Japan Travel in Feb - Book Flights Now or Wait for Sale?

Interested to hear what the bargain brains trust thinks.

A group of friends and myself will be travelling to Japan in Feb 2023. We've been watching flight prices steadily climb over the past few weeks (not by a huge amount though).

In the past there's been plenty of sales between now our our travel date; but with Japan just having fully re-opened, we're in two minds as to whether or not there'll be any sales.

On one hand, Jetstar may wish to get initial seat numbers on the board, and have a few sales to get these. There's also increasing interest rates, maybe less people willing to travel now? They had a "return for free" sale a month or two ago, but entry to Japan was severely restricted then.

On the other hand, demand may exceed supply, so no reason for a sale.

What are your thoughts, bite the bullet or wait for a sale?

UPDATE 18/10/22: Booked… for about $1250. Prices steadily climbing and I got spooked.

Poll Options expired

  • 24
    Buy now
  • 11
    Wait for sale

Comments

  • I guess the pandemic has changed the playing field too much, but there used to be good sales (for Japan flights) around Valentines day, so your timing is a bit unlucky wrt that.

    It will still be quite cold in Feb and, March (Cherry Blossoms) / April / May, much nicer weather in my experience.

    Depends on what you want to do there though.. Which the weather / seasons may influence your timing?

    If you're stuck on Feb, I'd personally wait til at least Dec, if prices are crap now.

    • +1

      Yeah the playing field has definitely changed, too hard to predict :-(.

      Stuck on Feb. Cold is good! (Going for the snow).

      I think last time we went it was about $800 return including luggage, that wasn't even on sale (or was a very mild sale). Right now it's about $1200. Was around $1000 a couple of weeks ago.

      • Last I bought tickets was with Qantas, $1600 return for 2 adults (MEL-KIX) inc chosen seats etc. Bought around this time in 2019 for the next Spring in Japan, which was cancelled. But that was a good fare with Q.

        • Which airline mate, and to/from which city?

          • @freewhere: Since nismo already said which City I assume you're asking me.
            BNE/OOL to NRT. I'm in Bris, but flights are always cheaper (and direct) from Gold Coast.
            Jetstar seems to be the only direct flight, which is also around the same price as Scoot's multi-leg via Singapore.

  • Jetstar Return for Free Sale - our Feb tix were $450 each return a real ozbargainer will wait.

  • I just booked with Qantas, 3rd Feb to 10th March, for $1030. Definitely predicting it will go up, but either way I want it locked in and the price isn't too bad.

  • We had points saved up so purchased rewards seats. Family of 4. I think we had to pay ~$700 in cash on top of classic rewards. ADL - Cairns - KIX and return Narita - OOL - ADL in March, flying with Jetstar. The cheapest airfare I could find at the time was $3600 for all of us via Singapore airlines but definitely didn’t fancy the layover.

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