Jetstar: Japan on sale, Gold Coast to Tokyo for $393 return including tax!
5 Sep
Fly low to Tokyo! Photo Credit: Ali Nishan
Jetstar have dropped the Godzilla on their fares to Japan, offering direct flights between the Gold Coast and Tokyo for an amazing $393 return, including tax! Strangely enough, they’re also offering “sale” fares between Sydney and Tokyo (via Gold Coast) for a much less amazing $614 return, despite fares between Sydney and the Gold Coast coming nowhere near the $212 difference. In a similar fashion, fares between Melbourne and Tokyo (via Gold Coast) are selling for $666 return. Personally, I just don’t like that price tag.
My advice:
- From Brisbane/Gold Coast, purchase the $393 Gold Coast - Tokyo tickets and go for broke
- From Sydney, purchase the $393 Gold Coast - Tokyo tickets and match them with Jetstar’s 6:15/8:45am flight to the Gold Coast, 9:40am flight back (~$138 return, save $83)
- From Melbourne, purchase the $393 Gold Coast - Tokyo tickets and match them with Tiger Airways’ 6:50am flight to the Gold Coast, 13:05pm flight back (~$176 return, save $97)
- Virgin Blue and Tiger also run flights between the Gold Coast and Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and regional centres. Check AirNinja.com for advice.
Plus some additional fare-matching tips:
- Search for fares from November onwards. October availability is spotty, especially if you’re planning to match your Gold Coast – Tokyo flights with domestic legs
- Do plan to arrive at the international terminal at least two hours prior to the scheduled departure to Tokyo and leave about the same between the scheduled arrival back in the Gold Coast and your connecting domestic segment
Please note that all fares are calculated based on no check-in baggage allowance and a bit of legwork via Adioso.com. Sale fares also exist for Cairns – Tokyo, plus from the Gold Coast to Osaka. Sale is on now, until 9 September, for travel between 1 October – 15 December. Check out Jetstar’s sale page for further details and to book. Harajuku ho!
Not as good as their previous sales, but not too bad if you live on the gold coast.
Just be warned that your hotel rooms in Japan arent particularly cheap, so either save up a lot of cash or keep the trip short.
Tokyo certainly isn’t cheap, however it can be done on a budget if you’re willing to a) stay at a backpackers/hostel, or b) shop around. There are central hotels available for a touch less than $100 a night, which is about the same price point as a budget stay in the Melbourne CBD.
The great news is that Tokyo transport is so efficient, that you can get from a to b in Metro Tokyo cheaply, regardless of which district you stay in.
I’m about to post another hack which may help with the hotel woes, stay tuned!