When it comes to travel, low-cost airlines have caught the spotlight this year in Japan more than anything. In March, Peach Aviation Ltd., whose shareholders include All Nippon Airways (ANA), began operating out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture. Jetstar Japan Co., a joint venture involving Japan Airlines (JAL), meanwhile, is set to start operating out of Narita International Airport in July, while ANA joint venture Air Asia Japan Co. is slated to do the same in August. In other words, it appears Japan is entering the age of low-cost carriers (LCCs).
So how much cheaper are flights on LCCs compared to those on traditional carriers? Peach flights between Kansai International and New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido during the Golden Week holiday cost less than half those of ANA’s. Price reduction measures taken by LCCs include the use of a single type of aircraft on their routes to minimize maintenance costs, and as a general rule accepting reservations only online to save on labor costs.
“We are coming upon a time when someone living in Tokyo will suddenly think to go to Sapporo to eat the local specialty ramen for the weekend,” says Tokio Sato, an editor at the monthly magazine Airline. “People will be able to take trips on planes in the same way they already do on buses and trains, dramatically changing travel culture.”
In Europe, where the use of LCCs is widespread, there has been a surge in the number of customers taking planes for casual trips to shop or to satisfy their palates. Deserted towns have even staged comebacks after attracting LCCs and therefore tourists.
What travelers must keep in mind, however, is that choosing to use LCCs for transportation does not automatically lead to lowered travel costs. This is because unlike major airlines, LCCs charge for each additional service that travelers on major airlines take for granted.
Domestic flights on Peach, for example, cost passengers an additional 1,050 yen per person per route if reservations are made by phone instead of online. Designating a seat costs another 210 yen, checking luggage is 1,050 yen for the first item, and 2,100 yen for the second. Passengers are charged additional money for all in-flight beverages, starting with 150 yen for water. Once issued, tickets cannot be cancelled — without a 3,150 yen fee to change each reservation — although there are some more expensive tickets that come with a “cancellation possible” clause. In other words, expecting services that are included in fees offered by traditional airlines could leave a traveler with a much more expensive ticket than hoped, so be careful of the services provided.
Air ticket prices tend to fluctuate based on the number of seats available, but be warned that prices at LCCs tend to change more frequently than they do at major airlines. Depending on routes and the season, some early bird discount tickets offered by major airlines can be cheaper than tickets acquired from LCCs.
Meanwhile, Skymark Airlines Inc., Japan’s first LCC, has reduced its ticket prices on its routes where Peach now offers flights — between Kansai International and New Chitose, and between Kansai International and Naha, Okinawa Prefecture — to compete with the newcomer’s prices. Also of note is that in some cases, travel packages that include both air tickets and accommodations can often be cheaper than buying air tickets alone. Be sure to check packages offered by travel agencies that are affiliated with airlines, such as JAL’s “Dynamic Package” and ANA’s “Tabisaku.”
With the arrival of LCCs on the scene, travelers now have more options in cutting back on travel costs. But first, it is important to rid ourselves of such preconceived notions as “LCCs are cheap,” “major airlines are expensive,” and “tickets purchased close to the departure date are expensive.”
“The way to take full advantage of this era of cheap air travel is to keep up with developing travel information,” Sato advises.
Meanwhile, for those who are not fond of flying, there is always the option of traveling by rail. Trains don’t compare with planes when it comes to speed, but they can be a nice option when one has some time to spare.
The Japan Railways (JR) Group and the Iwate Prefectural Government are holding the Iwate Destination Campaign until the end of June to promote recovery in the prefecture, which was hit hard by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. One of the main attractions of the campaign is the resumed operation of the Resort Umineko train, made possible by the reconstruction of the JR Hachinohe Line and part of the Sanriku Railway Line that were damaged in last year’s disasters.
The highlight of the train ride is the view. The train stops on a 33-meter high, 302-meter long bridge on the Atsuka River, where passengers are afforded a view of the Pacific Ocean and a taste of the bridge’s mind-boggling height. The train’s seats can even be turned around to face the ocean.
The train operates one round-trip per day, the outward bound train leaving Hachinohe Station at 10:16 a.m., arriving at Tanohata station at 1:20 p.m. The return train leaves Tanohata at 1:35 p.m., and arrives at Hachinohe at 4:44 p.m. The fare is 2,240 yen round-trip per person.
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120513p2a00m0na011000c.html
