Flying home... where to buy tickets?

[J.A.F.O]

Well its been about four years since going back. So far it's been cheaper flying my family here to visit me than trying to take the whole clan home. I can't put it off any longer though. So my question is: What has been everyones preferred travel agency or carrier, or even modus operandi? So far United has had the cheapest fairs even taking into account exchange rates with JAL and ANA. Heading to Detroit if it's relevant and looking to leave early February. Any thoughts or suggestions would really be appreciated. Thank You very much for your time guys.

[Samurai_Jerk]

These days travel agencies aren't any cheaper than using online travel sites like Expedia. I do shop around but they've generally seemed to have the best prices the last few years. If you're using a US credit card, buy through their US site to avoid the surcharge for overseas purchases. If you're using a Japanese card, go with the Japan site.

[wagyl]

The grabbag of airfare aggregator sites I check:
http://www.kayak.com/ strengths are US based flights and the ability to filter for length of time in transit and by alliance groups
http://www.momondo.com strengths are European flights

I don't use it, but https://www.hipmunk.com/ is also good for US, apparently.

As far as airlines go, I have no loyalty except to perceived value for money, and prefer to limit time lost in transit to within four hours.

Allow yourself to be a bit creative, and include consideration of transit through Worst Korea or Taiwan.

[waruta]

Try skyscanner.net (or .com) and click on the "whole month" to see the airfare difference if you are flexible. Google flights is pretty useless at the moment, but I've had good luck with skyscanner as they even list flights that are not available for purchase from the airline itself (probably because an agent like expedia bought up a block of their seats ahead of time).

[Mike Oxlong]

Just saw this recently, maybe it helps a bit.

http://thriftynomads.com/booking-cheape ... -anywhere/

[inflames]

Grandparents live in Grosse Pointe and I usually just avoid going back there because I have to go through Detroit, which is a complete shithole now (though it's been that way for 20+ years, but I was there in December and it's even worse - I have to get off 94 in Detroit, then go cross a street into Harper Woods - the road in Detroit was full of potholes, then cross the street and everything is a ton better).

That being said, I prefer taking United to ANA or JAL. I don't have to deal with their flight attendants' shithead attitudes (on JAL, one of the flight attendants came up and asked the woman next to me, who was a complete stranger, if I spoke Japanese and on ANA they constantly spoke keigo to the Chinese dude next to me, who rather clearly didn't understand a thing, and simply just shoved some picture menu card in my face without saying a word). I just bought my tickets through Orbitz and then got seat assignments on the United site. They had wi-fi (for $13 for the flight) plus free streaming video (if on an iPhone/iPad or Android device, you need their app first).

If just going to Detroit I'd be very tempted to just fly Delta if the non-stop is cheap to avoid a connection.

[J.A.F.O]

Thanks for all the input guys I appreciate it. Right now we're looking at flying into Toronto and puddle jumping to Detroit. Like Inflames said I'm not exactly enthusiastic about heading to Chi town (Pops) or the Motor City (Moms)Thankfully they all moved out to the outlying cities years ago, but still not fun. Every time I come back from a visit people here say I get cold and mean. I can believe it.

[inflames]

Shit.... I'm actually from Chicago - I just took 94 the entire way to go to Detroit. No way I would compare Chicago and Detroit - Chicago has unsafe neighborhoods, but the north side and downtown/the loop are fine (just use common sense). When I visited Detroit in 2006, I got told that there was a robbery gone bad at the local donut place (right off of 94, which is now a cell phone place) and 3 people got killed. I didn't bother spending any time in Detroit (other than on 94 and getting off of 94) but it looks fucking terrible - like every third house was abandoned and falling apart (I heard stuff and figured it couldn't be that bad and, well, I turned out to be wrong).

If you're going to both Chicago and Detroit, going to a travel agent will probably be worth it. What you want to do (and places like Expedia and Orbitz basically don't do) is buy a ticket with a stopover. For example, if you buy Tokyo->Chicago (on Delta), and your flights will basically be Tokyo->Detroit->Chicago. Even cheap ass economy fares have a free stopover, so you simply have the travel agent book you Tokyo-> Detroit (stopover)->Chicago.

[Samurai_Jerk]

If you're going to both Chicago and Detroit, going to a travel agent will probably be worth it. What you want to do (and places like Expedia and Orbitz basically don't do) is buy a ticket with a stopover.

You can buy tickets with stopovers on Expedia. You just choose Multiple Destinations when checking flights. I've done it several times.

expedia.jpg

[J.A.F.O]

Shit.... I'm actually from Chicago - I just took 94 the entire way to go to Detroit. No way I would compare Chicago and Detroit - Chicago has unsafe neighborhoods, but the north side and downtown/the loop are fine (just use common sense). When I visited Detroit in 2006, I got told that there was a robbery gone bad at the local donut place (right off of 94, which is now a cell phone place) and 3 people got killed. I didn't bother spending any time in Detroit (other than on 94 and getting off of 94) but it looks fucking terrible - like every third house was abandoned and falling apart (I heard stuff and figured it couldn't be that bad and, well, I turned out to be wrong).

