There's a workaround to getting cheap flights for the Tokyo Olympics
We know we don't have to tell you this, but attending the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will cost you.
The Summer Olympics draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, competitors and support staff to one city, which means that everything from flights to hotels and event tickets can be hard to find (and afford). Japan is even building a temporary terminal at Narita International (NRT) to handle the surge of visitors.
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"Global prices for flights rise by an average of 35% to the Olympic's hosting country when compared [with] average costs," according to Quartz and a report from the farecasting app Hopper,
If you're traveling within Asia, flights are expected to be fairly reasonable, from $326 one-way. But travelers flying across the Pacific can expect to pay 20 to 25% more than usual.
The good news? There's a workaround. If you book a ticket a week after the Opening Ceremony — which takes place on Friday, July 24 — airfares are expected to drop 24%. Since the Olympics run until Aug. 9, you'd still have over a week to enjoy the games.
Word to the wise: Stick around after the games and enjoy the city. From the food to the culture and everything in between, the city has so much to offer, and is preparing for the deluge of visitors with a number of new attractions and developments.
Train stations are being added and overhauled and the Meiji Jingu Museum just opened this fall next to Yoyogi Park — as did the Shibuya Scramble Square, a complex home to the nation's largest rooftop observation space, called Shibuya Sky.
And even if you're not planning on going to the Olympics, you should absolutely plan a trip to Tokyo this year. We know you have a lot to plan, so you'll want to check out our guide on how to get there on points and miles first. Hhint: Japan Airlines first class is a good place to start, and we've seen a solid amount of ANA first- and business-class award space from multiple U.S. gateways for August and September 2020. You'll have a ton of options for hotels, too, so do yourself a favor and check out our top picks on the best points hotels there, too.
Oh, and whatever you do, eat at a 7/11 while you're there. You'll thank us later.
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| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month

