Travelling To Japan - Flight Options

Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 10:18
Last edited 15/11/2018 - 10:27 by 1 other user

I'm hoping I may be able to get some advice on those that have been to Japan before. We are arriving from Sydney but returning to Adelaide where we live which is making the flights a little confusing because there are no direct flights.

We will be arriving in Tokyo and staying here for 4-5 days before getting a 7 day train pass for the rest of the trip. We will be going to Osaka and Hiroshima because there are things we want to do down there for a few days. I'm not sure if we should try to get a plane from Osaka to home (they all bypass Tokyo), or catch the plane from Tokyo (meaning getting the train back).

We may have just missed out on all the best bargain flights but Qantas looks quite reasonable. However the to flights from Sydney are at 7am which is very early. Apart from that, Qantas have the better planes and better baggage allowance.

These are all the possible flights below, everything is border $1k each return. I guess the main question is, should we try to depart from Osaka or Tokyo (Narita or Haneda). And for any Sydneyers is 7am for an international flight too early?

QANTAS $1000 + 30kg Baggage

ARRIVE
03/3 —- 7:00 am Sydney -> 9:30 am Brisbane -> 5:30 pm Tokyo Narita (Airbus A330-300)

LEAVE OSAKA
13-14/3 —- 2:30 pm Osaka -> 7:20 pm Tokyo Narita -> 8:00 am Melbourne -> 10:20 pm Adelaide (Airbus A330-300)
13-14/3 —- 6:30 pm Osaka -> 10:00 pm Tokyo Haneda -> 9:30 am Sydney -> 1:30 pm Adelaide (Boeing 747-400)
13-14/3 —- 7:20 pm Tokyo Harita -> 9:30 am Melbourne -> 10:20 am Adelaide (Airbus A330-300)
13-14/3 —- 10:00 pm Tokyo Haneda -> 12:00 pm Sydney -> 1:30 pm Adelaide (Boeing 737-800)

JETSTAR $1000 + 20kg Baggage / +5kg $25 more +10kg $28 more

ARRIVE
03/3 —- 8:50 am Sydney -> 10:30 am Gold Coast -> 6:30 pm Tokyo Narita (Boeing 787-800)

LEAVE
13-14/3 —- 8:00 pm Tokyo Narita -> Arrive 5am Depart 10:30 am Cairns -> 2:20 pm Adelaide (Boeing 787-800)
13-14/3 —- 9:00 pm Osaka -> Arrive 5am Depart 10:30 am Cairns -> 2:20 pm Adelaide (Boeing 787-800)

COMBO

JETSTAR ARRIVE + 20 kg Baggage / $480
03/3 —- 8:50 am Sydney -> 10:30 am Gold Coast -> 6:30 pm Tokyo Narita (Boeing 787-800)

QANTAS RETURN + 30 kg Baggage / $700 *same prices
13-14/3 —- 6:30 pm Osaka -> 10:00 pm Tokyo Haneda -> 9:30 am Sydney -> 1:30 pm Adelaide (Boeing 747-400)
13-14/3 —- 7:20 pm Tokyo Harita -> 9:30 am Melbourne -> 10:20 am Adelaide (Airbus A330-300)
13-14/3 —- 10:00 pm Tokyo Haneda -> 12:00 pm Sydney -> 1:30 pm Adelaide (Boeing 737-800)

Travel Airfare Asia Japan

Comments

  • TheRealCher on 15/11/2018 - 10:29
    +1

    Osaka is easy to fly out of. Cheaper too. My concern would be time spent in airports so if you could get a lounge pass it would ease the pain.
    That said, public transport in Japan is excellent and precise.

    • Iwantthatbargain on 30/11/2018 - 20:21

      Does Osaka lounge accept Qantas Club pass?

  • purplelady on 15/11/2018 - 10:37
    +1

    Fly out from Osaka, so maybe you don't need JR pass and can just get Western JR pass or something. You save time too!

    Also, usually Qantas has night flight that gets you to Tokyo by 7 AM, if you're interested.

    • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 10:47

      Thanks, we have something on Saturday night in Sydney, otherwise would have 100% done an overnight flight!

  • Archi on 15/11/2018 - 10:39
    +1

    something to put in mind…
    - taxi ride from Tokyo to narita (and vice versa)is very expensive and far away. however if you are catching a train then thumbs up. we prefer haneda must more accessible from Tokyo.
    - taxi ride from kansai airport in Osaka to the city of Osaka like namba is also very expensive. however there are buses and trains. that can do the same journey very cheaply

    • we found ANA to be best 2x23KG bags and they flew direct from Sydney to haneda in Tokyo on new 787's better food and better service.
    • ANA from Sydney is also a night flight and you arrive first thing in the morning no wasted day. Qantas day flight to Osaka however lands in the evening, that's a wasted day.
    • the Qantas 747 that flies to japan is really old and rattles alot (just came back on one 2 weeks ago) QF26. did not enjoy it. seats are very tight and legroom limited.
    • A330 is ok .. but 787's (drealiner is best)
    • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 10:50

      Awesome, let me look into these things. Just quickly, I may have just assumed the Airbus was better. I did like that the Airbus seating is 2/3/2 so we could have the isle to ourselves. Otherwise Boeing's are all 3/3/3 so we will have someone next to us.

