Yeah, I think I will take that advice! I have always booked direct but usually fly in Y so can afford to pay the full whack. Doing it through a TA let me spread it over a few months. In hindsight, it’s extremely frustrating and I should have just booked economy flights and then paid to upgrade as I could afford. I was worried there wouldn’t be the opportunity to do this but this forum has been useful and I’ve discovered expert flyer.

Another thing that pissed me off about the TA was that he spent a lot of time speaking down to me, trying to sell me trips and experiences, and trying to frighten me that I wouldn’t be able to get around Japan without a constant guide (which of course, he could arrange) ‘you don’t want to be muddling through when you have an autistic child with you, Madam’. I politely explained that I have always been an independent traveller, I’m not afraid to get lost or figure things out, I would not put myself or my son in any situation I felt he couldn’t handle, and that I will be doing my research before I go, as I do for any country. What do I know though. Silly woman ��

(sorry for not posting in the appropriate forum though, possibly proving my TA right that i’ll Get lost and [mess] up) ��