Annual Ski Trip ex Darwin - experiences with booking - this year to Niseko

[here2go]

I thought I would share my booking experiences with various airlines / agents in the booking process.

PAX: 2 adults, 2 children aged 2 and 4.

Plan:
9 Jan: 1515-1815: JQ59 DRW-SIN (Booking 1 - JQ)
9 Jan: 2120-2220: MH610 SIN-KUL (Booking 2 - Expedia)
9 Jan: 2335-0715+1 MH88 KUL-NRT (Booking 2 - Expedia)
12 Jan: 1030-1205 JL511 HND-CTS (Booking 3 - JAL)
19 Jan: 1300-1435 JL510 HND-CTS (Booking 3 - JAL)
22 Jan: 1030-1705 MH89 NRT-KUL (Booking 2 - Expedia)
22 Jan: 1930-2025 MH607 KUL-SIN (Booking 2 - Expedia)
25 Jan: 2220-0430 JQ64 SIN-DRW (Booking 4 - JQ Asia)

Booking 1 - Straightforward JQ.
Booking 2 - Expedia (MH). Easy to make the booking. Perhaps too easy. When the email came back, the QFF was listed as MH Nxx_xx_x. I contacted Expedia, and they said this was normal. Not satisfied, I contacted MH, and got a copy of the itinerary. Came back with correct FF numbers, with OW status listed too. Of interest was that we were listed as having Fruit Platters only. Grumble. Called back to correct this. Don't know where fruit platters came from. Frustrated that I cannot see the booking on the MH Website, and Mercator doesn't have a "CheckMyTrip" portal.

Booking 3 - JAL Callcentre. I wanted Yokoso fares. After wandering into a major chain who had NO IDEA about air passes, I decided to do it myself. After finding JAL don't have an Australian domiciled Yokoso Portal, unlike the US, I called the call centre. I suggest not doing this if you are in a Noise Affected area courtesy when the RAAF are flying their Hornets about.
Anyway, after regurgitating MH ticket numbers, Passport Numbers, Flights, and QFF Numbers, I was told I had to email the lot with scanned passports to a certain address (accent barrier and RAAF made collecting this difficult, and they didn't use the phonetic alphabet).
Interestingly, I had the option to pay in Singapore Dollars or AUD. Difference, SGD30 surcharge vs AUD62 Surcharge. Funnily - I chose to pay in SGD.
After sending it all off the next day, I called to arrange payment. After finding the email, they took the credit card, and said they would send it off to Singapore JAL for ticketing. Another six hours later I get a phone call querying why I wanted a seat for my youngest, as she is under three - she could sit on our laps! I responded that she is a Gaijin Baby, please ticket with 4. Within an hour the ticket turned up. There was no FF details on the tickets, so I called back, and it was all there on the booking. Very odd. Also painful is the fact that the tickets cannot be viewed on their website. I wonder if the their CRS's migration to Travelport later in the year will fix this.

Booking 4 - Jetstar Asia
The flight back to Darwin is the same price, however, the meal and FF Bundle is cheaper (SGD30 vs AUD42).

I did go into a major travel agent chain with this, but they had no idea how airpasses worked, (I was educating them, and I've never touched a GDS or CRS in my life) so I decided to do it all myself.

Booking with JAL and MH makes me appreciate how lucky we are with the Qantas website and to a lesser extent Virgin Australia. I look forward to travelling and doing the report in the new year.

 

[Fifa]

Looks like a great trip and interesting route. I love Japan!

You can upgrade your JAL HND-CTS-HND sectors to business class at check-in.
For only 1,000 yen pp you get a bigger seat at the front (2 x 2) and 40 SC per sector . (No food though, only non-al drinks as served in Y)

 

[here2go]

Looks like a great trip and interesting route. I love Japan!

You can upgrade your JAL HND-CTS-HND sectors to business class at check-in.
For only 1,000 yen pp you get a bigger seat at the front (2 x 2) and 40 SC per sector . (No food though, only non-al drinks as served in Y)

An interesting route, and should be more pleasant than JQ return DRW-MNL-NRT.

