Jetstar have just announced their Japan sale with a whole lot of flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo.
Travel Dates are roughly:
4th of November - 14 December 2014
25 January - 31 March 2015
Highlight deals (One Way):
Cairns to Osaka/Tokyo for $249
Melbourne/Gold Coast to Tokyo for $299
Sydney to Tokyo/Osaka (via Cairns) for ~$410
Sale ends on the 13th of October so get in quick.
Hi Bruce,
I can see some $586 return fares from Gold Coast in Nov.
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/x2OOLNRT-Flights-from-Gold-Coa…
Also $580 return from Melbourne in Nov
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/x2MELNRT-Flights-from-Melbourn…
From any city to Toyko:
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/x3NRT-Cheap-Flights-To-Tokyo.a…
Wrong. Those cheap flights from GC are in Feb 2015. I need to fly this year which shows $757, about same as I found returning mid December.
Here is $586 GC to Toyko. Dep 30/Nov ret 8/Dec
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?oc=OOL&dc=NRT&dd=3…
Here is a list of all the 1 week trips you can take in Nov for $586
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/x2OOLNRT-Flights-from-Gold-Coa…
Hi Bruce,
I set the filter to show flights departing between 1-19 Nov and returning anytime in Dec:
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/x2OOLNRT-Flights-from-Gold-Coa…
Looking through the list of flights, the longest one I can see is dep 4/Nov ret 18/Dec which is almost exactly 6 weeks.
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?oc=OOL&dc=NRT&dd=0…
The even better news is that it is only $572 return (it comes up as $526 on iwantthatflight.com.au but the final price on the booking site is $572). Have a fun holiday :)
@IWantThatFlight:
Now I'm happy ;-)
Was searching with your site & found exactly 6 weeks Gold Coast - Narita $529 return (as you said, plus costs making it $572) for suitable dates. I'm off ;-)
Jetstar site price for those same flights: $780, $208 more!
Thanks IWantThatFlight
By the looks of it, most seem experienced with IWantThatFlight site, unlike me.
For other first timers, a few tips. Watch out for hidden fees at payment. It depends on site you are directed to from IWantThatFlight.
The cheapest for my flight Bravofly seems to allow fee free payment, but then wouldn't accept valid debit or credit card details (tried 6 cards, all refused for card number not being of type used by Visa/MasterCard), then added $24 admin charge on top of price displayed.
Finally paid by PayPal with same $24 admin charge, but Bravofly charges in Euros, despite price shown at payment in au$. Luckily I avoided the extra foreign exchange fees by using 28degrees CC.
Received flight confirmation and Jetstar reservation number, but it is not accepted by Jetstar online system which concerned me. Rang Jetstar (searches by booking number from your confirmation email and phone number you provided) - flight was confirmed :-)
Saved $210 off Jetstar price.
That will buy a few minutes of spoon feeding in Japan. Now they know how to spoon feed in style ;-)
Alerted IWantThatFlight of these issues. They are going to add 3% to displayed Bravofly prices for the added admin charge, but were unaware of payment in Euros or credit card payment issues.
Hidden payment in Euros (necessitating exchange rate fees) is an unexpected added cost especially with PayPal, and first many would know of it would be in people's card statements!
$110 extra for sydney? WTF?
Jetstar moved their Japan flights to Melbourne early this year, with Boxing Day sales end of 2013 offering $128 flights. Melbourne wins, everyone else loses.
WINNING
One idea for cheap flights back to SYD from Japan now has to be Cebu pacific thru Manila - can be a way to add in a nice beach stopover for the same price or less. Seeing Japan - MNL flts in Nov for approx $170 + extras, with the same price MNL - SYD.
As long as you have the extra days for stopovers. I prefer to spend my time in Japan.
I looked into that with the recent $143 return from Sydney-Manila with 1p flight plus taxes to Tokyo. Beach stopover would be nice, but have to add fare to Sydney.
I would avoid transiting Manila airport if your destination is not in The Philippines - it is repeatedly rated as one of the worst airports in the world. Worse than the old LCCT Air Asia used in KL.
From what i've read this is generally correct, however cebu use terminal 3 which is the newest with best facilities of all terminals. If you fly with cebu and book point-to-point tickets ( best with a stopover, as this minimises risks of missing a forwarding flight), then it can work for you.
