Insane deals for Japan and South Korea in 2026.
Currently Club Jetstar early sale, but going to public from tomorrow, I believe.
Lowest I can find is from Cairns to Narita for $216.08 (ex. luggage) eg. 8th-15th May 2026.
Makes that 7-Eleven sando and Famichiki even more affordable.
The profit margin on business and first class seats will always exist to fill the loss from cheap economy seats. It has been part of the business model for a very long time now.
I think the point is more that business class on Jetstar is not what most people think international business class is going to be. It's more premium economy or domestic business and as long as you know what you're getting it's fine.
Yeah I completely agree with you. It's overpriced for what you're getting and the reason is because this is the business models most airlines operate on now. Jetstar is generally fine, have no problem with it and these deals are actually pretty good if you don't mind economy.
Whats their business class like? Similar to Cathay premium economy?
About the same.
However it is 2-3-2 which I think is a bit better than Cathy which is 2-4-2.
I know at least SQ is 2-4-2.
Cathay premium is better IMO - food and IFE is significantly nicer. A321 Neo if you are assigned it is so nice.
No lounge access
Not sure what I'm doing wrong but I can't find a single fare out of Brisbane that's within $100 of the cheapest quoted. (yes I am logged into a club jetstar account)
8th May to 15th May, Brisbane to Narita comes to $272.58 for me (starter fare, nil baggage)
Damn Daniel!
My calendar shows the same, but pricing is updated when selecting the dates…
@starkers: Got it thanks! So I really have absolutely no idea on each days price until manually checking. Ouch.
famichiki is like crack
For me, it's the 7 Eleven egg sando. The best fast food sandwich.
never tried but i do love me a good egg salad sandwich!
Family Mart and Lawson have them too and each are a bit different. All pretty good but I like 7 Eleven the most.
@ozbargainer88: Recently there. 7-11 egg sando , or the 3 types pack for the price can't be beat. Also preferred it to the other two's offerings.
Have you put a Nanachiki and egg sando together before?
7-11 here now do an amazing Egg Sando in a brioche roll. It's $7 so not cheap, but it's absolutely on point
Wash it down with a Familymart strawberry milk drink, with a whole strawberry (in pea-size chunks) in the bottle. Or their melon drink, with chunks of melon.
They're made by Familymart though, so you can't buy it anywhere else.
7 Eleven has the best overall, but Lawson do some great deals where they absolutely pack 2 sandwiches full of egg for just a few yen more.
Unpopular opinion, but the Lawson and 7-11 fried chicken are far better. Famichiki is alright but very greasy with not as much chicken
Lawson Karaage-kun is the best
This man knows
It is personally my favourite as well especially the “red” ones
Yes, that is an unpopular opinion. Famichiki is the best. Lawson's was second and 7-Eleven last, only because inside the 7-Eleven, I tried their fried chicken, they had a smoking room, and it immediately put me off lol.
I think it has a layer of skin. I think its nice.
There oden is pretty good in winter as well.
Is it really famichicki without the egg?
Egg sandwich meet famichicki.
Equivalent of a tourist coming to Australia and eating a pie at 7 Eleven.
Nice
Yeah I don’t understand the ‘sando’ craze, last thing I want in Asia is a sandwich
It's cheap and filling and tastes good.
Great for those that are penny pinching.
Edit: and if you need something quick to smash down
My first time in Japan - I didn't have any of these famous sandwiches (even though I knew about them). The second time in Japan (and towards the end of my trip), I was super hungry and decided to give one a go - and legit it didn't disappoint. Everyone is different, but I wouldn't compare them to eating a pie at 7/11 - as (IMO) pies are way more expensive and not that great, compared to the egg sandwiches (and of which come in different varieties). I think they are great value, especially as a snack. In saying that, Japan food is pretty cheap (at least when I went due to the YEN being weak) and pretty good overall. So, I did find it hard to pick and choose what to eat as it was all soooo good.
Soooo.. where do we get those sandwiches here in Oz, why do we need to travel there, why so many Korean BBQ places popping up when all we want are cheap egg sandwiches??
anything from Sydney to Seoul?
SYD to Seoul from $170 (1 May - 20 June 2026)
It says that but cheapest is $349 one way when I click it…..
Club Jetstar only for today, you can see discounted fares from tomorrow
Are there any discounted flights that don't transit thru Cairns? My bro is moving to Japan, wouldn't mind seeing him but coming from Tas I'm wondering if it's worth booking this far ahead if it's got two stopovers..
I believe all the Tokyo flights are via Cairns. Osaka has direct flights from Sydney, however.
Also direct from Brisbane. Just a pity that legroom is almost non existent or I'd book.
J* fly to Narita from Brisbane direct
I would avoid stop overs at all costs. Twice I was stranded at a jetstar stop over in australia. as it happens both Japan trips
Any deals Melbourne to Seoul?
Starting from $270 (1 - 28th May 2026).
Err is there anything to do in cairns airport to kill 5 and a half hours?
Sadly nothing at the airport, but the CBD is a very quick <10min taxi if you're comfortable leaving the terminal for a quick trip down the Esplanade!
hungry jacks spin and win
I remember the first time I went through it was cool going to the HJs at the airport because it was branded burger king still.
Any North Korea deal? More exciting experience.
They built a new resort I hear….
Only open to some Russian tourists…
And Chinese tourists…
Brave, a man who live on the edge. Anyway, can I have your eneloops? You won't need them where you're going.
Yea, a couple.
The deals are called
'you no come back' deal OR
'bye bye' deal
/joke
Let me guess, cheapest deals are in their deathly Summer?
May/June is lovely! Only starts heating up in early-June.
