Standby Tickets???

Question

Does anyone know the process of buying standby tickets because I want to go to Japan cheaply!! Also any info about how often they are likely to come up, cost etc please let me know,
Thanks

Answer 1

Standby tickets at cheap rates are a thing of the past. These days, the closer you get to your travel date, the more expensive the fare becomes. Airlines put some destinations like Europe on fare sales during the "off season" which is usually when the bad weather is, and you can get some great deals, but you don't usually see many fare sales from the US to Japan (I am assuming you are in the US). That's because it's a busy business destination so there will be lots of passengers all around the year. It's also not a popular tourist destination from the US so even though there is a high demand for business travel, there's a limited number of flights.

I did a quick search and came back with fares around $1000 travelling in April, plus taxes, from LAX to Tokyo, which is reasonable for this kind of flight. I don't think you should hope for better than that although you can certainly look around!

I'd recommend seeing which airlines fly to the part of Japan you want to visit, then subscribing for email fare alerts from their western hub city. That may be LAX, Seattle, Phoenix, or DFW to name a few. If you can get a lower fare from a hub city, you can either compare the rate to fly from your hometown, or get your own transport to the hub. You may be better off locking into the lower fare from LAX (for example) and getting a cheap fare from home to LAX on another airline.

I would budget no less than $1200 for airfare for your trip. If you see it less than that, grab it. It could also be as high as $2000 or more. Best advice on a trip like this is book well in advance. There will not be any last-minute sales on this route--- the airlines know that a business traveller may be sent to Tokyo at the last minute and will pay top dollar to get there. They won't sell that seat for cheap if there's even a remote chance to get thousands of dollars for that.

Answer 2

Firstly, find out which airlines travel to Japan - then the airport you wish to travel from - the correct terminal. Make sure your travelling dates are FLEXIBLE, i.e be prepared that you may or may NOT get a ticket on your preferred dates, so give yourself some leaway - especially if you need to be back by a certain time due to work. Then turn up at the airport, with your luggage, early in the morning and go to all the different ticket desks that deal with the destination you are wish to travel to. Buy the cheapest standby ticket that is available. Toward the end of the flight closure if the flight does not go full, they'll check you in, and you'll be on your way. The same applies to your return yourney. Also ask whether your standby ticket is strictly for use on a specific airline, or you have a couple of options - some airlines 'share' tickets and allow carriage on multiple airlines. The price can really vary, so I wouldn't like to guesstimate. It is definitely a good way to travel if you are flexible and have patience in case you can't easily get a flight back.

Answer 3

I have heard of them for flights to London from Boston and New York, but if you are on a budget you have to be careful. Since you are buying one, then you will also be on one coming back and might get stuck in Japan an extra day or two, which can wipe out any savings you make.

Answer 4

Post your question in the "England" section. People already in Florida don't need stand by tickets to get here from Manchester.

Answer 5

Go to a travel agent - They will be able to point you in the right direction.