With JAL J can you get into the Sakura Lounge? Most of the group has nil status, or QF Silver. That said, don't mind, CTS from memory is a really fun airport, and the only reason to go into a lounge is the beer dispenser.

 

[blu]

JAL JClass upgrade has no lounge access. +1 for the beer dispensers. The NRT Sakura Lounge is a favourite.
We used to use JAL airpasses, but now take a risk with JQ Japan.
I think we paid about $80 with 30kg ski luggage and Row 1 seats last Feb.

 

[here2go]

We used to use JAL airpasses, but now take a risk with JQ Japan.
I think we paid about $80 with 30kg ski luggage and Row 1 last Feb.

I did look at that - but we're meeting up with my best friend from the East Coast who is on an all inclusive fare, so figured it was just as easy to go Airpass. I must admit, I was keen to fly Air Do or Skymark for something a little bit different out of Haneda. Air Do can only be booked through the call centre unless you can read Japanese.... I can order a beer and that is about it!

 

[flying_double]

Of interest was that we were listed as having Fruit Platters only. Grumble. Called back to correct this. Don't know where fruit platters came from.

This must be an Expedia bug. I booked a couple of cheapies to SIN through the .br site during the recent QF Asia sale and when I went into my QFF profile to select a special meal for mrs flying_double, we both had the fruit platter meal as default. Easily fixed online in my case, but frustrating you couldn't access online through MH.

 

[Cynicor]

Why did you not opt for the NRT-CTS JAL flights, if you don't mind my asking?

NRT has fewer JAL flights but timings aren't bad.

You're in for some long days of travel (if not broken up by stopovers). I did your route (from PER) 2-3 years ago and it was torture, tool about 27ish hours to get feet onto the hilton from pushback at PER.

I'm sure you are aware, but HND is about 90+ min away from NRT so the time you save by taking an earlier flight is lost by needing to build in a buffer. Also, get the J upgrade. It's not much better at all but for 1000JPY, you get the points and SCs.

This year I did a similar trip with QF Per-Sin, MH J SIN-NRT and JQ Japan NRT-CTS. Horrible, I wish the direct flight was brought back for winter/Aus Summer.

This year I will do the Yokoso I think, not that much was wrong with JQ, but I'd prefer JAL and interlining.

 

[here2go]

With young kids, the focus has been on LOTS of stopovers and breaks with less sleep interruption. Hence the mid-afternoon JQ departure from DRW on JQ as opposed to 0300 direct via MNL, and mucking around in SIN airport, and a full-service airline from there to Japan. Then we're planning two stopovers in TYO, including Tokyo Disney, and a few days in SIN on the way back for a bit of Zoo and Bird Park action for the kids.

 

[oz_mark]

Booking 1 - Straightforward JQ.
Booking 2 - Expedia (MH). Easy to make the booking. Perhaps too easy. When the email came back, the QFF was listed as MH Nxx_xx_x. I contacted Expedia, and they said this was normal. Not satisfied, I contacted MH, and got a copy of the itinerary. Came back with correct FF numbers, with OW status listed too.

The FF number thing is normal in my experience with booking with Expedia. Always seem to list the marketing carrier, rather than whoever your membership is with. Never had the fruit platter happen though!

 

[Cynicor]

Excellent. Try the river safari rather than the bird park if not especially bird oriented people, it's brand new (soft opening currently) and has pandas. All in the same area/complex.

Also, where are you staying for tokyo Disney? It is worth staying at the bay if you can, I can pm or post my experience of the area and the Disney hotels if you would like, as well as tips for the parks if you haven't been before.

 

[here2go]

Also, where are you staying for tokyo Disney? It is worth staying at the bay if you can, I can pm or post my experience of the area and the Disney hotels if you would like, as well as tips for the parks if you haven't been before.

Current plan is Tokyo Bay Hilton - Happy Magic Room! We could get a higher standard room, but the name is totally excellent!. Have spent a fair whack of time in Singapore, very little Tokyo.

