Oneworld member Japan Airlines has issued an interesting fare for flights from Finland to US Overseas territory Guam. You can currently enjoy the airlines’ outstanding economy class en route to the Pacific Ocean for just €741. Sadly, a change of airports in Tokyo both ways is required to get the cheapest tickets. The fare includes one checked bag of 23kg, which you also have to transfer between the airports yourself.
While you have enough time to explore the city on your way East, the inbound sees you arrive in the evening at Narita airport and departing from Haneda the next morning.
Here are some example dates for cheap roundtrips:
You can also depart from Frankfurt for €850. This trip also requires a long layover, but no airport change. JAL’s flight from Frankfurt arrives in Narita.
Our Go2 tool will forward you to Skyscanner with your selected flight dates. There, you can also check what OTAs have to offer, or proceed to Japan Airlines websites. In this case, we strongly recommend booking directly on JAL’s website for €20 more. If complications arise during the airport change, you will have a much easier time getting them sorted out directly with the airline. We have found dates at the lowest fare between April and June 2025.
Your trip consists of four flights – two trips between Helsinki and Tokyo-Haneda airport in JAL’s Boeing 787-8. These aircraft are notably comfortable, as JAL deploys a 2-4-2 seating pattern in these planes, instead of the industry standard 3-3-3. You can also expect regular and USB power outlets in every seat. JAL uses the same aircraft between Tokyo and Frankfurt.
A Boeing 767-300 operates flights between Tokyo-Narita and Guam. These come with 2-3-2 cabin layout. You have to organize the trip between the airports yourself. You can find a list of possible options here.
Most European passport holders can spend up to 90 days in Japan visa-free.
Most Europeans need an electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA) to enter the USA for up to 90 days. This costs US$21 (~€19) and you should apply for it a couple of days before your trip, at the latest.
There are some cases where you cannot apply for an ESTA, e.g. if you’ve been to Cuba since 2021 or to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, or North Korea since March 2011. In those cases, you’ll need to get a visa from a US embassy or consulate, which can take multiple weeks.
Search & Book
This deal is available without a sales period. You have to stay at least three days outside of Finland to get the lowest fare, which is necessary anyway when booking this deal. We have found dates at the lowest fare between April and June 2025.
Finding these fares can be a bit time-consuming, because Google Flights‘ preview calendar does not show available dates correctly. You have to pick out dates yourself and wait for the price to adjust. Sometimes it drops below €800, sometimes it remains at the preview €1,100. While the fare rules promise free stopovers, prices usually rise by €300 when trying to add a couple of days in Tokyo.
As mentioned earlier, we recommend purchasing these tickets directly on JAL’s website.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
JAL issues these tickets in booking class Z. A roundtrip from Helsinki gets you the following miles & points:
- 3,856 Avios on Qatar Privilege Club
- 3,856 Points on Finnair Plus
- 3,856 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 3,856 Award Miles on Bangkok Airways FlyerBonus
- 3,214 Points + 18 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 3,214 Avios + 514 Tier Points on The British Airways Club
- 3,214 Avios + 600 Elite Points on Iberia Plus 2025
- 2,570 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- Customize Calculation
Cover Picture: © Desiree Caplas