      • Archi on 15/11/2018 - 10:57

        also depending on fare class.. Qantas will charge you $35 per person per leg of your trip to select a seat, we flew an airbus to Osaka and it 2/4/2 and the 747 on the trip back was 3/4/3

        ANA seat selection was free, and we did the old window and isle seat selection and no one sat next to us and had a whole row to ourselves.. but that was just pure luck

        we did ANA trip in oct 2017 and the Qantas trip in oct 2018 and probably do ANA next year

    • Sheila Dealer on 15/11/2018 - 10:52
      +1

      We just came back on Saturday. Flew there and back with ANA. Best thing about them was the 34 inch seat pitch in economy.

    • altomic on 15/11/2018 - 11:12
      +1

      yeah, taxi- NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!.

      nooooooooooo!!!!

      I've bought return tickets from Bris to Tokyo for less than what a taxi from Narita to Tokyo costs.

      I'm not joking.

      I was stuck at Narita at 3am. no public transport. got a taxi to my house in Ichikawa city (half way between tokyo and narita) - ~$300

      For travel between Narita and Tokyo - Get the Access narita bus. ¥1000. Leaves every 20 minutes from narita terminal 1 bus stop 31. No booking required. Pay the driver direct - cash. Takes ~40 minutes in good traffic (it's expressway /elevated highway the whole way) stops at Tokyo station. Return trip -from Tokyo station yaesu south exit stop 7 (20 meters from the ground floor McDonald's) . You actually walk pass the Tokyo station bus area when dropped off from the narita bus.

      In comparison (for trains) the cheapest train is ¥1380, takes ~90 minutes and requires several changes. An express train takes 25 minutes and costs ~¥2500.

      • Archi on 15/11/2018 - 11:15
        +1

        and the entrance to Tokyo station where that macdonalds is directly above ramen street.. there is a set of stair right behind the maccas

        MMmmm Ramen

  • Stewardo on 15/11/2018 - 11:20
    +1

    Why not Cathay pacific multi city flight $824
    Syd hnd
    Kix adl
    With free layover in Hong Kong 13th

    • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 11:33

      Thanks for the tip. I just checked these flights out

      Arriving 9:15pm Haneda. I feel that might be a bit late but not a big problem.
      Return though all are all 24 to 35 hours. I can't come back too late on the Thursday. Alternately leave Japan a day earlier and then spending most of the time at HKG airport.

    • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 12:41

      EDIT: Actually may have looked into this wrong. The kicker was adding Adelaide on the return.

      $850
      Sydney to Hong Kong to Tokyo 850am - 9:15pm
      Osaka to Hong Kong to Melbourne 710pm - 12:15pm *Arrange own flight to Adelaide

      Definitely doable. Do you or anyone know how their planes compare? On the website when booking, it wouldn't say which plane.

      • Stewardo on 15/11/2018 - 12:59
        +1

        You could add the flight numbers into seatguru
        That will give you a lot of the plane and seat info
        Cathay is one world alliance and on a par with qantas in economy imo

      • pantsparty on 15/11/2018 - 13:01
        +1

        Cathay have Hong Kong to Adelaide direct flights, no need to go via another city

        • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 13:23

          The direct is the problem because there are not many flights and it's too long stop over, 8-10 hours from midnight to around 8am which would be a horrible time to wait at an airport. I feel it would be better flying to Melbourne or Sydney and getting our own flight for about $80-100.
          Costs an additional $350 per ticket to choose seats though. WTF

          • pantsparty on 15/11/2018 - 14:05
            +1

            @Saul Goodman: Out of curiosity do you have any airline frequent flyer miles you can use to book this trip?

            • Saul Goodman on 15/11/2018 - 15:21

              @pantsparty: I have all the accounts, but only have points on my flybuys right now. I can transfer them to velocity for the 15% bonus. I don't really know how it all works though to be honest. I can probably get a bunch from my parents if it helps with anything.

          • Stewardo on 16/11/2018 - 22:06

            @Saul Goodman: You could sleep at the airport hotel in Hong Kong

  • djassclown on 15/11/2018 - 12:38
    +1

    Check out JAL, I just flew Narita to Melbourne on a 787 which was very good. Great food and service.

    Flights departs Sydney at 9:15am which is easier than a 7:00am flight.

    • Saul Goodman on 16/11/2018 - 09:27

      All the JAL flights I seem to be able to find are about $1.5-$2k return each :/

  • virhlpool on 23/01/2019 - 18:43

    How is Philippines Airlines to Japan via Manila? Can anyone share experience?

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