• Sake is typically sold at 15-18% alcohol. Thinks the strength of a sherry or a port or even a strong red wine. You can buy daiginjo and junmai daiginjo for as little as JPY3,000 

  • Whichever way you look at it , bonuses are useful. Whether you have the cash or a voucher, you will have to pay the going price for the trip you want to take. I have a $3,000 refund due for a trip to Japan. I wasn't offered a bonus so I took the cash. If I had been offered a $3,600 voucher I prob...

  • I am a platinum FF and cancelled a flight in early August with payment due by end September. It is still not there. I was not offered any incentive to take a voucher even though I asked. We now have flights to Santiago cancelled so I will be calling to request a refund and follow up previous refu...

  • The lounge in the main terminal is larger but sometimes busy. Most JAL flights leave from there so it is too far to go to the satellite terminal lounge (QF or JAL). If you can, arrive early - 3-4 pm as the crowds build up after that. Flying JAL, you can check in as early as you like. 

  • I think Michael must have had bad luck with JAL because my wife and I have flown with them to Europe and North America many times over 14 years. There has never been less than exemplary Japanese style service from check in, lounges - both business and first class and in-flight service. The fact t...

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  • Cash vs Travel Money Cards

    Jun 24, 2019, 03:44 PM

    There is no perfect answer but we have settled on 28 Degrees MasterCard for credit purchases and Citibank Debit MasterCard for cash withdrawals. We also have an HSBC Visa Debit card for cash mainly for use in Japan where you get 5% off for paying with Visa at some stores. It is also a good back u...

  • Cash vs Travel Money Cards

    Apr 10, 2019, 05:56 PM

    For some time now we have used 28 Degrees Mastercard for credit purchases with no fees and an exchange rate close to the published rates. Cash withdrawals are with Citibank debit Mastercard which also has no fees and a good exchange rate. We got an HSBC debit Visa card recently, which also has no...

  • For something different, try JAL. We flew to Moscow with them last year. You get a free night in Narita on the way and the seats, food and lounges are very good, particularly if you are Qantas Platinum. The fares are lower than any other One World or Star Alliance airline as well.

  • I have read elsewhere about people having trouble due to a credit card expiring between purchase and travel. Their tickets had to be reissued. In our case, we recently travelled by train in Germany and had prepaid using a credit card. The conductors checked my credit card and even swiped it throu...

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