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RandCiel
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Nishinasuno
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 Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject: Discount Airplane Tickets Companies? True or False? |
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At my school we get the English version of the Daily Yomiuri, and I often see advertisements for discount air travel companies. For example, there's Air 1 Travel, AirNetJapan, Hit Travel, Across-Travel, NO 1 Travel.
Has anyone used these services? Do they really have airfare this cheap, this close to the travel date? Is there some kind of run around they try to give you? Good experiences with one, bad experiences with others?
I'm returning to the states in April and need to get a ticket, though I don't care about any return dates of course, just as long as I can get one on the departure date I need. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Discount Airplane Tickets Companies? True or False? |
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| RandCiel wrote: |
At my school we get the English version of the Daily Yomiuri, and I often see advertisements for discount air travel companies. For example, there's Air 1 Travel, AirNetJapan, Hit Travel, Across-Travel, NO 1 Travel.
Has anyone used these services? Do they really have airfare this cheap, this close to the travel date? Is there some kind of run around they try to give you? Good experiences with one, bad experiences with others?
I'm returning to the states in April and need to get a ticket, though I don't care about any return dates of course, just as long as I can get one on the departure date I need. |
I use HIS travel with no problems. i have booked a ticket to London next month. You can choose the stopovers or direct flight.
If you book and pay for the ticket within three or four working days the cheaper the ticket becomes. A lot will depend on the airline and whether a seat is available. If they can make a booking and you can pay for it straight away, paid for two months in advance you will get some discount. Usually you can not change the ticket or dates once you have paid for it. The longer you leave it the more it will be for you.
PS It depends on when you fly too, as April is the beiginning of the new school year and airlines will have a lot of seats available at that time. Low season, you might say at its better to sell at a loss than with empty seats. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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The prices ARE as advertised... BUT... The actual numbers of seats for that particular flight they are advertising in the paper is VERY limited.... Which means, 90% chance that when you phone to book a ticket "as seen in the Daily Yomiuri" they will likely tell you it's already been sold out at that price, and try to get you to book a ticket at a slightly higher price...
Also, always remember... THE TICKET PRICES ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER GENERALLY DO NOT INCLUDED TAXES..... So you must add about 10,000 yen to anything you see listed. So even if you get the newspaper-advertised price, that's NOT the price you will pay...
Just booked tickets to Canada (for a 10 day visit) in March/April.... Used STA travel in Tokyo, and paid 74,000 (tax incl.) round trip 10 days fixed. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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The best place I ever found to check out air fares was
http://abroad.travel.yahoo.co.jp/air/
if you can read a bit of katakana and a few place names in Japan in Kanji.
Find your continent, find your country, find your city, choose your departure city etc and it will give you calendars listing the cheapest prices for up to three months in advance for every single day of the week. It was fantastically easy to find out exactly when prices rise and fall and also to find the numbers of agents who often had someone who spoke a bit of English to help book the cheapest tickets there.
A Japanese friend could really help you here if you are struggling but it is well worth it. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| shmooj wrote: |
The best place I ever found to check out air fares was
http://abroad.travel.yahoo.co.jp/air/
if you can read a bit of katakana and a few place names in Japan in Kanji.
Find your continent, find your country, find your city, choose your departure city etc and it will give you calendars listing the cheapest prices for up to three months in advance for every single day of the week. It was fantastically easy to find out exactly when prices rise and fall and also to find the numbers of agents who often had someone who spoke a bit of English to help book the cheapest tickets there.
A Japanese friend could really help you here if you are struggling but it is well worth it. |
Yep, AB road has the cheapest fares I've seen. It may also be worth trying the websites of the airlines themselves. I scored a cheap fare to London with Air France that way. |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I've used No. 1 Travel, and HIS Travel, and both were great. I am picky about the airline I fly on (I won't fly on Korea Air), and these companies had the best to offer for prices on companies I will fly on (Singapore Air, JAL, ANA). I flew at peak season on Singapore from Narita to LAX for $800. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Just curious, why not Korean? |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:10 am Post subject: |
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| Sweetsee wrote: |
| Just curious, why not Korean? |
Yeah, especially as JAL, who you will fly on, hold the world record for the number of dead in a single plane crash  
Not that I rate Korean highly for service anyway... Cathay Pacific if money was not an option... |
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RandCiel
Joined: 24 Sep 2004
Posts: 9
Location: Nishinasuno
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:26 am Post subject: |
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Well, I've called No 1 Travel, but I have a few questions. They say I have to pay by bank transfer, has anyone done this before? Can you give me any tips on this process? Will I need to bring someone Japanese with me (I can speak it at an intermediate level.)
Also, does anyone know where I can find out where the nearest place is to get a re-entry permit? I'm in northern Tochigi, if anyone else has had to find one in that area.
Thanks for all the help so far guys. It's been an immense aid in my travel planning. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| shmooj wrote: |
| Sweetsee wrote: |
| Just curious, why not Korean? |
Yeah, especially as JAL, who you will fly on, hold the world record for the number of dead in a single plane crash
Not that I rate Korean highly for service anyway... Cathay Pacific if money was not an option... |
Korean were a bit dodgy a while back but seemed to have lifted their game in the last few years from what I've heard. Cathay are good too. |
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Nismo
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, Korean air was getting horrible reviews in terms of service and flight standard. This was a year ago that I was doing the research. Singapore airlines was only $100 USD more and is rated at 5 star service. The flight was enjoyable. |
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chixdiggit
Joined: 21 May 2003
Posts: 60
Location: ROK
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: |
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I agree that Korean Air is a bit dodgy. Singapore Airlines First Class product is amazing, a vacation in itself. Coach class can also be good depending on the flight crew. Cathay is a great product overall. At 6'3 I find Japanese airlines coach class too cramped although ANA's new first class suite is incredible.
As for No.1 Travel, you get what you pay for. They have some great agents and some space cadets working there. The bank transfer is simple if you can read a little kanji, if not just get the dude/lady standing in the foyer to help you. That's what they're there for. What I didn't like about the discount services is that they have group check-ins and you have to check in at a certain time. I like my travel experiences to be as smooth as possible without any of the discount restraints. Also, the low fares greatly reduce your chances of being upgraded. I think it's worth it to book directly with your airline of choice on their website, even if you spend a little more to do so.
Good luck.
Chix |
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Mike L.
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 519
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 4:56 am Post subject: |
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| Air India must be the most pathetic excuse of an airline I've ever flown on. |
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johanne
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:58 am Post subject: |
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| Have you even flown Cubana Air? The whole flight from Cuba to Montreal had smoke coming out of the cieling - apparently from an air conditioner on the blitz, they said, but who needs an air conditioner at 10,000 feet. Perhaps they meant the air circulation, but I didn't really want to know. I just looked forward to landing. |
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homersimpson
Joined: 14 Feb 2003
Posts: 569
Location: Kagoshima
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:02 am Post subject: |
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China Airlines (Taiwan) tops my list of airlines to avoid. Not to be too grim, but to get a lowdown on airline safety, check out:
www.airsafe.com |
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