 

[here2go]

Any experience with the Monkey Forest to the NW of Tokyo? Is it worth the expedition?

 

[Fifa]

Any experience with the Monkey Forest to the NW of Tokyo? Is it worth the expedition?

Are you talking about the snow monkeys at Jigokudani?
We have been twice during winter and once stayed in the ryokan right next to the monkey park.
Having said that, we were in the area anyway so it was great being able to visit but I wouldn't travel all that way from Tokyo especially with little kids.
Keep it for another trip when you have more time .

 

[here2go]

Are you talking about the snow monkeys at Jigokudani?
We have been twice during winter and once stayed in the ryokan right next to the monkey park.
Having said that, we were in the area anyway so it was great being able to visit but I wouldn't travel all that way from Tokyo especially with little kids.
Keep it for another trip when you have more time .

Mt Takao Monkey Park Takao Tozan Dentetsu Official Site | Monkey Park and the Wild Plant Garden It's about 50 minutes from the circle line.

 

[Hvr]

Are you talking about the snow monkeys at Jigokudani?
We have been twice during winter and once stayed in the ryokan right next to the monkey park.
Having said that, we were in the area anyway so it was great being able to visit but I wouldn't travel all that way from Tokyo especially with little kids.
Keep it for another trip when you have more time .

I have also been here and loved it. It is a full day from Tokyo and you can see it here: –쉎Œö‰‘ƒ‰ƒCƒuƒJƒ€

It would be hard with little kids because there is a 30 minute walk from the bus stop to the actual onsen.

 

[Cynicor]

What dates for Disney?


Plan your day in advance- Know what rides are most important to you (or the kids).
Get in early use your fast passes to the max.


The newest rides have the longest queues, and their fast passes fill up rapidly.
Fast passes work by inserting your Disneyland ticket into a machine and receiving a pass for a shorter queue at a specified time.


have a look online for what rides and experiences are closed at the time of your visit. The newest you story ride in Disney sea is lots of fun but has long looking queues (only 30-45min in actuality) and i went on it 3 times one morning so patience is key- something hard when you have small kids I imagine.


in Japan, photo opportunities with characters can have queues longer than the rides, so if you want these get in early.

 

[here2go]

What dates for Disney?

Thinking Monday and Tuesday (20-21 Jan). Holidays will be over hopefully for the locals.

 

[Cynicor]

Apparently I've been 4 times now... Wow. Will you do 2 in Disney or 1 in both parks? Disney sea is really good but I am not sure if it is quite as good for small kids. The new toy story ride is there, however, as is the Indiana jones ride.

Should be good at that time. Quietest time I've been was around Christmas, right after the Emperor's birthday public holidays. Around Dec/Jan they have "campus day" which is a school/university holiday promotion deal so the place is filled with Japanese schoolgirls (and guys, most of whom seem to look like girls. What's with that?) Queues are still pretty good and the older rides have almost non-existant lines, so the kids can see all the classic dark rides like Peter pan's journey and its a small world etc.

Pooh's huny hunt is great and the technology is amazing. Fast passes run out quickly but the line is often only 10-20min so I wouldn't bother.

Splash mountain is a classic and the queues are much shorter on cold days. Worth a fast pass.

Toy story is fun for kids and adults, as it's interactive and you can compete with each other. The monsters inc ride is similar, and I recommend fast passing this one and the toy story ones first.

If your kids can't pull through a/2 full day/s (open to close) then getting there at open and a short siesta at lunch may be a good idea. The queues at Disneyland often get a lot shorter toward the evening on colder/slightly miserable days and you can ride almost everything with just a short wait.

This doesn't happy as much at Disney sea because it has less young families and more teens.

If you have any specific questions or want recommendations let me know. I haven't been to see the snow monkeys, something to do next time maybe.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Current plan is Tokyo Bay Hilton - Happy Magic Room! We could get a higher standard room, but the name is totally excellent!

Out of curiosity, has anyone actually stayed in this room? The photo on the HH website looks like a kid's palace, but apparently it has a magic mirror....... :mrgreen: