DISCRIMINATED

Just getting rid of some unused sauces in my fridge

I've been discriminated against. By Japanese people. For being smart.

I plan to go to Hong Kong from Tokyo before heading back to Vancouver. This means I need one-way flights from Tokyo to Hong Kong and one from Hong Kong to Vancouver. A travel agency in Japan called "No. 1 Travel" offers discount discounts to many popular destinations all over the world. I found a nice flight to Hong Kong for 198,000 yen round trip. I figured I'd buy this one now and buy my Vancouver ticket in Hong Kong.

So I went down to their office in Shinjuku to ask some more questions. I asked how much a round trip ticket would cost and I asked how much a one-way would cost. It turned out that the cost of a round trip ticket was substantially lower than the cost of a one-way. I thanked the gentleman for his time, left the office with this new information, and returned home to work out my schedule. Hell, I figured I'd buy a round trip ticket and 'miss' my return flight. Whoops, my lazy ass slept in. Big deal.

With my dates set, I went back to the Shinjuku office and spoke to the same gentleman. "I'd like to book a round trip ticket to Hong Kong, please," I requested. Knowing I was aware of the price difference and SUSPECTING that I was not going to return to Tokyo, he demanded that I present a re-entry visa to Japan before he can sell me the flight. I had no such visa. In that case, he demanded that I show him a copy of a plane ticket leaving Japan for a date after I return from Hong Kong. I had so such ticket. He said without either of those documents, he could not sell me the ticket to Hong Kong. I told him this was crazy. Since when does an agency care whether I had the proper visa or need to know my travel plans for an unrelated trip? Plus, being a Canadian citizen, I wouldn't need a re-entry visa to enter Japan as a visitor anyway. Their 'new policy' was completely bogus. I blew a fit. I asked him when this policy became effective. He stumbled out a made up time frame. I then asked for evidence of this policy in writing but he said he didn't have it. I asked to speak to his supervisor and she gave me the same tired routine, except this time she was able to tell me that the policy came into affect in April. Ya right. In the end, they were not going to sell me the ticket because they feared I was not going to use the return. Of course, they did not say this to me directly. I left the office quite frustrated.

The next day, I went to their Ikebukuro office and purchased the same ticket, no questions asked. Looking at my itinerary, what does it say? Kindly note that passport validity and visa requirements are not our responsibility or that of your travel consultant and we are not liable for any loss or expense due to a passenger's failure. Also: No. 1 Travel is not responsible...if you could not board the flight, or was not admitted to immigrate or emigrate to the immigration control office at the airport in Japan or in the country of your destination because you did not have a proper visa..." No shit, eh?

I can't believe Japanese people lied to me in my face like that, straight discriminating me because I brought up the notion that flying round trip is cheaper than one-way. Well, I won in the end. I'm leaving Japan and going to Hong Kong!!