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CarolinaBen
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 78
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 Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 5:53 am Post subject: Discount Airfare ---- USA to Japan |
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I was wondering if anyone knows a good website for discount airfare between the USA and Japan. The one way flights I have priced on Kayak.com seem really expensive.
For example, A one-way flight from Raleigh, NC to Okayama, Japan is $1,400 in May. However, a one-way flight from Raleigh, NC to Tokyo is $750. It looks as if I would be better off flying to Tokyo and taking high speed rail into Okayama.
Any advice on discount airfare websites? |
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Asher
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I've always gone through Expedia and never had a problem. You might check Travelocity, but in my experience if they list the same airlines, they list the same prices.
Check prices on Mondays and Tuesdays. I've always had luck on Tuesdays and just recently I was able to get a one-way to Narita for 860 on JAL that was listed on a Monday. It had been around 1140 for about a month, so I bought that one as soon as it was posted.
I wouldn't recommend buying tickets on a weekend or less than a month out. Airlines price tickets according to who they think you are and why you are flying.
IIRC, Kayak lists more airlines, but the price doesn't include the taxes and fees until you actually go to check out. |
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inuzuki8605
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 98
Location: America
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Hey! I'm flying out of RDU to Tokyo on March 26th with Air Canada for $569 One Way. Here is the site I went on.
http://www.exploretrip.com
I just looked and they still have really cheap flights now. Good Luck!! |
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jazznfox
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Headed to Hiroshima here. Where are you doing your training? It might be cheaper to fly to a major city instead of a smaller one and take the train to your final destination. I didn't even know Okayama had an airport. Another option would be to fly into Osaka and possibly take local rail vs high speed rail to Okayama. The Shinkansen is not cheap and is over 100 dollars a pop to ride between cities.
A one way flight from where I live to Hiroshima was 940 dollars once you added all the taxes and fares. It was only a 30 dollar difference to keep going all the way through to Hiroshima vs flying into Tokyo or Osaka and taking the train to my final destination. But Hiroshima is also a large city and I think its a sizable regional airport. |
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mburgstall001
Joined: 04 Dec 2010
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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I have found great deals using this travel agency:
http://www.iace-usa.com/
The service is also really good. Just call them and ask them about any specials they have for your situation. Last year I did round trip to Tokyo during golden week for $650 from Los Angeles (the deal apparently also applied to the east coast). I got a decent one way price from them too for my upcoming teaching work. |
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Great Teacher Umikun
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 63
Location: Back in Japan
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| If you come without a visa, like I did just recently, you�ll need a round-tripper or, if you have a one-way, an outbound ticket. I bought an outbound on CheapOair from Narita to Kennedy, but it got cancelled after I arrived in Japan. CheapOair requires verification for tickets purchased on a non-US credit card. My Turkish ex-employer bought the ticket on his card with a cash reimbursement from me. |
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inuzuki8605
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 98
Location: America
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| Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Great Teacher Umikun wrote: |
| If you come without a visa, like I did just recently, you�ll need a round-tripper or, if you have a one-way, an outbound ticket. I bought an outbound on CheapOair from Narita to Kennedy, but it got cancelled after I arrived in Japan. CheapOair requires verification for tickets purchased on a non-US credit card. My Turkish ex-employer bought the ticket on his card with a cash reimbursement from me. |
Did you get the money back when it got cancelled? |
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jazznfox
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:30 am Post subject: |
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| Anyone here buy your plane ticket before getting your CoE? I'm nervous about purchasing my ticket until I get the CoE. It should arrive any day now. I'm going to give it until Friday before I bite the bullet and buy a plane ticket to Japan while the final price (inclusive of taxes and fees) is still under 1000 dollars. |
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Tuan
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| mburgstall001 wrote: |
I have found great deals using this travel agency:
http://www.iace-usa.com/
The service is also really good. Just call them and ask them about any specials they have for your situation. Last year I did round trip to Tokyo during golden week for $650 from Los Angeles (the deal apparently also applied to the east coast). I got a decent one way price from them too for my upcoming teaching work. |
iace is really good when their promotions are in full swing. I usually have a hard time calling in during the promotions period because they get swamped on the lines.
It has been my experience to be a lot cheaper to fly into Narita and then take the trains to your destination. The last time I went I flew into Narita and then took the Shinkansen to Utsunomiya for business. I'll be flying into Haneda this time around as they recently opened up an international terminal last October. Haneda is actually located in Tokyo so it will be an improvement to Narita. |
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CarolinaBen
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 78
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:33 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone for the great advice.............It looks like I am getting way better deals flying into Tokyo, and then using some other sort of transport to get to Okayama. That is where my training is. Thanks for the advice on local rail being cheaper that high speed rail.
I'm not sure how easy it will be to purchase a rail ticket, with barely any japanese language ability. |
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Tuan
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| CarolinaBen wrote: |
Thanks everyone for the great advice.............It looks like I am getting way better deals flying into Tokyo, and then using some other sort of transport to get to Okayama. That is where my training is. Thanks for the advice on local rail being cheaper that high speed rail.
I'm not sure how easy it will be to purchase a rail ticket, with barely any japanese language ability. |
It's not too hard without Japanese, Google Maps will help a lot. Here is a link of what I just did with your destinations.
Without using high speed rail:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Narita+International+Airport,+Japan&daddr=Okayama,+Okayama+Prefecture,+Japan&hl=en&geocode=FXDcIQIdlCdeCClzdMU3dvMiYDHG9iJV7mkNcA%3BFarLEAIdDnP7BylPoPsvcQVUNTFmV2lgJoDDEA&mra=ls&ttype=dep&date=02%2F16%2F11&time=9:00am&noexp=1&noal=1&sort=num&sll=35.191767,137.142334&sspn=5.70903,7.547607&ie=UTF8&ll=35.218697,137.142334&spn=5.70714,7.547607&z=7&start=0
With high speed rail:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Narita+International+Airport,+Japan&daddr=Okayama,+Okayama+Prefecture,+Japan&hl=en&geocode=FXDcIQIdlCdeCClzdMU3dvMiYDHG9iJV7mkNcA%3BFarLEAIdDnP7BylPoPsvcQVUNTFmV2lgJoDDEA&mra=ls&ttype=dep&date=02%2F16%2F11&time=9:00am&noexp=0&noal=1&sort=num&sll=35.218697,137.142334&sspn=5.70714,7.547607&ie=UTF8&ll=35.218697,137.142334&spn=5.70714,7.547607&z=7&start=0 |
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wayne432
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 255
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| CarolinaBen wrote: |
| I'm not sure how easy it will be to purchase a rail ticket, with barely any japanese language ability. |
Super easy. Once you're in Tokyo, just head to one of the JR offices for ticket purchases (big green sign that says JR) around one of the bigger stations (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, etc).
Even if it's in English (maybe make it simple English). Just tell them you want a ticket to Okayama, one way. They might ask you some questions (not hard) and then they'll plot everything out and give you the times.
I did it way back with little Japanese ability and went across Japan with no problem. |
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Tuan
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 38
Location: Netherlands
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YujiKaido
Joined: 10 Oct 2010
Posts: 49
Location: ? Hong Kong ?
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| Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow thats a good deal, Almost tempted to head to Japan just for a short vacation at that price. Thanks for the tip. |
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Great Teacher Umikun
Joined: 28 Mar 2004
Posts: 63
Location: Back in Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:38 am Post subject: |
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| inuzuki8605 wrote: |
| Did you get the money back when it got cancelled? |
Not yet. My previous employer needs the full amount credited back to his credit card, and it�ll be a while before I can set up a bank account for the money to be remitted back to me. |
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