Jetstar ex Sydney flights to Japan are via Gold Coast or Cairns.
I will not help Jetstar to fill their seats for their direct flights from GC or Cairns given they have moved their JPN direct flights away from Sydney. It will be their loss of customers flying from Sydney. I will rather pay other airlines to flythrough to Japan anytime even if their airfares are the same of less than Jetstar airfares.
'Nice beach stopover' and 'Manila' are not words that belong in the same sentence.
One-way from Sydney to Tokyo at $410? One too many zeros in that price for me..
wut
Tokyo for $41? Are you a small parcel?!
Just don't fly with Jetstar. Their airfares or choice of not flying direct ex Sydney are discriminating against Sydney folks. There are other alternative airlines ex Sydney fly thru to Japan. Let's vote with your wallet.
You poor Sydneysiders can't catch a break, huh? For shame, Jetstar.
I'm looking to go in April, will there be promotion like this again??
My crystal ball says… I see fingers…
I'm in the same boat, looking for late March into early April. Decided against the recent Air Asia sale because i'm hoping Jetstar will have a sale for ADL - Tokyo direct. Fingers crossed.
From Syd to Tokyo (15/02 til 27/03 so full travel period for the tix) is $1018.81 with the value bundle and 20Kg luggage both ways. That's with choosing the cheapest airfares, in fact the price was ~$370.
before Jetstar started on the Japan route that was the going price for full service airlines. we're being ripped.
Is this one way or return tickets ? If its return then very good deal but not for one way actually
One way only.
I dont think its one way because I checked website there are many around 380$/one way
Thanks for posting this, booked tickets for late March. Been waiting for that specific time to come on sale and $590 return (including luggage and all fees) from Melbourne is a good price for Japan.
I just got back 2 weeks ago from Tokyo the last sale gc to tokyo was $410 return. Highly recommend it. If sthey stid did direct flights to Osaka i would be tempted to go again this year
With their 2 for one sale I got Japan for $575 return from OOL.
And SYD->OOL was free because I used my points!
I booked my tickets to Japan few weeks ago with Cathay Pacific for $1200 (return included). If I booked with Jet Star using the same dates I have already booked and to get the same package as Cathay Pacific provides (eg. carry on baggage, checked baggage, meals, etc) I'm looking at $1300 (return included) but traveling in business cabin. Comparing the two flights, the only difference is that I would be getting if I flew with Jet Star are: traveling business, 30kg checked luggage (vs. 20kg checked luggage with Cathay) and extra carry on bag. So in a way it is not too bad of a deal but I have never flown with Jet Star or Cathay so I can't comment on their services.
Cathay Pacific is rated as the best Airline.
I've flown with them, they deserve it.
Not sure about the comparison with Jetstar business, I've walked by that section as I was near the front, doesn't look all that impressive, just a lot more space.
Unless I'm really tight at the next time, I'll avoid Jetstar longhaul, unless its on their new Planes
Boeing 787 Dreamliner
not the A330
Jetstar screwed me and 3 of my mates over.
Supposed to fly 9pm Sunday. All was well until 30 minutes after scheduled departure time, the captain announced e-brake failure. Back to the gate the plane goes, and engineers board. 30 minutes after that, we get the OK. Get ready to fly, nope, same problem. Go back again, and engineers board. OK again, go out, NOPE. JP flight control says flight curfew is in place, we cannot fly. 12 midnight now and everyone gets off the plane and returns to the airport lobby. The poor Jetstar attendant is innundated with angry passengers' requests for information. She helplessly writes down a phone number for support and hands out maybe 20 copies of what I assume is a Jetstar "Sorry" form. Typhoon Phanfone is hitting Tokyo currently, and transport has stopped. Taxi stand is at least an hour long, so we decide to wait it out at the airport. An hour goes by and we get rescheduled to a 7pm flight the next day. No efforts to provide any sort of transportation out of the airport. I sleep on the ground.
