Looking for a cheap / low cost / budget Japanese domestic airline...

[d***@hotmail.com]

Is there such an animal?

We have launched a new program in Sapporo, and as a result some of the
applicants are going to need connecting flights (mostly from either
Tokyo or Nagoya). One of the applicants from Dublin has mentioned that
the Tokyo-Chitose/Chitose-Tokyo quote he received was for the
equivalent of 3 times what I paid for Nagoya-Chitose return (which
included 4 nights hotel).

I usually just fly up on ANA or whatever my local travel agent puts me
on. Is there a low cost alternative? I can try to arrange flights for
students if required, but it would be nicer if some info could be
provided to them that may enable them to find cheaper flights
themselves.

[kuri]

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Is there such an animal?
We have launched a new program in Sapporo, and as a result some of the
applicants are going to need connecting flights (mostly from either
Tokyo or Nagoya).

They can also fly with Korean or Taiwanese companies as they propose
Seoul/Hokkaido and Taipei/Hokkaido. The trip is shorter via Seoul than via
Tokyo or Nagoya.

Post by d***@hotmail.com
One of the applicants from Dublin has mentioned that
the Tokyo-Chitose/Chitose-Tokyo quote he received was for the
equivalent of 3 times what I paid for Nagoya-Chitose return (which
included 4 nights hotel).

Why would he pay that separately ? When I get a Japan-Europe ticket, I tell
the travel agent to give a call to ask the local legs of my trip for free.
All the serious airplane companies will give you at least one domestic
flight per trip Europe/Japan, some give 2, some give more.

If I buy a Tokyo-Amsterdam flight, for the same basic price, they give me
the Kansai-Tokyo and the Amsterdam-Luxembourg tickets. I only have to pay
the additionnal tax of the other airports. They may take about 10 000 yen
if you ask Itami-Tokyo instead of Itami-Kansai. At worse, your students
should get the Tokyo-Chitose round trip for 10 000 yen. If you're a tourist
with time to visit, it's also possible to ask for plane + train (shinkansen)
or + boat or +JRailpass deals.

The problem is the travel agents find that mendo-kusai. If you ask naively
: "How does that cost from Dublin to Chitose ?", they'll all tell you it's
the price of Dublin-London + London-Tokyo + Tokyo-Chitose. The amateurish
ones (Across, etc..) tend to say it's impossible to get even normal
discounts on domestic flight. Others never suggest it but when I ask, they
accept to spend the time necessary to check and negociate the domestic
flights I indicate them. That's the same thing when you get tickets in
Europe, if you don't know that you can get discounts and additonnal flights,
they'll never tell you.

Kuri

[Frank F. Matthews]

Post by kuri

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Is there such an animal?
We have launched a new program in Sapporo, and as a result some of the
applicants are going to need connecting flights (mostly from either
Tokyo or Nagoya).

The problem is the travel agents find that mendo-kusai. If you ask naively
: "How does that cost from Dublin to Chitose ?", they'll all tell you it's
the price of Dublin-London + London-Tokyo + Tokyo-Chitose. The amateurish
ones (Across, etc..) tend to say it's impossible to get even normal
discounts on domestic flight. Others never suggest it but when I ask, they
accept to spend the time necessary to check and negociate the domestic
flights I indicate them. That's the same thing when you get tickets in
Europe, if you don't know that you can get discounts and additonnal flights,
they'll never tell you.
Kuri

Are you saying the vaunted TAs don't do a good job?

[kuri]

Post by Frank F. Matthews
Are you saying the vaunted TAs don't do a good job?

They don't always work in my interest.
Their main job is to sell products that give them the maximum profit. They
certainly do it very well.
Spending time to get me the best deal possible or to compare all the
possibilities for Dublin to Chitose is certainly considered as a loss of
time for busy agencies. They prefer selling packages and flights at fixed
price or organising trips for large groups.
In certain shops, the staff at the counter is probably not allowed to
negociate additionnal flights and discounts and to make you an original
route.

Kuri

[d***@hotmail.com]

Post by kuri

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Is there such an animal?
We have launched a new program in Sapporo, and as a result some of the
applicants are going to need connecting flights (mostly from either
Tokyo or Nagoya).

They can also fly with Korean or Taiwanese companies as they propose
Seoul/Hokkaido and Taipei/Hokkaido. The trip is shorter via Seoul than via
Tokyo or Nagoya.

For those doing the "Sapporo only" option, the Seoul/Chitose route is
what I have been suggesting, at least for the European applicants.

Post by kuri

Post by d***@hotmail.com
One of the applicants from Dublin has mentioned that
the Tokyo-Chitose/Chitose-Tokyo quote he received was for the
equivalent of 3 times what I paid for Nagoya-Chitose return (which
included 4 nights hotel).

Why would he pay that separately ? When I get a Japan-Europe ticket, I tell
the travel agent to give a call to ask the local legs of my trip for free.
All the serious airplane companies will give you at least one domestic
flight per trip Europe/Japan, some give 2, some give more.

I suspect it is just a case of either an American website or a useless
TA. Main thing I want to do is put some info on the summer program
webpages, so that they can figure it out for themselves. The less work
I do the better.
http://www.yamasa.org/hcjs/english/programs/summer.html

[John W.]

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Is there such an animal?

What about an air pass? I've never seriously looked into them because
most of my travel is close enough to go by rail. But that might be an
option.

I think JAL and ANA have these.

Are Air Do and Skymark lower priced?

John W.

[d***@hotmail.com]

Post by John W.

Post by d***@hotmail.com
Is there such an animal?

What about an air pass? I've never seriously looked into them because
most of my travel is close enough to go by rail. But that might be an
option.

An air pass may be an option, but most of these kids will just want to
see/experience one other city (probably Tokyo) before or after Sapporo.
Some of them will be doing Sapporo only, others an Okazaki/Sapporo
combination.

Post by John W.
I think JAL and ANA have these.
Are Air Do and Skymark lower priced?

Most of the time, but JAL etc offer enough discounts to make them
affordable, at least for Nagoya/Chitose. I don't fly often enough to
worry about points etc.