First-class travel on Japan’s airlines has just gotten a whole lot more enticing for whiskey aficionados, Bloomberg reports.
ANA Holdings Inc. and Japan Airlines Co. are now offering limited-edition bottles of Suntory’s Hibiki 100th anniversary whisky at a relatively reasonable price, creating a buzz amongst travelers and savvy collectors.
The rare bottles, available exclusively for duty-free purchase on first-class flights, are highly sought-after items that often command much higher prices in liquor stores and online marketplaces.
ANA is selling its bottles for ¥50,000 ($330), while Japan Airlines is offering theirs for ¥60,000. To prevent hoarding, both airlines limit sales to one bottle per person.
This unexpected opportunity to snag a coveted whisky at a bargain price has sparked a frenzy on internet flier forums. Travel writer Ben Schlappig, writing on his blog, highlights the arbitrage opportunity presented by this limited-edition offering. Hibiki bottles, produced by Suntory Spirits Ltd. (part of Suntory Holdings Ltd.), can fetch around ¥150,000 online and even more in the US and Europe.
While a first-class ticket from Tokyo Haneda to Los Angeles on ANA can cost around ¥1.5 million, the potential profit from reselling the Hibiki bottle could offer a small offset to the hefty price tag.
