Interested in Japan? Thinking about going on a holiday? Well let’s look at the total cost for various airlines to get from Hamilton New Zealand, to Osaka Japan.
To summarise, Jetstar is the cheapest with around @ $1080, Air Asia @ $1743 with the core flight between Christchurch and Kuala Lumpur being only 31% of the total fare, and Air New Zealand at $1936.
A couple of caveats before we start, we’re assuming one 20Kg bag to be checked in. We’ll try to compare as similar as possible, but there are always differences, i.e. whether you choose to buy a meal or not on a low cost carrier. We’ll be looking at the total return fare from Hamilton New Zealand to Osaka Japan, including getting to major airports, i.e. Auckland and Tokyo. I’ll pick the lowest cost mean where available. We’re looking at a travel period of one week in May 2011.
First off is Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand has a flight between Auckland and Osaka for $1932. For your money you’re getting:
- 23Kg checked in luggage;
- 7Kg carry on luggage;
- Meals;
- Video entertainment;
- 11 hours, and 35 minutes flight from Auckland to Osaka;
- Choose your own seat;
- Blanket.
We’ll also have to get to Auckland from Hamilton, so add another $34 for the Intercity bus from Hamilton to Auckland International Airport.
All up you’re looking at $1936 with Air New Zealand.
Next is Jetstar.
Jetstar charge $847. For your money you’re getting:
- 7Kg carry on luggage;
- $10 credit card fee included;
- A 17 hour journey, including a stop in the Gold Coast.
Optional extras include:
- 20Kg of checked luggage (an additional $91.24);
- Choose your seats (an additional $8 if you didn’t purchase the luggage option above);
- Food for $70;
- Entertainment for $24;
- Comfort pack $14;
Which add up to roughly $199 worth of other things if you want them. Don’t forget the $34 to go from Hamilton to Auckland.
All up you’re looking at $881 (by yourself with 7kg of luggage) or $1080 (with roughly the same extras as Air New Zealand) with Jetstar.
Air Asia X
Welcome Air Asia to New Zealand! First there’s $34 to get from Hamilton to Auckland Airport, and then $158 with Jetstar to go from Auckland to Christchurch with bags (and two hours of your time).
Air Asia charge $429 to go from Christchurch to Kuala Lumpur (including credit card fee), with the following extras available:
- 20Kg of luggage for $40;
- Comfort kit for $20;
- Meals for $34;
- Pick a seat for $20;
So now you’re in Kuala Lumpur for $429 (for yourself and 7Kg) or $543. At the moment there’s no connecting transfer between Christchurch and Tokyo, so you’ll have to book another flight. Air Asia charges $780 for a flight with luggage and meals from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo Haneda Airport. And then it’s $228 (and three hours) to catch the train from Tokyo to Osaka.
All up, you’re paying $1743 with Air Asia.
So to summarise, Jetstar is the cheapest with around @ $1080, Air Asia @ $1743 with the core flight between Christchurch and Kuala Lumpur being only 31% of the total fare, and Air New Zealand at $1936.
Air New Zealand was most expensive, but least amount of hassle, with a direct flight. Jetstar offers similar levels of service, but a connection at Gold Coast, for about half the price. Air Asia was super cheap from Christchuch to Kuala Lumpur, but the costs went up getting from Auckland to Christchurch, Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo, and Tokyo to Osaka by Bullet Train.
If you’ve ever been to Japan around New Years you’ll see what appears to be a whole bunch of Lucky Dip Bags. The difference between the New Zealand and Japanese versions is mainly to do with price and quality – in New Zealand Lucky Dip bags contain crappy gifts and cost about $5. In Japan, Lucky Bags, or Fukubukuro (福袋, lucky bag, mystery bag) are serious business, with the most expensive bags costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
G’Day, the name’s Norman, but my friends call me Stormin’ Norman, on account of the two words rhyming somewhat.