Article last updated: April 30, 2025
Recently, while searching for flights on Google Flights as usual, I noticed something unusual. A ticket that normally costs around 40,000-50,000 yen was displayed for an incredible 23,600 yen. I couldn’t believe my eyes and had to look at the screen twice.
The displayed booking site was “Flight Network,” which I had never seen before. With such an incredibly low price, I had concerns that “this might be a scam site.” However, since the URL was listed on Google Flights, it should have some credibility. So, thinking it might be helpful to others, I decided to actually make a booking.
What is Flight Network?
Flight Network is a type of OTA (Online Travel Agency), and upon research, I discovered it’s a service provided by GotoGate, which I’ve previously featured on this blog.
OTAs are travel companies that sell travel-related products online. While Expedia and Booking.com are well-known examples, there’s been an increase in emerging OTAs recently, intensifying competition.
What’s particularly interesting is that it suddenly started appearing in Google Flights search results recently. This is a significant change, as Google Flights previously only displayed major OTAs, but now emerging OTAs are being shown.
The Mystery of “Too Cheap” Pricing
This time, I focused on a Hainan Airlines flight from Xiamen to Haneda. A ticket that normally sells for around 40,000-50,000 yen was displayed on Flight Network for an amazing 23,600 yen.
With such a price difference, one would normally be cautious. Indeed, online there are voices saying OTAs are “suspiciously cheap” or “might be a scam,” and reviews exist of people getting into trouble. However, there wasn’t much information available about Flight Network. Since it’s operated by the established GotoGate group, I decided to take a chance and make the booking.
Booking Process and “Overly Persistent” Option Sales
Proceeding to the booking screen, I found a familiar layout. This is probably using GotoGate’s format.
As usual, I entered my name, contact information, passport details, etc.
Proceeding to the next step, baggage information was displayed. Baggage regulations follow those of the booked airline.
Here’s where it gets tricky. Throughout the booking process, I was prompted to add various options:
– Travel cancellation insurance (3 types)
– Flight delay insurance (2 types)
– Baggage loss insurance
– Additional baggage (3 weight options)
– Seat selection (forward/emergency exit/regular seats)
– In-flight meal options
The insurance sales were particularly persistent. I was asked “Do you want to continue? Are you sure you’re okay without insurance?” with similar insurance products being offered 3-4 times. This is a typical OTA business model – they minimize the base price and secure revenue through option sales.
For experimental purposes, I decided to proceed without adding any options.
Suspiciously Fast Booking Completion
With that, I completed the booking process. Normally, when booking through budget OTAs, it can take several hours or even days to complete the booking. This is because the OTA needs time to actually make the reservation with the airline.
A booking confirmation email arrived immediately after purchase.
However, with Flight Network, I received a booking confirmation email immediately upon purchase. “Isn’t it suspicious that it’s confirmed so quickly?” I began to wonder.
Unexpected Trouble
To dispel my concerns, I tried to verify the booking on Hainan Airlines’ official website using the booking information displayed in my account page, but a new problem arose. When I entered the e-ticket number, it displayed “An error occurred,” and I couldn’t verify the booking details.
“Was it a scam after all?!”
For a moment, I felt a chill down my spine, but I calmly decided to call Hainan Airlines’ customer service.
Surprising Truth
The conclusion is that the booking was properly completed.
According to the Hainan Airlines representative, when bookings are made through agents like Flight Network, they are set up so that they cannot be operated through the airline’s booking management page. This is not an unusual case, but rather common with OTA bookings.
The booking was completed without any problems!
Just to be sure, I had Hainan Airlines send me a booking confirmation, which matched the Flight Network booking details perfectly. At this point, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Overall Assessment: Are Emerging OTAs “Cheap but Poor Quality”?
Through my Flight Network booking experience, I can make the following observations about emerging OTAs:
Advantages
– Amazing price savings
– Fast booking confirmation
– Major airlines available
Disadvantages
– Difficult to verify/change directly through airline booking systems
– Complex purchase process due to persistent option sales
– Customer support basically requires contacting the airline directly
– High fees for cancellations and changes
Conclusion
Flight Network certainly had many aspects that felt “suspicious” compared to traditional OTAs. However, after actually using it, I found that the booking was completed without problems and significant savings were possible.
Through this experience, I’d say that emerging OTAs like Flight Network are not “cheap but poor quality,” but rather “smart choices for people who can tolerate some inconvenience.” For those looking to reduce travel costs, they’re worth considering as an option.
Please note that this experience is from November 2024. Service content may change at any time, so please check the latest information when making bookings.