If you're going to both Chicago and Detroit, going to a travel agent will probably be worth it. What you want to do (and places like Expedia and Orbitz basically don't do) is buy a ticket with a stopover. For example, if you buy Tokyo->Chicago (on Delta), and your flights will basically be Tokyo->Detroit->Chicago. Even cheap ass economy fares have a free stopover, so you simply have the travel agent book you Tokyo-> Detroit (stopover)->Chicago.

Yea I'm not lumping them together either just that they are no places to fool around in. Maybe 20 years ago they were more similar but nowadays I just pity the place. Dearbornistan was the most shocking to me for some reason.

I only have to head to Detroit though. I still have access to vehicles there so I'll be driving to Chi town. Well south of it anyways.

[wangta]

Which J airport are you departing from? When I went home from my last job I got a good deal at a J travel agent in Osaka - I think it was JT. I lived in a bumfuck town but went all the way to Osaka to buy my ticket as my creepy scumbag of a boss liked to be all up in her teachers' biz and even went to the bother of asking the local travel agencies if I had booked my ticket with them.

I went from Japan to Korea for a week (working there sucks but I enjoy the country for a holiday) and then home to Oz. The airfare was 120,000 yen and it was a major airline which turned out to have the best service I've encountered flying.

Then again it seems you're taking a family with you so probably there aint good family deals for somebody with partner and kids in tow.

[wagyl]

But how did they serve the macadamias?

[J.A.F.O]

But how did they serve the macadamias?

Apparently better than than this "worst" korean airline:

Vice President of Korean Air loses job after ‘nut rage’ incident on KA flight

Korea Airlines.jpg

Korean Air's shamed former executive, Heather Cho, has been arrested in Seoul as a result of her behavior in the now infamous "nut rage" incident.

[Russell]

At least they served nuts...

[Coligny]

Staff 'ordered fit-to-fly certificate after hearing his throat could close up'

I don't know what to think...

The whole "merkins have them god damn right to eat the nuts" sounds st00pid...

But the "fit to fly" part is more or less sound... If only they could ground close to term preggers too... The amount of misunderstanding between the legit "right to travel" and the much more limited "right to be an entitled moron" is growing every minute...

[J.A.F.O]

Staff 'ordered fit-to-fly certificate after hearing his throat could close up'

I don't know what to think...

The whole "merkins have them god damn right to eat the nuts" sounds st00pid...

But the "fit to fly" part is more or less sound... If only they could ground close to term preggers too... The amount of misunderstanding between the legit "right to travel" and the much more limited "right to be an entitled moron" is growing every minute...

American Airlines are flaming assholes even by Mercan standards. But this family (surprisingly) makes AA just look like a plane rectum by comparison. In anycase no one has "rights" on a plane except the captain if memory serves. Aviation law being more or less a mirror of admiralty law. I guess I'm just saying fuck everyone in involved.

Deadpool-Vegetarians.jpg

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Delta fly Detroit direct and have a price guarantee on their site also. Nothing special but never had an issue with them on the NRT-DTW route even in terrible weather. An agent may be worth it with the family and some off them are good on pricing but may slug you in Japan with a credit card surcharge. What an agent may get you over websites is cheaper class upgrades if you are that way inclined.

[inflames]

I flew Asiana back home in 2013 and no nuts there, but the only beer they had in the lounge was Korean beer (even Koreans don't drink that shit - Cass and Hite) which was a fucking crime.

One more thing I remembered - in Toronto (and, I'm guessing, any Canadian airport with US preclearance) they have a new transit system for US bound passengers - basically you preclear the US in Canada. Sounds good, right? Yeah, except you have to wait in some small area until your bags are cleared. It took around an hour for my bags to get cleared in 2013 and it wasn't busy then. Even the signs for immigration there were fucked up - nobody knew which line to get in, and so people were going into the wrong line.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I flew Asiana back home in 2013 and no nuts there, but the only beer they had in the lounge was Korean beer (even Koreans don't drink that shit - Cass and Hite) which was a fucking crime.

Beer fag alert.

[matsuki]

I flew Asiana back home in 2013 and no nuts there, but the only beer they had in the lounge was Korean beer (even Koreans don't drink that shit - Cass and Hite) which was a fucking crime.

Beer fag alert.

Yeah, most Koreans I know are all about Hite.

