For finding reasonable ticket for flight from A to B, I first check up calendar of the ticket using UA, skyscanner, Google-flight and/or spg. Usually the best price launched in 2 to 3 months before itinerary.
Using these suitable dates worth comparison of best tickets, I usually compare the results of the following flight comparison sites.
Skyscanner (28) Travelko (23, in Japanese, translate it to your favorite language. this site includes Skyscanner and so on) Tripadviser (17) Momondo(16) Google-flight(15)
*(% hit, rate de succes)
Some of competitive agents sell cheaper ticket on there own sites than above comparison sites in order to avoid charges.
You have to choose agent which has good reputation more than 4 stars. Otherwise, you will lose your money and time with bad agents.
If you failed to purchase good ticket from comparison site, good agent sometimes provides you that one, so you have a chance to ask the agent directly.
I compare ticket value with the following Vt formula:
Travel wastes your time and money gives you distance. I formulate it into Vt (value of ticket)=Distance / (Money x Time).
i.e. Money contains not only ticket, also fees of food, accommodation of connection.
Time includes total hours from start to end.
i.e. When your ticket indicates 80000km Eu1,000 8 hours, Vt= 80000/(1000 x 8) = 10
If you drive for 1 hour to and from the airport cost Eu 10, Vt= 80000/(1020 x 9) = 8.7
Avoid ticket with too short time of connection, it’s a risky choice of paying additional, especially in big airport.
Finally, you had better compare price of ticket with those site:
LCC site (I am not sure those airplanes are safe and well-maintained).
In east Agia, you sometimes find a few special discount tickets in c-trip.
In Japan, you sometimes find ticket with discount coupon (ie JPY 3000, 5000, etc) in Surprice.
If you are a member of mileage program, you had better compare your mileage program especially in off-season (ie. Milles & More of Lufthansa, UA mileage plus, etc).
If you are a member of BA avion and travel in Japan, you could use domestic flight of JAL (4500 avion for one flight).