6am, get woken by moving travelers. Find a bench to sleep on, and manage to get intermittent sleep til 11am. Get lunch with friend's money (spent all my Yen assuming I never had to use it since I was flying out). Jetstar supposedly reimburses up to $30 food, $100 taxi fare, $100 hotel stay). Check-in opens at 4pm, but I go at 3pm just to be sure. Ask service desk what is going on, and ask for the fastest flight to Sydney, as I am already delayed for work. She puts me on the supposed rescheduled 7pm flight to Sydney (via Cairns stopover) but the phone call takes ages. With the help of 2 supervisors, 2 of us get through, but the other 2 can't seem to get through. Discover that the stopover is over 8 hours long. Demand a flight to Sydney via Melbourne. After another long phone call, and supervisor's help, the flight is booked in. Fly Monday 7pm, land Tuesday 7am, connecting flight 9:30am.
Guess what happens? On the plane, 90 minutes is lost due to an unknown reason. Plane lands at 9am. We don't get a gate. We get a stand-by parking spot, so we must board a bus to the nearest gate. One bus, full plane. 3 trips (we're at the back). The entire ordeal took an unnecessary 30 minutes. That's from plane to gate! After customs and baggage, our connecting flight has long gone. HUGE line at Jetstar service counter. Time wasted. Get to counter, 10 minutes of attendant on computer. Earliest time is 3pm flight. We wait 5 hours at Melbourne domestic terminal.
Land at 5pm, home at 6pm Tuesday night.
Supposed to land midday on Monday. Friend missed a funeral. Other friend missed a critical presentation for final year uni. All of us lost a day's pay of work. Unnecessary time wasted. That's our experience with Jetstar from a few days ago. Now I have to fill in some forms and see how to get my money back for food!
Cathay is better than Jetstar at any price.
Just booked my tickets for next year. Been hanging on, waiting for a decent sale fare around Feb 2015 for the Tokyo Marathon! Thanks OP!!!!
Good price but not a deal, for someone who just plan for a trip.
Round trip ~$7xx is a bit pricey for me with the low cost airline.
why no Perth lah!
Was waiting for a sale like that for 3 months. travelling on the 8th of november, I got worried I would miss it on other offers so closed a deal with JAL. could have saved $400+ . At least I have a direct flight. Oh well… More patience next time
you're better off on JAL for an extra $400
Let's go get radioactive
Aren't you made in Japan?
Had a great time in Japan, spent 2 weeks in total, even if Jetstar did cancel my flight home, this is an good deal even though I only spent 600 return last time. If going outside Tokyo look at getting a railpass, so much easier.
Late Oct to Mid Nov is the best time to go to Japan. The locals will be touring their own country for the Koyo season. Check when the peak foliages are and best places to view them. It's more spectacular and beautiful than cherry blossom. The mountains have 3 colours of white snow top, red in middle and green at bottom. Unfortunately too busy to go this year.
Are there usually sales for April-May?
Japan is brilliant.
Jetstar, not so much.
caution, the usual Jetstar nickel and dime action;
+ $ for a seat reservation
+ $ for a reasonable baggage limit
+ $ for airline food
+ $ for limited selection of recent movies and entertainment
+ a stop in Cairns or Gold Coast delaying your trip by maybe 4 hours, tiny airports not build to handle a plane load in transit. even more exciting if two flights arrive or depart at the same time.
+ the usual Jetstar delays and late arrivals, impacting your connections…
+ you gotta feel for the Thai air crew, knowing they're being exploited by Qantas/Jetstar for cheaper wages than Aussie air crew
caveat emptor
I've flown Jetstar to Japan twice, I wouldn't recommend it.
Though their new 787s are nice-ish, being new and all.
Crap…paid around $1000 a few months ago for these flights.
Forgot to thank you, OP! Booked flights for me and the significant other :D
Thanks. Good prices TO Japan.
Just checked sale fares Tokyo from Cairns Nov-Dec Starter fare $625 return / $780 from Gold Coast.
Flights back from Japan are usually cheaper than from Australia, but not in November-December (50% dearer with cheapest $376/480).
Have taken many Jetstar flights from Cairns or Gold Coast before for just over $400 return. Maybe cheaper fares during Boxing Day sales for those travelling next year (eg flew Gold Coast - Osaka Sept-Oct 2013 for $430 return).
Now to renew my Passport very quickly ;-)