[J.A.F.O]

Delta fly Detroit direct and have a price guarantee on their site also. Nothing special but never had an issue with them on the NRT-DTW route even in terrible weather. An agent may be worth it with the family and some off them are good on pricing but may slug you in Japan with a credit card surcharge. What an agent may get you over websites is cheaper class upgrades if you are that way inclined.

Thanks ODG, The wife was actually digging into this route over the weekend. It's looking more and more like the way we're going to go.

I went from Japan to Korea for a week (working there sucks but I enjoy the country for a holiday) and then home to Oz. The airfare was 120,000 yen and it was a major airline which turned out to have the best service I've encountered flying.

One of these days I'm going to visit worst korea. I'm so japanized now that when I see an asian face I just assume they speak japanese. For now though I just need the break. Too many moving parts going on at the Dojo right now and I'm getting burned out.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I'm so japanized now that when I see an asian face I just assume they speak japanese.

Wouldn't that mean you're not Japanized?

[J.A.F.O]

Wouldn't that mean you're not Japanized?

Yes, looking at it from that way. Just makes me look like an (Bigger) ass when I break out the shitty nihongo for someone who speaks perfect English... even after making it clear they speak English.

[kurogane]

Beer fag alert.

As ardent a supporter of the Beer Fag Alert programme as I am, he did say it was Korean in nature, which means it's probably garbage advertised as rare pearls.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Beer fag alert.

As ardent a supporter of the Beer Fag Alert programme as I am, he did say it was Korean in nature, which means it's probably garbage advertised as rare pearls.

I can't speak for the advertising but that's one area where Koreans seem to be realistic. Korea beer is very light, pissy, and low quality (but cheap as hell in Korea) and they know it. It's not good or bad as it doesn't have much taste but it's definitely better than happoshu or Heartland.

[kurogane]

I had one Korean beer a long time ago, and that was it for me. Awful. Heartland seems to be one everybody but me agrees on. I think I just like the funky bottle. It goes fine with a Tonkatsu set. Isn't it supposed to be a sort of premium beer? I have seen it in bars where it’s more expensive than Heineken or regular Japanese beer.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Isn't it supposed to be a sort of premium beer? I have seen it in bars where it’s more expensive than Heineken or regular Japanese beer.

Are those bars in Japan or overseas? Heartland is cheaper than most Japanese beers and often served at budget izakayas.

[kurogane]

In Kyoto In bars run by what we used to call terrorist types. I always smelled something fishy about that, and wondered why it was priced so high only at Abdul's Kebab Hookah and Pussy Haven. Very clever business that. Those bars get a lot of tourists that wouldn't know any better and maybe get fooled by the funky bottle. And this isn't the bigger 500 ml bottle; it's the 12 oz one.

I've only ever drank it with the Tonkatsu set at the local greasy spoon. Washes pig meat down just fine.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Well its been about four years since going back. So far it's been cheaper flying my family here to visit me than trying to take the whole clan home. I can't put it off any longer though. So my question is: What has been everyones preferred travel agency or carrier, or even modus operandi? So far United has had the cheapest fairs even taking into account exchange rates with JAL and ANA. Heading to Detroit if it's relevant and looking to leave early February. Any thoughts or suggestions would really be appreciated. Thank You very much for your time guys.

i am firmly an Emirates girl, but i realise that's kind of going the wrong direction for you.
if you can book early enough, i'd go ana with their tabiwari fares.

[Samurai_Jerk]

In Kyoto In bars run by what we used to call terrorist types. I always smelled something fishy about that, and wondered why it was priced so high only at Abdul's Kebab Hookah and Pussy Haven. Very clever business that. Those bars get a lot of tourists that wouldn't know any better and maybe get fooled by the funky bottle. And this isn't the bigger 500 ml bottle; it's the 12 oz one.

I've only ever drank it with the Tonkatsu set at the local greasy spoon. Washes pig meat down just fine.

After I posted I wondered if it wasn't big bottles that were more. Very smart. Heartland isn't a brand known outside of Japan and the bottle definitely gives it a more premium look. I'll drink Asahi Super Dry, Bud, and Coors Light no problem but I really can't stand Heartland.

FWIW I think Korean beer is better than it used to be. It's still not great and definitely not worth paying premium import prices for but when in Seoul I'll definitely take it over imported Japanese or European beer (imports are really expensive in Korea). I don't mind paying a couple of extra bucks for a better beer but when it's two or three dollars a pint versus ten or twelve for something boring like Guinness or Fosters, Korean beer starts tasting OK. Plus it goes fine with the local food though the locals tend to drink soju or makgeolli when they eat. Except with friend chicken. Friend chicken and beer is standard there and they make damn good friend chicken. If any of you in Tokyo are ever in the mood for Korean friend chicken, I strongly recommend Shin-chan in Shin Okubo. Their grilled chicken is good too. The extra spicy grilled chicken is not to be taken lightly.