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 (via Flighthacker.com, http://ow.ly/obh8)
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