Job Discussion Forums

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

I want to book a flight to Melbourne out of Nagoya or Osaka next month and want to do some shopping around, so any suggestions on websites and/or travel agents.

Yes, I have done a search but I really have better things to do than sift thru 500 unrelated posts

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:38 am Post subject: Re: alternatives to No. 1 Travel

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 4:44 am Post subject: Re: alternatives to No. 1 Travel

wolfman · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 189

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Well, at least it shows SOME effort on the part of an OP if he/she says that they've already tried searching...

On the other hand, it's hard to teach a man to fish when he doesn't have a rod, and doesn't know where to buy one or how to build one.... Perhaps what the world needs is not people teaching men how to fish, but start with the basics, like "how to build a rod 101".

Anyway, metaphors aside, I suppose it comes easy to me, as I've studied the workings of search engines quite extensively. I even offered a mini-course when I was teaching Internet skills at a college -- How to use a search engine effectively. It was fairly basic stuff, but many people have never even heard the expression "Boolean logic" -- something on which many search engines are based.

OP: I did a search for travel agencies on Dave's and came up with 13 results (as opposed to 500) -- which are probably fairly relevant... But I also don't feel like wading through them to find the best bargain company for you.... But I WILL tell you how I whittled it down to 13 results...

As search terms I used: travel agency flight
Underneath that I selected: Search for all terms (as opposed to Search for any terms or use query as entered). This puts the word "AND" in between your search terms, narrowing things a lot more than the word "OR".

Then, underneath that, I narrowed the search field to the Japan forum only -- lest I come up with Thai-based or China-based companies...

That's it.... Hope that helps.

Just as an additional FYI though, I've been using www.ab-road.net to search for Japanese travel agencies that advertise the lowest fares to any given location. They are not a travel agency themselves, but they provide you with links to them. And guess what? No.1/HIS or any of the ones you see in the Daily Yomiuri are NOWHERE to be seen on the list... Having booked a flight to visit Canada this Christmas, I can safely say that the ones advertised in the newspaper can't even compete with the small mom & pop shops I've found on AB-Road. Disclaimer: Most of these small agencies don't have an English-speaker on staff, so please be prepared to deal with them entirely in Japanese, or have someone who can speak reasonably well help you out with the call.

Hope that helps.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Thank you gentlemen I have gone back and got lucky with a search of "airline tickets" not "travel agencies" sometimes I think the search function here is less 'search engine' more 'needle in haystack actualizer'

Any other suggestions beside IACE, A'cross and Hit travel

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

japan_01 · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gifu Ken

I have found that No.1's father company (H.I.S) is cheaper.
Go to www.his.co.jp and click on the NAGOYA tab.

Also, if you are travelling with someone else (2 or more)
I REALLY REALLY REALLY recommend Toraberu kochan.
Have a look at www1.tour.ne.jp (All Japanese) and check out the prices.
The price includes hotel accommodation but is often cheaper than purchasing a ticket alone.
For example, a 5 day package from Tokyo to Sydney is 64,800yen including flights and accomodation. You may be able to find a cheap domestic flight from Sydney to Melbourne. Just an idea anywhere. Good LUCK!

ndorfn · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 126

try STA travel, they can respond to emails in english.

also, if you can read a bit of the local lingo, try the travel section of yahoo japan.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

I bookmarked this page awhile ago....glad it came in handy.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=41971

J. · Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 327

I also have had it with No.1, so looked around for another convenient place. I found Legend Travel. They have a woman who speaks excellent English, all our correspondence was by email, and I got an e-ticket with web check in. I was also satisfied with the price and politeness, service I got there. Couldn't have been more convenient, as I also paid by bank transfer. No picking the ticket up at the airport at the last minute as No 1 makes you do ( when you're in a hurry). And with the web check in from my home the prevoius day, I was able to get there a bit later and breeze right through. I am recommending that you check out Legend if you haven't already found an agency. I will stick with them for my next trip.

http://www.legendtravel.co.jp/

earthmonkey · Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 188 Location: Meguro-Ku Tokyo

I've used this company. It was pretty good. They are in Tokyo, but it's e-ticketing, so you don't need to go there.

http://www.airnetjapan.com/index2.php

japan_01 · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: Gifu Ken

[/quote]
Not a bad suggestion... However I usually find those hotel/air packages too good to be true... I just checked ab-road and without accommodations, you're looking at 40,000 (compared to 68400) and that's directly from Nagoya to Melbourne (without having to look for a cheap domestic from Sydney). Any time I see some of these "hotel specials" deals -- I get VERY skeptical of them... I also went to look at 1.tour to see what Edmonton at Christmas would cost me -- 243,000 yen! Ouch! I'm paying about 85,000.

I do think that HIS and No.1 should be avoided as a matter of principle for illegally discriminating against non-Japanese customers and jacking the prices accordingly.[/quote]

Toraberu Kochan is a cheap, trusted travel agent that many Japanese people use. I was recommended the company by many of my Japanese friends. However, it is really not suitable for 1 person. You need 2 people to get the full benefits.