alexx_c 0 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Right now, Sydney - Tokyo will cost me about $1130 ($4500 for a family of four) with JAL return. Is this likely to change if I book later?.. travel in Late February (for 2 weeks stay max) How about getting to Hokkaido, should I be doing that from the Internet now, or organise that locally in Tokyo, if I do a 2 or 3 day stopover there? If it's more economical to do it early and over the net, how do I organise that? - are there international flights that do Sydney directly to the Hokkaido Island? Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I find it easier to use a travel agent because the booking of internal flights is hard going (open up closer to the date and website confuses me). The earlier you book the cheaper the flights. (opposite to hotels) Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 ALX take MB's advice go through a travel agent. We do and get nearly direct to Chitose - Brisbane - Narita - Chitose. Friends of ours got the cheap Jet Star flights but then ended up paying $700 for the connecting flight but witha 2 day wait inbetween. The other options are Cathy Pacific with a stop over in Honkers and then direct to Chitose. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Hi Alx Yeah mate same as everyone else book flights through an agent. I got a quote online for quantas to Toyko. An agent got me flights to Chitose for the same price. They must get a better deal and have easier access to book internal flights. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
mactos 0 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 not sure why they would pay $700 for the connecting flights. you can get visitor air passes from JAL or ANA which cap domestic flights at 13000yen each way (+taxes). Link to post Share on other sites
biri 0 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 hi alx used an agent first time to japan , book everything myself now , i estimate the savings around 20 percent . if flying one world [ jal / qantas ] , ring jal in sydney 2 months before your departure and book your internal flights , its 10000 yen per person per flight . if comming up jetstar [ or singapore cathy etc ] it will be 13000 yen per person per flight . jal use to fly thru to chitose that same night from narita for the same price as the tokyo flight , i know your keen on disneyland / sea so maybe there is a stop over fee for tokyo on the way back . like japan rail pass these cheap domestic flights are only available to people outside japan . we have been upto japan twice with jal and i sure miss the free yerbisu beer , however i am 6 foot plus so i find the economy seats a bit tight with jal . we are from the gold coast and find coolangatta / tokyo or osaka with jetstar , best for us . in late feb / mar our return flight gold coast / osaka is total $1600 oz for 4 people . will flights get cheaper , yes , but will you get the dates you want ??????? probably not , so best to book now . here is a little test on accommodation booking prices , try an agent for 7 nights accommodation at the new furano prince hotel , then email scott tovey at the new furano prince hotel [ http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=245 ] and compare prices . Link to post Share on other sites
biri 0 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 i think a sub of qantas use to fly into chitose direct but it was a pretty hot deal as i think one of the qantas directors had a husband or wife with large business interests in niseko !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this forum will know ? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 true...and it is all over now - used to fly from Cairns. Link to post Share on other sites
biri 0 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 thanks for putting me right on that email . this year [ jan 2009 ] the difference between booking direct and going thru an agent on accommodation alone in furano was in the 60,000 yen range , all quotes were for 2 rooms , 4 people , breakfast and ski passes for 8 nights at new furano prince . at that time from memory about 55 yen down to 51 yen to the oz dollar . Link to post Share on other sites
deanrobi 2 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Just booked my internal flights for this coming Jan and used the 'Welcome to Japan' fare, cost 13000 yen as Biri Island stated. No problems with flight times as seats were available on all flights on the particular day we wanted. Another Tip is to book your own transfer from Sapporo to Niseko, not only is it cheaper than thru your travel agent but if you travel with CHUO bus, Niseko Bus or Donan bus lines you get a free 1 day lift ticket cost for return bus trip and Lift ticket is 4900 yen. (well that has been the case in the past few years, I'm assuming it will be the save this coming season.) I also see no savings in booking lift tickets via an agent so we just buy them on the day Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Actually as you are flying JAL you can use the One World ticket in Japan, this is 10000 yen and the cheapest available. Phone JAL in Sydney and discuss this, you can book it now and save heaps. Link to post Share on other sites
mactos 0 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 What do you guys think about Skymark and Airdo? It seems they can work out even cheaper than the JAL 13000 yen flights. Link to post Share on other sites
alexx_c 0 Posted September 22, 2009 Author Share Posted September 22, 2009 Thanks all ! Need to spend a serious few days to dive into the details you guys have come back with. :-) Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 As i said Qantas and JAL from AU can get 10000yen tickets through JAL, up to five per person Link to post Share on other sites
alexx_c 0 Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 Thanks ... must get on the phone with JAL tomorrow .. get those 10000 yen tickets... umm... AU$240 return sounds a lot more reasonable than the $800 quoted by travel agents. biri island... can't believe your 4 people airfare is only $1600! ... now I can understand why so many QLDanders head out to Japan. Did you secure some sort of super special $400 return (adult)? I see advertised one way $358 Osaka-GoldCoast often.. but doing the sums for return and getting myself up the coast on Virgin... it comes close to the $1130 JAL (direct flight for me). Link to post Share on other sites
