Why Fukuoka?

Because Saver redemptions to Tokyo and Osaka are crazy and Fukuoka was the best chance at a round trip J, with ex-SIN being immediately available for confirmation while we waitlisted the return.

Well, at least that’s what I thought 4 months ago.

This was a family trip so semi-splurge was the way to go this time. And we figured it’ll be fun since all of us hasn’t been to this birthplace of the Tonakatsu ramen.

FLIGHTS

On depart, Singapore Airline only offers 1 flight a day to and fro Fukuoka so not that we had much choice. Being a red eye ex-SIN, we needed the flight to be comfortable for the parent hence business it is.

Singapore Airlines

The flight will be a Boeing 787-10 so same as what I just took for my Xi-an trip and we successfully redeemed Savers for SIN-FUK with the return sector on waitlist (parent’s ticket was a cash J).

After what seemed like a gazillion years for our FUK-SIN waitlist to clear, it didn’t. Haiz.

By then, a one-way economy ticket on SQ was almost $1.3k (!!) so I researched on my options to get back to Singapore and eventually settled on the below due to convenience, costs, and fun.

China Airlines

So it will be China Airlines’s Airbus A330-300’s economy which will get me out of Fukuoka – its a 2hour flight and not on Star Alliance but it was one of the cheapest way to get out. Not expecting much from this flight and not even sure if I’ll get enough materials to do a post on its own so let’s see!

EVA Air

I’d stay one night in Taipei before hopping on Eva Air’s Boeing 777-300ER in business – this was a ‘reasonably’ priced flight and I’m excited to try out the airline’s J for the first time! I took the same route on Starlux last year so it’ll be interesting to compare these well-known competitors.

HOTELS

Ritz Carlton Fukuoka (website)

For choice of hotels, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me when I saw the 1-year old Ritz Carlton Fukuoka. At its eye watering price for 3pax in a club room, to say I have high expectations is an understatement. Its rather central location is a bonus and yay to free flow sake and bubbles soon!

Hotel Oriental Express Fukuoka Nakasu Kawabata (website)

And because RC is so expensive, we decided to downgrade to a local hotel for the later part of the trip – having no club access will also mean getting a chance to actually try some local street food and if not, not overeat and drink after the indulgence at RC. 3pax in a room in a Japanese hotel can be really tough to figure out so after much research, I landed on this property booking a total of 2 separate rooms. This 3-yr old property turned out some rather decent reviews so I think we will survive!

Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (website)

For my one night layover in Taipei before heading back to Singapore, I decided to just chillax in this spot purely for convenience and rest. Extra Accor nights and points wouldnt hurt too as am striving to get back my Platinum if possible.

AIRPORT LOUNGES

With this trip, I’ll have the chance to try some new airport lounges which I’ve never stepped into – yay. I will skip a review of SQ’s SilverKris Lounges at T2 since things have not changed much.

Fukuoka Airport

Lounge Fukuoka

This is a Priority Pass Lounge and also a Star Aliance Gold lounge and while it does not seem particularly exciting spot, it is worth a drop by still I guess.

Taoyuan International Airport

This is the more exciting part of the trip for airport lounges as Eva Air has a total of 4 lounges in their homeground airport so the aim is to check out as many as my business class (and time) ticket will allow.

The Infinity (website) – for BR Royal Laurel / Premium Laurel / Business Class and Star Alliance First/Business Class travelers.

The Star (website) – for BR Infinity MileageLands – Gold card and Star Alliance – Gold card members travelling on Star Alliance flights .

The Club (website)- For BR Infinity MileageLands – Silver card members booking and travelling on EVA AIR or UNI AIR flights + Star Alliance – Gold card members travelling on Star Alliance flights.

The 4th lounge, The Garden (website), is only accessible to BR Infinity MileageLands – Diamond card members travelling on EVA AIR、UNI AIR or Star Alliance flights so no go for now.

As Star Alliance Gold, there is also the Oriental Club Lounge (website) but with the above lounge hop attempts for my flight departing at 0950, let’s see if I can squeeze this in too.

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Final Itenary:

• Singapore Airlines SQ656 Singapore – Fukuoka [Business]
• The Ritz Carlton Fukuoka
• Hotel Oriental Express Fukuoka Nakasu Kawabata
• Lounge Fukuoka
• China Airlines CI111 Fukuoka – Taipei [Economy]
• Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport
• Eva Lounge Safari
• Eva Air BR215 Taipei – Singapore [Business]