Kavey

Hi Folks

Japan-guide has a page that outlines special discounts on internal flights in Japan, for non-residential visitors.

I'd like to take advantage of this for flights from Fukuoka back to Tokyo.

Can anyone advise how best to book, or give links to relevant pages within either airline websites or on tour operator/ agency websites?

I've started googling but if anyone can give me any shortcuts, I'd be grateful.

If you have any recommended agents you've used, that'd be good too. I'm London, UK based.

Thanks
Kavey

hawaiiantraveler

I use our JTB agents here in Honolulu. I always use one that is five minutes away from my work place. I pick up our JR passes there and have them book our internal flights if we have any. IIRC the flights have to be booked at either 60 or 30 days out. Being a travel agent they have access to all flights worldwide. See here for one near you.

http://jtbeurope.com/our-offices/

They also are a great source for obscure hotels, ryokan, minshuku, inns reservations all throughout Japan. When traveling to a small nook in Japan I sometimes go to JTB(they all know me there) and look through their large printed catalog book of places to stay in or close to the area I want to be. Being a full service place they can also book car reservations for you though I use the online Tocoo site as it does have better pricing most of the times.

Aloha!

Mara

I have always booked on my own. You know that you can get a discounted domestic flight or flights along with international tickets, right?

My domestic flights using the special fares for international travelers were booked online with JAL since I fly in with American Airlines, their partner.

Other domestic flights which turned out cheaper than the special fare I did online as well - once with ANA and once with Solaseed, although that one had no English site but I was able to book it using my Japanese translation tool. I did panic at the end as it did not want me to pay immediately and that seemed so strange so I did call them on skype and was able to get an English speaking person...lol....

To be honest it never occurred to me to go to a Japanese travel agency other than to pick up my rail pass.....

rkkwan

ANA/ Star Alliance:

http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_co...l/airpass.html
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_co...ial/visit.html

JAL/oneworld:

http://www.jal.co.jp/yokosojapan/

You're on your own if you fly DL/Skyteam to Japan.

WillJame

I've used the Star Alliance Japan Air Pass three or four times (see the links given by Rkkwan). I fly Air Canada to Japan and then ANA for domestic flights at ¥10,000 per segment, e.g., FUK to NAR. I've booked through Air Canada most of the time, and once through a travel agent in Canada. Note that you have to do the booking from outside Japan and that you are committed to the date and flight for the first segment.

Reading54

>> You're on your own if you fly DL/Skyteam to Japan. <<
That statement is not true.
ANA offers an "Experience Japan" fare for 10,000Yen per domestic segment to foreign visitors who fly to/via Japan by any airline. You may book these directly on ANA's website.

For details about various offering and pricing, see Japan Guide page at http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

rkkwan

Oh, sorry about my mistake. Basically, both ANA and JAL has separate specials for those flying in on their alliance, and those flying in on any airline.

mrwunrfl

If you have United miles you can book a one-way FUK-HND ticket for 6000 miles and $1.70. They are available to book online at united dot com.

I've bought several tickets directly from ANA at fly-ana.com. You select the flight and then they show the fares, including special fares. For example, I just searched for FUK-HND for Sept 1 and it showed two fare options: Experience JAPAN Fare and Normal fare. The Experience fare is $100 plus $6.70 ($5 consumption tax plus $1.70 passenger facility charge). That price would be hard to beat.

mrwunrfl

Actually, fly-ana redirected to the USA/English site, which is what you want to choose if you don't go there directly.

The direct URL is: http://www.ana.co.jp/asw/wws/us/e/
and scroll down to push the button for Japan Domestic Flights >

Might be worthwhile to check the Japan/English page if you don't see a cheap fare at the first site (it is 14000+ at ANA Japan/USA)

Japan Airlines had $300+ at the USA/En website and 14,000+ at Japan/En for the same date. Maybe I am missing something or JAL isn't offering their cheapo fare online like ANA does.

mrwunrfl

it is 14000+ at ANA Japan/English

mrwunrfl

From Fukuoka, Peach Airlines only flies to Osaka(KIX).

Kavey

Thanks everyone!

The international flights are, once again, very kind airmile flight bookings that my dad both gifted to and booked for us.

So I need to book the discounted internal myself. Will look at my local JTB agent, thank you!

x

Mara

Skymark seems to have a 10,000 yen flight from Fukuoka to HND...
http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/

mrwunrfl

Kavey, if you go to JTB let us know if they can meet or beat the ANA or Skymark fares.

That $100 ticket = 9,989 yen at www.ana.co.jp/asw/wws/us/e/
14 widebody (777,767,787) nonstop flights per day, FUK-HND

mrwunrfl

That Experience Japan fare on ANA expires October 26, so it wouldn't work for you.

The Star Alliance Pass can't be booked online so JTB should be good for that.

The Oneworld pass can be booked online. You just select your international arriving/departing airline(s) and enter the ticket number(s).

Kavey

Aah, thanks, can I only book the passes if I have travelled internationally with the relevant airline or alliance?

mrwunrfl

The international ticket can be with any member of the alliance.

Kavey

Well, that was easy!

Couldn't find any way of booking online so called JAL UK number and asked how to book the Yokoso fare. Was very easy. I just gave him the booking references of our international flights (that they are airmile bookings clearly makes no difference, which is good news).

He found the flights, with all our passenger info, so no need to give much else and then quickly let me know the times available of the flights from Fukuoka to Haneda (also offered Narita, less flights per day).

I chose one, he confirmed fare (10,000 Y), taxes (500 Y) and booking fee (GBP £10) per person and made the booking.

Now, all I need to do is email proof of our residence in UK to the email address he provided (with the booking reference included) and he'll call me back to take payment as final confirmation.

Was very simple!

Went for quite an early flight at 9 am since Fukuoka airport is so easy to get to and he said check in is only half hour in advance. Gets us to Haneda for 10.30 am.

Oh, I must remember to check baggage allowance when I speak to him shortly.

mrwunrfl

20 kg and size limits for carry-on. Free checked bags. I think it says up to 45 kg for checked luggage.

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/service/bags/checkin.html

Your flight JL 306 is a 777, so the size limits for "100 seats or more" applies:
http://www.jal.co.jp/en/dom/service/bags/carry.html

Kavey

Yes, he confirmed 2 x 23 kg bags per person for checked...
We'll be far below that...
Typically, we're usually unde 23 kg between us but by that point, we'll have done shopping, so may be up to 1 person's allowance between us!