mytrip.com
Article last updated: April 30, 2025
The other day, while searching for flights on Google Flights as usual, I was looking for a Haneda-Xiamen route when I discovered a ticket selling for just $250, when it would normally cost $400-500. The site displaying this price was an unfamiliar OTA (Online Travel Agency) called “Mytrip.”
For this article, I actually purchased a flight ticket through this emerging OTA Mytrip, and I’ll share my experience report.
What is Mytrip?
When I researched Mytrip, I discovered an interesting fact. Mytrip is one of the services provided by GotoGate. In fact, Flight Network, which I recently reviewed on this blog, is also a service operated by GotoGate.
To be honest, I initially felt skeptical about the same company providing services under multiple names. The question “Why are they operating under separate brands?” crossed my mind. While there was some suspicion, a more charitable interpretation is that an established company is simply expanding with new services.
I came to suspect that GotoGate might be launching new brands one after another to refresh its image following some minor past controversies.
A Familiar Booking Process
Page design nearly identical to FlightNetwork
When I proceeded to the booking screen, I experienced a sense of déjà vu from my Flight Network experience. The page layout was almost identical, with only the color scheme being different. It clearly felt like they were reusing the same system.
However, this isn’t necessarily a negative point. Rather, using an already proven system could mean a stable booking environment is being provided.
The purchase process is almost identical to Flight Network, so I’ll skip the detailed photos
As expected, persistent option selling occurred throughout the booking process. Travel insurance, seat selection, baggage additions – all sorts of options were proposed one after another. Particularly for insurance products, confirmation screens asking “Are you sure you’ll be okay without insurance?” appeared multiple times, which was somewhat tiresome. However, for budget travelers like us, this step is like a predictable rite of passage. I proceeded with the booking quickly by declining all options, and completed the purchase without issues.
Unexpected Developments After Booking
After completing the reservation, I tried to check the booking details on the airline’s official website as a precaution, but similar to Flight Network, it wasn’t possible to directly verify it on the official site. This seems to be common for bookings made through agencies.
However, Mytrip had a pleasant surprise. As the flight date approached, I received a thoughtful reminder email. This was a service not provided by Flight Network, which gave me the impression that “they might actually have proper customer follow-up.”
As a precaution, I contacted the airline, which confirmed that the booking had been completed without any issues. Additionally, they issued an IATA itinerary via email, which served as final reassurance.
Investigating the Mystery of Pricing
The flight I purchased was a Spring Japan/Spring Airlines Haneda-Shanghai-Xiamen route. Normally, purchasing through the airline’s official site would cost $400-500, but I was able to buy it through Mytrip for about half the price at $250.
GotoGate’s strategy behind this remarkable price difference became apparent:
- 1. Optimizing procurement prices through direct contracts with airlines
- 2. Securing market share through multiple brand operations
- 3. Strategy of reducing basic fares to the minimum while securing revenue through option sales
In particular, behind the operation of multiple services under different names, strategy #2 can likely be inferred.
Cancellations and Rescheduling are Challenging
One thing to note about Mytrip is that without subscribing to the optional “Flexible Cancellation Plan” at the time of booking, there are certain restrictions on changes to bookings and refunds for cancellations. These are common conditions with other OTAs as well, and aren’t particularly strict. However, if there are uncertainties in your flight schedule, you’ll need to decide whether to add this option when booking or wait until your schedule is confirmed before making a reservation.
The Reality of Customer Support
I was more impressed by the customer support than expected. The chat support response was surprisingly prompt. It seemed like staff in China were responding while using translation tools, as there were occasionally unnatural language expressions, but they accurately understood my requests and responded quickly.
It starts with automated system responses, but after answering a few simple questions, they quickly connected me to an operator.
Traditional OTA chat support often gives the impression of just wasting time with irrelevant exchanges with automated response bots, but in Mytrip’s case, you’re connected with actual staff who guide you to concrete problem resolution. This point stands out as a notable advantage for a budget OTA.
Email inquiries take about 24-48 hours for a response, but you’ll receive relatively thoughtful answers. However, considering the high quality of chat support, I would recommend trying the chat inquiry first.
Summary:
Mytrip’s greatest appeal is definitely its low prices. In this case, I saved more than $200. Like Flight Network, as a service provided by GotoGate, it seems the system’s stability is also ensured.
In conclusion, for travelers prioritizing budget or those with confirmed schedules, this is an OTA worth considering. Understanding the characteristics of emerging OTAs and using them wisely can lead to significant travel cost savings.
*This report is based on experiences as of December 2024. Service content may change without notice, so please check the latest information when making reservations.
Update
Subsequently, I actually experienced some confusion with Mytrip regarding flight cancellation and refunds. I’ve written about this struggle in the article below, so please read it together with this one.
