Travel from Tokyo to Manila / LOS

[japanjon 0]

Time now is summer, and needing to get RT airtickets from Japan to Philippines, and soon after RT tickets to and from Thailand. Wanted to give my experiences, lessons learned, etc.

 

My travel agent here in Japan is is Number One Travel. I consistently have found them to have the best price of all other agencies. That said, I constantly check them keep them honest. Contacted Number One Travel (I personally use the Shinjuku Branch) and my agent gave me a rate of 73,500yen (about $700) for a North Worst 20 day ticket.

 

Note that this is a HUGE increase from last year, so I checked her. Went to http://FlightFinderJapan.com . This is a service where you fill out what you need, and then four different travel agents contact you with various prices to compare.

 

Filled out their necessary info and sent it out. Got the email receipt from Flight Finder. Waited.

 

Nothing.

 

Waited.

 

Nothing.

 

Waited.

 

Fine.

 

 

Filled it out again. Same thing. Got e-mail receipt. Waited.

 

One of the four agents finally contacted me with a price, StaTravel.com, who gave me a price of 79080 yen (ballpark about $760).

 

Decided to do another check. Went online to http://www.travelocity.com

 

I use travelcity.com only to compare. Generally I have found their prices no where as good as the local Japanese agents, however the information I get from them is often invaluable. Also will note that travelocity is one of the online agencies which allow arrival and departure from outside the US. Not all do.

 

Checked Travelocity. Their price via North Worst Airlines is

$982. Fine. Nearly $300 over my local agent Number One Travel.

 

However, I noticed something from Travelocity.com. Apparently China Airlines does go from Narrita Tokyo to Manila via Taipai for only $691.00.

 

 

Ah ha!!

 

OK.

 

 

E-mailed my travel agent. "Hi, This is Popper. Please check rates going to Manila on Air China going via Taipei".

 

Got reply the rate is 57,400 yen (figure, ballpark $550 for a 2 week ticket). Also note that I can use my miles from Air China to my North Worst Frequent Flyer miles, tho not at 100 percent.

 

Now, this is the best way I know how to play the very confusing system. If anyone knows a better way to play it, please post. I list below all the websites which I often compare prices, and thus far have found Number 1 Travel the cheapest.

 

Two rumors:

 

1. Heard there are Chinese Travel Agents somewhere in Tokyo which are cheaper. Is this true, and can someone please point out where these places are.

 

2. Heard that when using your frequent flyer mileage that you can get better "rates" if you call the FF number of North Worst / Untied (AKA: North West / United) directly. No clue if this is true.

 

 

Here is a listing of all the travel agencies throughout Japan online I know of, and note I have taken from them. Often I contact these other places to compare w/Number One. Thus far I have personally found Number One cheapest:

 

Number One Travel

http://www.no1-travel.com

 

HIT (very small place)

http://www.hittravel.co.jp/

 

Iace Travel: (competitive)

http://www.iace.co.jp/english

 

AirNet Travel: (The price quoted on their website does not include tax)

http://www.airnetjapan.com

 

Sophia Travel – (Webpage sucks)

http://www.sophia-net.com/

 

Air 1 Travel – (Not great webpage)

http://www.air1travel.com

 

Affinity Travel (website in Japanese only)

 

 

Sta Travel (Expensive)

http://www.statravel.co.jp

 

JTB (Expensive and no mystery tickets)

 

Across Travel

http://www.across-travel.com

 

 

Others which I believe have no webpage (note: I do not know if these phone numbers are still accurate but believe they are):

 

Four Seasons Travel: 03-5907-5220

Sky World Travel: 03-5954-8871

Beyond Travel: 03-5358-3177

Just Travel: 03 – 5292 – 2601

 

 

 

 

--JapanJon (AKA: Popper)

[bigdelta 46]

N0. 2 is NOT true.

Things may get better at Northwest after Delta finishes their acquisition late this year.(28 yr Delta employee-retired)

Edited July 14, 2008 by LTGTR

[pusa 0]

wer can i find murang ticket to manila pls helpp meeeeeeeeeeeee add me sa ym 19catwoman thnks

[Dungheap 243]

Mate, just saw this now.

 

Travel agents in Japan are generally not that cheap compared to booking direct with the airlines, unless in offpeak times where they sometimes have some bargain tours but always read the fine print as some of the departure and arrival times are bizarre. Most also don't take credit card.

 

I always find for a few thousand yen more you're better off booking direct with the airline as you can book online, request seats, pay with credit card, etc.

 

Unless you book real early, or are using the second leg of an open ticket, it's best to avoid traveling overseas from Japan in August or over New Year or Golden Week as the prices are absurd.

 

Have a look from early September and you'll see a huge drop in prices.