Job Discussion Forums

[spidr245]

I was looking for cheap flights, and it turned out the round trip flights always tend to be cheaper than the one-way flights. Is there any real penalty for not using the return half? Some say yes and some say no.

Friends are saying they do this all the time (and the Korean Airlines even suggest this method). I'm just a little confused on the matter so I'm just wondering if any of you have done this before, or if you could give any advice.

(I'm leaving and don't plan on coming back to Japan, in case that matters.)

[Kaycie21]

I have done the same thing before a few times, never got into any trouble. Also if you want cheaper flights out of Japan, I suggest having someone book from outside of japan and paying for you first.

For instance, if your going to Los angeles, california... have someone book a flight from NRT -> LAX round trip, itll usually be cheaper. I found this to be about 10000 yen cheaper, plus your paying in usa dollar instead of yen.

[seklarwia]

You shouldn't have a problem with the airlines; once you have paid for the tickets, they are yours to use (or not use).
Empty seats that have been paid for = greater profit for the airlines (since they don't have to pay for the fuel to carry you and your luggage nor the costs to feed you). Besides all airlines over book flights for just this reason (no shows/late passengers) and even if they have extra seats, they normally flog them to any standby passengers for an additional profit. So don't worry about the airlines.

But will Japanese check-in staff give you some strange looks or ask questions if your visa is ending before the return flight?
Just asking because every single check in staff I've dealt with in Narita has scrutinised my passport stamps when they saw I had a return ticket.

[Inflames]

It shouldn't be a problem for you; however, if a travel agency consistently has people who do this it will be a problem for them (they'll get hit with a "debit memo" for various amounts).

One-way tickets to Japan are cheaper than return tickets; however, from Japan, the opposite is true.

[spidr245]

So I guess it really is just a matter of what I do then.

@ seklarwia
I guess I should be a little worried about looks being given to me. (Not that it'll matter too much...maybe.) I'll have this round-trip ticket and no re-entry stamps in my passport. They might find that strange.

And well, my wife (not Japanese, nor American) is going back with me to the states, and she'll have a VISA for entry into the US, but alas, the same kind of round-trip ticket (despite us not coming back.)

I think one of the gates (Japanese or American, most likely American) might give one of us (or both) a hard time.