In Tokyo, May typically experiences pleasant spring weather with average high temperatures around 24.8°C (76.6°F) and lows around 15.6°C (60.1°F). The month is generally sunny, with a refreshing breeze, and is considered a great time for sightseeing and enjoying outdoor activities.
Its not the heat that people complain about - its the humidity! Summer months reaching 80% humidity on many days
Aussies complaining about humidity 😂
We went to Tokyo and Osaka in June of the last 2 years, respectively, and it was awesome. Long days, balmy nights, light luggage and easy clothing.
I was in Tokyo back in June 2025, and the temperature was 35C during daytime.
Heatwave in the June/July period. Temperatures didnt drop below 30 even at night, and with the high humidity it was unrelenting. Even the locals were struggling.
May is border line hot. June's more deathly.
you get rain in first weeks of May too, but not typhoons
Just a heads up 29 Apr – 5 May 2026 is Golden Week. Which a string of back-to-back public holidays in Japan that is celebrated. and the one week in a year that every Japanese person gets off work, so if you are in Japan during that period expect some huge crowds (especially Shinkansen stations) and pricier-than-usual hotel stays.
I was just in Tokyo for golden week this year. If you have to go in this period, book your Shinkansen tickets 2 months ahead online as soon as it opens up. Otherwise expect queue hell, the lineup of tourists without seat bookings was seven carriages long! (Only the first two carriages per train are for unreserved seat tickets)
I was there over Golden Week this year. Flew down to southern Kyushu and didn't feel busy at all. Second half in Tokyo did feel busier than usual but not as bad as social media seems to make it
Going into or staying in Tokyo would be fine, it's definitely not as bad as they all say. However the Shinkansen leaving Tokyo during Golden Week is a madhouse as all the domestic passengers leave to visit family outside of the city. Trains which were always on time to the minute were all late when I was there.
what happens to people without seat bookings? do they even fit on the train?
I think the main issue is that hotel prices go up significantly during Golden Week — often doubling, even for lower-quality places. Shinkansen tickets can be a bit tricky to book, but if you reserve at least 2–3 days in advance, there are usually still some seats available on the day. Last time, I traveled from Osaka to Sapporo without much trouble. As for crowds, it doesn't feel drastically more crowded since popular spots are already packed most of the time anyway.
Neo plabes are the worst, seats like a rock, no leg room 6 hrs from Bali was enough
the overnight flight on jetstar for over 8 hours last time from asia took away all the good vibes I got from the week long holiday itself.
Yeah those are horrific, never been able to sleep for a single minute personally. Just wrecked for half the next week trying to catch up on rest.
Business class is much better. It's not full business as reported. Have taken many flights mainly to Bali on Dreamliner ex Brisbane plus Tokyo. Worth splurging if decent price available. Seat is not lay flat but space and service are very good.
Damn, I’ve got that coming up. ICN to SYD, I paid for extra leg room at least…
Hmm that bad? Unfortunately it seems the return trip is solely overnight for Jetstar should one book it…
Looks like the sale isnt available from Brisbane to Tokyo until May, unless im missing something.
As in we can't book till May? Or the flights don't start till May?
I'm finding some okay prices, but not sale prices. Best I've got after going through checkout is about $600 return.
The $150~ one way prices arent available until May it seems
That's still ambiguous :p flying in May? Or purchasing in May? Seems odd that we wouldn't be able to purchase flights until May.
And if you mean flying in May…well that's what the deal is. Cheap May/June flights.
Narita = no good
Not necessarily:
- flying to elsewhere in Japan is usually cheaper vs HND
- T3 while very basic (low cost terminal) actually makes it really fast and efficient
- arguably better for Tokyo Disney Resort
- probably better if you're heading north out of Tokyo anyway?
Ex BNE, I'll take the extra 30 minute train ride for a direct flight to Narita over wasting 5 hours flying via somewhere else
Only 5 mins in it if staying around Ueno - and no need to change coming on Skyliner
Brisbane <-> Seoul: $266 return next year.
did you find this price for before march?
I didn't look - just checked in May (which was the month it took me to).
how is Seoul in first week of may?
booked for Seoul - 1st week of may next year.
hopefully decent weather.
Pretty good weather. Warm in day time and cool at night. Just in case how much was it? I'm not club member
return flight from syd + 20kg bag for both flight + club jetstar member ship = $435.96
Need more familymart socks
They’re so good. I regret only getting two pairs last time
I've been to Japan before but never heard of these FamilyMart socks - did a quick google and it seems that it has a following and being rated as pretty comfy overall. I'm heading to Japan later on in the year and will check them out! Hopefully they are legit good (and not so much of a souvenir/cult following). Thanks for the rec!!
why can they do simple things and make simple products so well over there and here we have to put up with mediocre. It's not like we pay any less price wise here, the quality of everything is just mediocre from socks, to public transport, to services, to housing.
I wonder about this all the time and I think it boils down to their cultural upbringing in which they vehemently care about their (visible) impacts towards others.
It leads to striving for perfection, to not taking other's property (including not gouging you even though you may have limited options), to giving your child somewhere to sleep at a yakiniku restaurant because they see you carrying her (true story).
Compare that to loyalty taxes here, to 5-10x price at 7/11 vs supermarket, to actively defying mask mandates during COVID times.
It is however the same culture that leads to excessive overtime even though they're not doing anything, and to minding their own business and not help others that might be in need. In these examples the impact on others are not visible on an individual level.
TL;DR - they care much more about how they're perceived by others and this can be good and bad.
no direct from Melbourne by the looks of it
Not on Jetstar anymore. Sadly they abandoned us, as have other airlines, despite the popularity.
MEL departures I saw on this sale with a decent duration (i.e. as direct as possible) are all between 6am and 6.45am. Urgh.
business from $899 AKA Economy Premium