Just in case I need to change in the future?
@@MaxMilesPoints Took the bus from Shinjuku Hilton to Narita. Cost $35 took just over 2 hours in peak traffic. I assume it will be about the same from Tokyo station. Will be back in September I will probably take the bus again
@@SHELTECH4 Thanks for sharing! You would take the bus over the Narita Express? The Narita Express from Shinjuku is cheaper than $35 and takes about an hour and a half.
@@MaxMilesPoints Yeah the Narita express is cheaper. But I like how the bus picks you up at the major hotels, puts your luggage away and shorten your time walking to stations. Especially in the early morning. We travel with alot of luggage so its easier for us
Award availability is tough to find for ANA flights. You either need to book far out in advance like 10+ months or last minute like 2-3 weeks before departure
@@320shade the problem is finding award availability for the return ticket at the time of booking. And if you book round trip you need to pay taxes on both segments. So instead of around $380 for one way ticket in taxes and fees you’ll have to pay double even if you plan on skipping the return flight
Hey bro, thanks for your videos I was able to book myself and hubby same 75k x2+ $150 tomorrow from IAH-HND. I had one issue. I am having trouble checking in via air Canada app 24 hrs in and have been on hold on the phone forever to check whether i should show up at ANA or check in with air Canada ticketing prior? Hope to get a response before we head to the airport. Thanks
Awesome! Take the confirmation number air Canada provided and checkin via ANA’s website. Also make sure to fill out immigrations paperwork online to expedite the arrivals process vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/
@@MaxMilesPoints thanks max, I actually couldn't use the same conf from AC to the ana website. We just checked in at the ANA ticketing and it was rather smooth. I'm responding to this as we're flying and the experience has been nothing short of outstanding. The service, quality of food and product lived up to its hype. Thanks for the recom
I'm new to this travel miles using points, never used them b4. I have points with capital one venture and looking to book a trip from PDX to Vietnam with hopeflly a long layover in Japan for my daughter's18 bday in this summer in August. But man finding a good deal for 4ppl is not easy coz unfortunately our dates are not flexible. if anyone any tips on how tonget a good deal much is appreciated.
Hey! We didn't, we dropped our car off at a relative that lives in the area and they took us to the airport. If you sign-up for LAX parking email list sometimes they send out 15-20% off coupons.
I can’t recommend the Flyaway enough if you’re near Van Nuys or Union Station! Cheap long term parking and the shuttle bus that takes you to the airport feels faster than if you would drive yourself.
@@MaxMilesPoints im thinking maybe i could transfer my chase points to virgin atlantic. but the only thing is that when im looking at ANA website it says “wait list” do u know what it means?
@@MaxMilesPoints Hi. What happens if only one leg of the round trip is confirmed by Ana? Would they cancel the both flight sine one is still waitlisted?
Sad how you fly biz class for effectively free and then have issues booking two hotel rooms at a 5 star hotel for cash. I do not understand this fake it till i make it lifestyle where you fly first class and biz class for “free” thx to getting tons of cards and points and then when u get there and there is no awards hotels and u have to pay cash you go for the horrible 2-3 star accomodation. If u fly biz and 1st class u should have the money to live up to the class. 5 star hotels, taxi from airport, private tours and excursions.
