I canceled our trip to Japan because I’m pretty sure that the country will not be open to leisure tourists yet and if it was, there would be other restrictions in place that would make the trip less enjoyable.
That’s not why I’m happy. I’m happy because I’d have to totally redo the flight reservations if the trip was happening.
To be honest, I wasn’t looking very closely at the flights because I was almost sure I’d be canceling the award flights that I found after significant searches.
To Japan
For our flight to Japan, I was booked on American from Orlando to LAX and then to Haneda in Japan Airlines business class for 60,000 American miles.
When I went to cancel the flight, I found out that my itinerary had changed.
Instead of a non-stop flight to LA, we’d now have to connect in Phoenix. Traveling to a former US Airways hub on an A321, there’s a chance we’ll be on a plane with no IFE and no power plugs. We’d also be arriving in LAX 2 hours later so we’d have no chance to relax at the lounge before our 12-hour flight to Japan.
To the USA
For our flights home, I found flights in ANA First Class from Haneda to San Francisco. I was able to add an ANA domestic flight from Osaka for no extra miles.
When I logged into my United account, I found this message.
It turns out that for a while, ANA removed all domestic flights from the schedule due to COVID. They’re back on again, but the previous flight is no longer attached to the reservation. In addition, the moving of international flights from Narita to Haneda means that we might have to transfer airports in Tokyo.
This would mean we’d have to take a day at the end of the trip to position for our flights.
Final Thoughts
I’d heard that flight schedules have frequently been changing, leaving people with less favorable itineraries than the ones they originally booked. This happened to both of our flights to Japan and if we were still going, I’d have to spend a significant amount of time rebooking the flights to salvage the trip, including finding a way to get back to Tokyo either by plane or train.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
Five years at a bare minimum now. Fall of 2026 before mania wears out and the virus stops being front and center on the TV, but could be longer. Fear sells. Big money getting involved too. COVID mania (and restrictions) could last a decade or more. But definitely five years before restrictions/masks/things closed starts to let up.
I’ve got the well known ANA first class point award through Virgin Flying Club on December 21 with a January 10 return. I was thinking I would cancel but know I’m looking to transit to Moscow and the the Siberian train to Vladivostok. I’d be interested in some feedback about how doable that will be. It would be on a separate ticket which complicates the transit if I’m understanding the situation. I have no problem taking this flight and not even going into Japan but I’m not sure I can even transit out smoothly. Thanks.