On January 2, 2024, a Japan Airways Airbus A350 and Japan Coast Guard Bombardier DHC-8 tragically had an accident at Tokyo Haneda Airport, whereby they collided on the runway. Properly, that is resulting in some attention-grabbing ticket flexibility for Japan Airways passengers…
Japan Airways presents free ticket modifications & refunds
Japan Airways has introduced a brand new versatile ticket coverage, following the accident that occurred a few days in the past. Because the airline explains:
We remorse to tell you that on the night of January 2nd (Japan time), JL516 was concerned in a collision with a Japan Coast Guard plane throughout its touchdown at Haneda Airport, leading to a fireplace on the runway. In consideration of the impression of this accident, we are going to settle for reserving modifications or ticket refunds with none charges for purchasers who’ve a reserving on our flights.
Japan Airways is providing full ticket flexibility, together with modifications and refunds, with the next restrictions:
- It’s essential to request a reserving change or refund by January 31, 2024
- It’s essential to have a ticket for journey by March 31, 2024
- This is applicable to all Japan Airways flights, together with codeshare flights, and flights booked by way of different airways
- For worldwide flights, you’ll be able to request a full refund of your ticket, so long as you make the request not less than three hours earlier than departure, or you’ll be able to request a one-time reserving change with none charge to another flight with journey by April 20, 2024
- For home flights, you’ll be able to request a full refund of your ticket, so long as you make the request not less than 20 minutes earlier than departure, or you’ll be able to request a one-time reserving change with none charge to an alternate flight inside 30 days of your unique ticket
Hmmm, that is an attention-grabbing coverage…
Sometimes we see airways supply waivers like this in conditions the place there’s unhealthy climate or social unrest at a vacation spot. Even then, you sometimes solely have the flexibleness to alter your ticket, and to not get a free refund.
Admittedly airways don’t have main accidents resulting in a hull loss typically, so it’s attainable I’m not remembering appropriately. Nonetheless, I don’t assume that is one thing that we’ve typically seen up to now, so this appears extraordinarily beneficiant?
To me it raises a curious query — is it unethical to make use of a coverage like this to get a refund in the event you’re not truly “scared” of flying with Japan Airways? For instance, in the event you booked a ticket and your plans change, do you have to use this to get a refund? I’m a bit conflicted:
- On the one hand, I feel Japan Airways is being very beneficiant right here, to offer those that are scared an alternative choice to taking their flight
- However, the airline isn’t stating that you should be scared to fly with the intention to use this waiver, however is simply providing further flexibility
- Moreover, being scared to fly with Japan Airways after this accident borders on paranoid (the airline has operated and not using a hull loss in 40 years, and the Japan Coast Guard aircraft entered the runway with out permission), so ought to solely these individuals profit from this?
There’s one other attention-grabbing angle right here that I’m interested in each logistically and ethically. For these of us who’re booked on Japan Airways between New York and Tokyo on the Boeing 777-300ER, it seems like we’d be capable to change to potential days which might be operated by the Airbus A350-1000, that includes the service’s new cabin merchandise?
The airline states that clients who bought tickets by way of one other airline ought to contact the airline the place they bought the ticket for modifications. So would American be capable to change an AAdvantage award by way of a liaison, or how precisely would that work?
I’m certain I’m not the one one who is considering all of this, so I’m curious the place OMAAT readers stand on this matter.
Backside line
Japan Airways has launched a really beneficiant versatile ticket coverage, whereby you’ll be able to refund or change your Japan Airways ticket, in gentle of the current accident. I don’t recall different airways having a blanket waiver like this up to now following an accident, so this appears very beneficiant.
Is it unsuitable to reap the benefits of this flexibility in the event you’re not scared to fly with the airline?
