Man arrested for making fraudulent reservations on airport limousine bus
TOKYO —
Police said Thursday they have arrested a man for making fraudulent reservations for a limousine bus bound for Haneda Airport recently. The man allegedly booked his own seat on the limousine legitimately, but continued to book 16 other seats under assumed names, without paying for them.
Apparently, this is not the first time the man, who is 24 and unemployed, has used this scheme, police said. In a previous incident, he booked 30 seats by mixing and matching the names of comedians and celebrities, police say.
The man was quoted by police as saying he likes to watch planes, so he goes to Haneda often. But he said he hates riding in crowded buses. The bus operator told police the man’s deceptions have been costing the company money since last autumn.
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35 Comments
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2
Maria
Poor man. I hope that the arrest leads to his having treatment, or anyway being looked after. Prison/fines won't help anyone.
-2
Elbuda Mexicano
I hope he can watch many airplanes in his own little warped world from behind bars.
8
Farmboy
It's sad about this guy, and it's also sad that this kind of thing diminishes trust. In most countries, I think, the tour bus operator would demand payment up front, but Japan trusts people to honor their reservations. I like that. I don't know how long this custom can survive, though, with this kind of situation. I hope this is an isolated incident.
-1
plasticmonkey
does his daddy pay for his trips on the limousine bus?
-1
Kapuna
How do you make a reservation without paying for it?????
2
gogogo
haha what a dork
0
JapanGal
Easy Kapuna: I always do it out of Machida and then pay when I actually ride the bus.
0
Chinchan Zu
@Kapuna = you can pay reservation fees on convenience stores within 24 hours of reservation.
1
borscht
This is an old trick that used to be used when students could fly stand-by on US airlines. You book a reservation over the phone for a family of five or six, then show up at the gate. The fictitious family of five doesn't show up so the first five students on stand-by can get on. By 'used to' I mean over 30 years ago. Then, like Farmboy predicted, the airlines began insisting on payment up front.
2
Asagao
Didn't know it was illegal, I promise to stop doing it.
1
DentShop
Slow, slow news day.
0
Maitake
My hobby is going to the airport to watch planes. I would never be caught dead flying in one though, cause it would surely be full of people, crowded. After all, where would I go? I have no reason to leave Japan.
0
tokyotea
@JapanGal
Interesting...I do the same out of Machida myself. I will have sleepless nights trying to figure out who you are!
0
paulinusa
Years ago I took the monorail to Haneda. There were some interesting shops outside of security and also an observation deck that overlooks the runway and Tokyo Bay which serves snacks and draft beer. Not a bad way to kill some time.
0
cactusJack
This man has mental issues. Is this really news?
0
delrennich
is this news?
0
JapanGal
@tokyotea
No sleepless nights for me. :-)
Sorry.
Machida is a pain though as you have to go over the fence with a bag to get to an elevator.
But, very convenient otherwise, and you can make the reservations by phone, in person, and on line too I believe.
0
Serrano
Another nutter.
0
globalwatcher
Who would not be too facinated about planes if you are a kid? I would not be too critical here, but I would give him a good sentence. First he will be sweeping floor at Haneda airport everyday for the next 30 days with pay and he will pay back for all fraudulent reservations.
0
Asagao
He should do what the oba-han do, put some bags on the next seats then pretend to be asleep.
1
MsM72
24 and already a grumpy old man. :)
1
Pixilated
A happy ending to the story would be if the guy was made to drive said airport limousine bus to work off his debt. If he's been riding that route very often then he probably knows it well, and could get to see his beloved planes each day while paying off what he owes. Which could then lead to a more permanent job with Haneda.
0
Nicky Washida
@pixilated - not a bad idea, but then, would I trust this looper behind the wheel of a bus taking me and my kids to the airport on the highway?
1
yourock
I love these stories. LOL
1
papasmurfinjapan
As CactusJack says, this guy seems to have some mental problems.
He doesn't deserve jail time, he deserves decent psychiatric treatment.
0
anglootaku
Get a license and just drive there.
-1
ExportExpert
Pathetic creature, surely his parents knew he was mental.
Seems a few on here are around the Machida area , well done, welcome to the club guys n gals.
1
nico00
Poor guy! Seems he may have Asperger's syndrome, or some sort of social phobia. BTW, mental illness isn't a choice, you don't choose to be a nutter, a looper, or a pathetic creature, as some of you like to say. It's an illness, so just think of how disgusted you would be if people with cancer were looked down upon, and joked about. Of course, we don't know what's wrong with the guy. Yet still, some are judging him to be less than human, while using mental illness in the same sentence.
0
Stephen Jez
Sounds like your typical otaku introvert.
-1
YuriOtani
nico00, yes people look down upon people with mental illness in Japan. What is surprising to me is all of the non Japanese that are doing the same. Love those names, can some of you have some compassion. Second why did this make the news?
0
ExportExpert
nico000 you are correct.
I live with mental illness everyday, being in japan it's difficult to avoid most day.
0
Dotakun
The other half of the problem is the reservation system, very convenient but very prone to fraud, surprised this hasn't happened before
1
ivarwind
a) (under the assumption you know the meaning of "reservation") By not showing up.
b) (under the assumption you know the meaning of "reservation") By cancelling.
c) (under the assumption you do not know the meaning of "reservation") That's the essence of a reservation!
0
Carcharodon
Japan today needs a "Oddly enough" category. hint hint?
0
takoyakitora
This guy is a genius. too bad it can't work on the morning trains.
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