Job Discussion Forums

[LITTLE PEACHES]

I'm very comfortable and knowledgable about the US flights and airlines who to fly and not to fly, whose always late or on time, and who has good or horrible service. BUT international flights I have no idea. I haven't flown internationally for almost 10 years and lots has changes. Any advice?? I'd like to book my flight to tokyo from LA this weekend. Thanks!

[Cool Teacher]

There are so many airelines I don't know where to being. Maybe you could tell us which ones you are offered and ask if they are okay in Japan some Japnese tell me they wont fly with chinese airlines whcih might be prejediced.

[Lyrajean]

I've done JAL ANA and China Airlines. I've had a fine experience on all three.

China is definitely the budget operation. They have the old terminals etc... And the food is not as good.

ANA is good all around. I've only used them for short in country hops Oki to Osaka.

JAL is the luxury option. The food was actually decent (even in economy)and the plane coming over from New York had one of those individual video viewing game things. Nothing is better on a 13 hour flight than endles majong. They had english subs on the Japanese and Korean flicks that you can't get on DVD. But you will pay! The tickets (we didn't pay this was through JET) were 1800dollars. The same trip on American cost 900dollars (It was stamped on the tickets).

If ticket prices were the same all the way around I would take JAL or ANA for all the tiny extras that make it better. But endless ocha refills are not worth 900dollars to get home!

As for bad experiences the only one I had was with a travel agent that took my money for a ticket and then promptly went bankrupt within a week and I lost 140,000yen on air tickets that was never paid to the airline. I only recouped 7000yen through bankruptcy. This was HIT. They are gone now.

[natsume]

JAL is above average, I enjoy it, but I would not call it "luxury", at least in coach. It also does not have to be that expensive. I flew to California last March for 960 round, using Expedia to book. It was the cheapest option given I couldn't be flexible with my dates/times. Still, I think a fair price.

JET flew us over from San Francisco on JAL, and I remember the tickets being around 1400. One way. No wonder BOEs are dropping the program.

Peaches, I would suggest taking a look at Expedia, and maybe shopping around your local travel agents, and doing an internet search for reviews if they come up with an airline you are not familar with.

[Zzonkmiles]

Look for IACE Travel. I don't remember their URL offhand, but a simple Google search should point you in the right direction. I've used them before. They specialize in travel to and from Japan.