acpowman 0 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 As a ski travel agent it amuses me that people who have been to Niseko twice before think they know all the airline rules and best deals going around. Some points you may or may not know..... *From Australia the airfare cost to Sapporo is exactly the same as Tokyo if you fly with Qantas or JAL (the 2 destinations are common rated). Buying an international ticket with either airline to Tokyo then purchasing an airpass is a complete waste of money. *Ski wholesalers have access to discounted package airfares that you can't get on the internet or through a regular travel agent. *Current low season airfares from Syd/BNE/Perth to Sapporo with JAL or Qantas start at $1215 including taxes, subject to availability. *The airpasses from JAL ect have embargo periods (end Dec - early Jan & start of March), during this time your forced into a full priced domestic fare which can cost around $700 to $800 return. *All Jetstar flights from Australia will force you to have an involuntary stopover in Tokyo or Osaka, it's impossible to get a same day connection to Niseko with them. *Airfares with Qantas & JAL will never get cheaper if you wait, once the cheapest seats are gone they're gone. *All travel agents and online websites have access to the same availability, if one agent can't find you the cheapest seats on a particular day then none of them will. * Your local flight centre agent is not an expert on ski travel and does not know all that's involved. If you book a ski holiday through a regular agent they will call me (or another ski wholesaler) for a quote and will relay my information & prices to you. Prices will be indifferent so i suggest you just go straight to the ski wholesaler for the concise info. *Some regular travel agents are unaware of the airpasses which is why you could get quoted the full priced fare for the domestic flights through them. *Can't comment for all companies but we sell the bus transfers for the same price that you'll pay at the counter but we guarantee you a seat. Coaches do fill so if you wait till you get there you could end up waiting for hours, or if arriving late miss out altogether. My credentials - worked for flight centre for 2 years, spent the past 8 years working for 3 of the major Australian ski wholesalers, currently as a Japan specialist. Link to post Share on other sites
biri 0 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 hi alx yes that jetstar fare came on for about 2 days for flights to japan in feb /march . think it was 2pax for the price of one . total = $1512.46 for 4 pax . but i bought the add ons comfort pact / inflight entertainment / all meals , total now = $1916.46 c/c fee included . that jetstar flight starts in sydney / gold coast then onto tokyo or osaka [ ret ] being your first trip to japan i would fly jal - syd to narita then narita onto chitose the same day [ use to be the same price as the tokyo ticket ] . travel straight thru to niseko [ whiteliner bus or special shuttle ] get out at the welcome centre in the top car park in niseko hirafu , walk over the road to the niseko alpen hotel . next morning wake up to the best position in niseko for lifts / lessons etc . this can all be booked online by yourself . my mate from west oz stops at the sahoro resort hotel [ not club med ] . he reckons its great . going to obihiro first trip may be a problem ? now i will show you how simple it is to go to furano . jal - syd to narita , limo bus to tokyo haneda airport , stop overnight at haneda excel hotel [ its in the terminal ] . next morning fly haneda to asahikawa airport , from the airport take the lavender bus to furano [one hour no reservation required ] , get out at the new furano prince hotel , its ski in / out , lessons ski hire etc. mate this hotel is great or there are other places to stay , for an apartment try freshpowder . at night we take a bus to downtown furano . this can all be booked by yourself , no agents required Link to post Share on other sites
acpowman 0 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Problem is there are NO seats left on the Narita to Sapporo evening flight from 16th Dec to 20th Jan and limited availability on other days. You can purchase a business class fare but your looking at about $450 one way. You cannot upgrade the airpass or your international flight, you have to buy the flight outright so it's cheaper to stay overnight in Tokyo. Anyone from Brisbane looking to go during this time will have to stay overnight in Tokyo at their own expense, the longer you leave it the more days will sell out. Sydney/Melb/Perth departures can fly overnight with Qantas and get a connecting flight. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 SO BOOK NOW! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 through an agent Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Definitely! Sorry couldn't help it Link to post Share on other sites
greg 4 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 acpowman, can we contact you to organise tickets? I find it frustrating at times dealing with agents that aren't familiar with the situation or location. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted September 23, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted September 23, 2009 If we were to allow one agent/business to post their contact details on these Forums, we would effectively need to allow any and all to do so. It would not be fair for us to allow one and not others and would create all sorts of problems. If we did allow this on these Forums, they would quickly become a place where a considerable number of people wanting to sell their services to you would register and come on here for the sole purpose of selling their services to you, and it would become a classifieds-like mess. We don't think that's best for these Forums. General information that might help people such as that posted by acpowman is welcome but please don't ask/encourage businesses to post their info (or indeed post the info itself). Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
greg 4 Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 My Fault Sorry! Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted September 23, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted September 23, 2009 It's ok, no worries. Link to post Share on other sites
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