Looking to possibly travel to Japan with the family in April school holidays next year.
When is the best time to book flights? Would prefer a full service airline (eg not Jetstar) and minimal travel time from Adelaide to Japan (as direct as possible). Not fussed which city we fly into and out of. Any tips for snagging a good deal? What kind of price should I be aiming for return per person?
Thanks!
the best time to book would probably be before April 2025.
That makes sense. Cheers
Jump in Singapore Airlines. Book whenever you see a flight in your budget. Put up with all the other people going at the same time to see some flowers.
Nobody will help you here because they don't have any answers. I'm in exactly the same boat as you in terms of looking for this time - the true answer is that the deals don't exist. The airlines are all over the school holiday high demand period and purposefully only offer deals outside of this period. School holiday period is a total rip off. Me personally - I resent paying those prices and will just continue to accumulate annual leave and never go anywhere. Already up to 900 hours and counting.
Unfortunately wife works in the school system and also doesn't want to take kids out of school.
Dude, You only live once. If you can afford it, don't let money stop you and your fam from living.
I'm surprised if your work has let you accumulated this much AL.
Yeah they keep asking me for A/L plan and I give them one, but just don't book. It's becoming harder now that the balance is up so high.
I can afford it but then I always think about that money could have went to another investment property.
They can force you to take leave at a time that doesn't suit you afaik.
I'm sure those investments properties will give your kid the time of his/life with dad and mum.
You're making it all about you. Don't be selfish and deprive your kids from learning and having fun.
@Ughhh: Those investment properties will give my kids a future in what is an increasingly unfair market. I still do the odd domestic holiday and they have plenty of time to go O/S when they're older in their 20's.
Cash in some annual leave to pay for it. Prices or your circumstances aren't changing.
I cashed in 250 hours two years ago, but they don't like that as they don't get any saving from you taking the leave.
Not a smart place is they are letting you accrue that much. Assuming you get pay rises, they have to pay it at a higher rate in which your accrued it.
I hope you work for the federal government. No way I would accumulate 900 hours in private enterprise.
Take the kids out of school. They are not missing anything. They are gaining an experience. When my kids were still in primary school or early high school i would take them out of school for trips overseas.
One year we did Japan for 2 weeks, india for 2 weeks, vietnam/cambodia for 12 days, china for 9 days. Some of those holidays did overlap with part of term holidays but often not. The school principal was like -"hhmmm, they are missing a lot of school but every staff member is envious of you, and your kids are being exposed to something they wont learn or experience at school, so , enjoy yourselves".
I've never understood the "dont take your kids out of school to travel". Like , if there was a family emergency you'd pull them out in a heart beat. But for a holiday? "Oh no, missing school". One is a bad situation , the other is good. Both involve missing school. Go with the good situation, pull your kids out of school, have a great time, and save a shit ton of money not travelling in peak times. For me it is a no-brainer.
P.s. often leaving the week before school holidays is normal/non-peak rates , and the return fare is usually normal. So kids missing the last week of term is not a big deal.
Do it you own. The only answer is when it's on sale.
ADL-KUL-NRT
NRT-KUL-ADL
is on offer with Malaysian and JAL.
There is some discounting around AUD$1017
Overnight flight so you arrive tired due to lack of sleep but otherwise cheaper. I would pay the $100 more and get a more direct flight so you arrive at night
Go and see a professional travel agent, after all they will have all of the inside info on cheap fares.
IWTF , google flights, and a dozen other sites are better.
And ozbargain. I've bought nearly all my flights from deals listed on ozbargain.
April school holidays and full service airline…..vs….a good deal.
Pick one or the other. Absolute peak season to go to japan for hanami. Done it many years ago and yes it's spectacular. Would certainly go again, the increased travel expenses are worth it (and I usually go to japan once or twice a year)
Nobody has a crystal ball and it’s peak season (school holidays and cherry blossom) so I’d book sooner rather than later. Just have a play on GoogleFlights and set some dates to track. You’ll be on either Malaysia or Singapore
Have a look at China Southern, they just announced a return to Adelaide so might have some deals
What's China Southern like as an airline?
Tolerable, I mean we’re talking economy here but it’s a full service airline
Thanks people. Oldest child will be in year 11 next year so don't really want to travel outside of school holidays this time. I understand we won't get a bargain, but was hoping not to pay absolute top dollar.
There is no direct flight to Japan from Adelaide and for school holidays, sooner the better.