Airfares to Tokyo from the US?
Feb 22, 2009, 7:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 12
Airfares to Tokyo from the US?
My son is going to Japan for the summer. I know a lot about getting good rates on airfares in the US, but have no clue about Japan. I would love to help him save money. If anyone has tips, I'd sure appreciate it.
Feb 22, 2009, 7:59 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW/SEA
Programs: *A Silver, AA Gold + Miles Scattered Everywhere.
Posts: 2,045
check the mileage run deals forum frequently. there's always good deals if you know where to look.
if you could tell us more details such as where he'll be flying out of and approximate dates it would help!
As for airlines that fly to Japan, Northwest(Delta) and United have the most flights into and out of Tokyo.
Alot of times you'll find some good deals with travel agents as they have negotiated fares with the airlines.
if you could tell us more details such as where he'll be flying out of and approximate dates it would help!
As for airlines that fly to Japan, Northwest(Delta) and United have the most flights into and out of Tokyo.
Alot of times you'll find some good deals with travel agents as they have negotiated fares with the airlines.
Feb 22, 2009, 9:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,631
If your son is a student (and/or under the age of 24) you should check with a student-oriented travel agency like STA. They often get really good bulk fares from the airlines. A couple of summers ago, for instance, I got a one-way ticket from the East Coast to Tokyo on NWA for about $400 all-in when the cheapest round trips were selling for $1500.
Feb 23, 2009, 6:55 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 12
check the mileage run deals forum frequently. there's always good deals if you know where to look.
if you could tell us more details such as where he'll be flying out of and approximate dates it would help!
As for airlines that fly to Japan, Northwest(Delta) and United have the most flights into and out of Tokyo.
Alot of times you'll find some good deals with travel agents as they have negotiated fares with the airlines.
if you could tell us more details such as where he'll be flying out of and approximate dates it would help!
As for airlines that fly to Japan, Northwest(Delta) and United have the most flights into and out of Tokyo.
Alot of times you'll find some good deals with travel agents as they have negotiated fares with the airlines.
And yes, he is a student. He's 20. He's an Electrical Engineering student at NC State, who is getting a Minor in Japanese.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help already. I really appreciate it!
Feb 23, 2009, 9:14 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: DFW/SEA
Programs: *A Silver, AA Gold + Miles Scattered Everywhere.
Posts: 2,045
weird...i have a friend i met on my study abroad program from NC state..at first i thought it was the same person. nevermind. but this person i think he said that he drove to Atlanta to catch his flight- didn't seem much cheaper to me + he had to overnight in lax?
definitely check out STA travel..all my friends book their tickets there. im seeing around 1200 for your son's dates. Also I hear student universe is pretty good for students as well. otherwise use the ITA too to find flights..it's a very useful tool. you can find fares there but you can't book it there...take the dates you find and input them into expedia or any majro online booking engine to make your reservation.
hope your son enjoys japan as much as I did..if he has any questions don't hesistate to ask me or any other FT member here. I'm the same age as him so i'll probably have some insight/tips that he would probably be interested in.
definitely check out STA travel..all my friends book their tickets there. im seeing around 1200 for your son's dates. Also I hear student universe is pretty good for students as well. otherwise use the ITA too to find flights..it's a very useful tool. you can find fares there but you can't book it there...take the dates you find and input them into expedia or any majro online booking engine to make your reservation.
hope your son enjoys japan as much as I did..if he has any questions don't hesistate to ask me or any other FT member here. I'm the same age as him so i'll probably have some insight/tips that he would probably be interested in.
Feb 23, 2009, 11:10 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I agree that if you're not willing or able to seek out your own airfares, you need a travel agent. They may charge a modest amount, but they do the legwork for you and often have special connections.
If NC State is like other large universities, it has at least one travel agency that specializes in cheap fares for students. Your son is old enough to make these inquiries on his own, and the experience will be good for him, good practice for living on his own in Japan.
If NC State is like other large universities, it has at least one travel agency that specializes in cheap fares for students. Your son is old enough to make these inquiries on his own, and the experience will be good for him, good practice for living on his own in Japan.
Feb 24, 2009, 12:33 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,631
Another strategy which sometimes saves money is to take Southwest or another LCC to a West Coast gateway (LAX, for instance) and then connect to a cheaper transpacific flight there. LAX is a particularly competitive market to Japan so the fares from there can be very cheap.
Mar 1, 2009, 10:51 pm
#12
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,886
And remember: ALWAYS check consolidator agencies from the US to Japan. They are an important part of the market, very possibly the majority, and will never show on an airline website.
Mar 16, 2009, 1:05 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 711
On www.airfarewatchdog.com you can put in an International destination (NRT for Narita, Japan in this case) and the site will show you all the good deals from the U.S. to that city. I don't see any currently for the summer, but it doesn't hurt to keep monitoring the site.
Mar 16, 2009, 2:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 5
THANK YOU!
On www.airfarewatchdog.com you can put in an International destination (NRT for Narita, Japan in this case) and the site will show you all the good deals from the U.S. to that city. I don't see any currently for the summer, but it doesn't hurt to keep monitoring the site.
Denise