madbrain

Found accidentally by looking up fares on google flights :

One way nonstop flight SJC-NRT on 11/23 :
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...11-27;tt=o;s=0
Showing $1073 as of this reading.

Add nonstop NRT-SGN one week later on 11/30:
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...-30;tt=m;s=0,0
Now it drops to $777 - savings of $296 !

It gets better :
Add SGN-SFO another week later (this one with a stop) on 12/7 :

https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...-07;tt=m;s=0,0
Now it drops to $711, saving another $66 .

Edit : found another one for $702 by changing the last leg to SGN-LAX :
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...-07;tt=m;s=0,0

Or $686 by changing the last leg to SGN-SEA :
https://www.google.com/flights/#sear...-07;tt=m;s=0,0

Questions :

1) why does skiplagged.com not find any of this ? Is it because of the United lawsuit ?

2) if you are only traveling SJC-NRT and don't care about the other 2 flights, is there any reason not to book this and just throw away the other 2 tickets ?

3) SGN (Vietnam) needs a visa.

Is there any chance that the airline would ask to see the Vietnam on 11/23, the day of the initial SJC-NRT flight ? Could they deny boarding if it's not there ?

4) if not flying those flights #2 and #3, is there any way that makes sense to cancel and reschedule the flight for a later date ? Or do you just have to throw them away ?

5) can I just keep adding more and more flights and drop the ticket price even more ;-) ?

6) what's the best way to find these kind of hidden city deals ? skiplagged doesn't seem to be it ..

nomii

Put a longer than 1 week delay so you can say "I will be getting my vietnam visa in tokyo". Or worst case, pay the $25 online fees to a vietnamese agency to give you the invitation letter.

No issues otherwise. Reason for price drop is likely because taxes/fees from Vietnam are cheaper.

madbrain

Thanks.

I just learned that French citizens are now visa-exempt for stays of < 15 days in Vietnam as of a few months ago, so I guess I don't even need to do that. I can just show my second passport if they ask.

That doesn't seem to be the case, at least it's not shown in the tax breakdown.
When booking the first flight by itself at $1073, the taxes shown are only $29.90 according to Orbitz.

s0ssos

Actually there is now competition for the Visa-on-arrival letter, so you can get it for under $10

foreigncontent

it actually make sense to book it, since last time I flew to Japan on a one-way ticket the airline wouldn't let me board without an exit ticket (even though the japanese consulate said it wasn't a requirement). so thanks for the trick, could be useful next time i go

madbrain

Where, if you don't mind me asking ? My husband may need one.

s0ssos

VietnamImmigration.org $8

I used them last time (used another one time prior). Quick, easy, no issues.

madbrain

Thank you !