Flight

Hey guys... I've been looking at some flights today and have found out that they're all DAMN EXPENSIVE. Being told that Japanese airlines are better in general, I first checked out ANA (All Nippon Airlines) and then I checked out United to see if there was much of a price difference. There's not. Here's what I did:


Depart: Dulles (IAD) March 24, 2008
Arrive: Narita, Tokyo (TYO) March 25, 2008
Depart: Narita August 2, 2008
Arrive: Dulles August 2, 2008


ANA Economy Class Roundtrip: $2,867.40
United Economy Class Roundtrip: $1,916.50
ANA Business Class Roundtrip: $10,171.40
United Business Class Roundtrip: $10,368.50


As you can see, there's an absurd difference between the economy and business class. My parents told me that they recommended business for some reason, but I definitely agree with them when they say that flying business isn't worth a semester of school. Dulles does have a few other airlines departing for Japan that day including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International, but I didn't check their prices or anything.


Thus, I'll be doing an economy class flight. If you all are down with that, let's schedule our flights together. Otherwise, I guess I'll be flying out of Norfolk International by my lonesome =(:::


Soshite, there's about a $200 difference in leaving/arriving on a Thursday compared to a Friday, and an even larger difference compared to a Saturday. August 2nd is unfortunately a Saturday, so we could get cheaper rates leaving on the 1st and even CHEAPER leaving on the 31st. The 31st is in fact the start of break, but would it be too much of a hassle to end exams on the 30th and go straight home right afterwards? We could always leave on Monday, too...


I'm about to call them and see what their carry-on size is and if they have any instrument protection policies or something... although I'm 95% positive they don't since neither of my teachers have told me about ANY airlines that do...


Update: ... and indeed! No one supports instruments larger than 22 inches (my saxophone is a whopping 32... even the alto is 26 or so), so I guess I'm going to buy that $400 case and hope for the best for my poor wittle horn : ( (the agony...!) So, I'm game for any airline... especially ANA.