Best chance of getting on a flight back to OZ?

[drcaffeind]

Hi all, I'm in Hawaii and hoping to get a flight back home. My options are really limited to flying home on JAL via Tokyo, or on United via California. I would really like to avoid domestic flights in the US, especially into California. However, JAL doesn't give me availabilities until later in the year, whereas I can book a flight on United for any day in January.

My question is - Does anyone have any insights on why this might be? Is United just selling tickets to increase their bottom line and then bump people off? Or are there actually fewer people trying to get back to OZ from California, hence United has availabilities?!

Thank you!

 

[Seat0B]

Japan has closed its borders to non-residents effective 30 December see this for example, although I'm not sure if this would apply to people just transiting. And JAL has reduced its flight schedule accordingly, which might be why you can't see availability until later in the year.

I hope you can manage to get back home. And welcome to AFF - I'm sure someone here will have more information than I do.

 

[drcaffeind]

Japan has closed its borders to non-residents effective 30 December see this for example, although I'm not sure if this would apply to people just transiting. And JAL has reduced its flight schedule accordingly, which might be why you can't see availability until later in the year.

I hope you can manage to get back home. And welcome to AFF - I'm sure someone here will have more information than I do.

Thank you so much for your reply! International transit are allowed, as long as they are to/from the same airport. Your point about reduced flight schedules makes perfect sense and likely explains why I can't get seats.

Fingers crossed I can get back without too much drama - and safely. I might well have to consider the Cali route. Thank you for welcoming to the forum. Should have joined ages ago ... some friends rave about it and pre-pandemic I was an avid traveller averaging about 100 flights a year.

 

[Seat0B]

Thank you so much for your reply! International transit are allowed, as long as they are to/from the same airport. Your point about reduced flight schedules makes perfect sense and likely explains why I can't get seats.

Fingers crossed I can get back without too much drama - and safely. I might well have to consider the Cali route. Thank you for welcoming to the forum. Should have joined ages ago ... some friends rave about it and pre-pandemic I was an avid traveller averaging about 100 flights a year.

You're welcome @drcaffeind! I hope you get home soon and at a reasonable cost and without unnecessary COVID exposure.

I think this forum is very helpful. Lots of people with lots of knowledge, happy to share, and usually they are nice as well. As with all on-line things, there is some flaming, but this is a well moderated site, so I'll look forward to some of your posts in the future.

 

[MelMel]

A friend’s son has just come back from California. He stumped up for business class so I can’t comment on Economy. He had no problems with his flight one week ago on UA839

 

[Toula92122]

I returned to Oz 6 weeks ago on United out of SFO. Another passenger who seemed to be much more attentive to what had been happening told me that neither United nor Delta (out of LAX) had been bumping anyone. My flight probably only had about 50 people onboard. I was able to redeem United miles (200K) for the flight in business class. Mind you it was the same 200k for economy class. With regards to the redemptions, they seem to release the seats a few days in advance and seems to be a regular thing.

 

[samh004]

Just as a reference point, my mother flew to Australia in October (HKG-SIN-SYD-BNE) in J, however met someone while in transit that we ended up catching up with after quarantine that had flown from the UK on SQ, all in Y. So it is possible to not get bumped, despite being in a lower cabin class. My mother is now back in HK.

 

[GSP]

I was an avid traveller averaging about 100 flights a year.

I hope you optimised your points gained and SC for good use!!

 

[jakeseven7]

Has anyone themselves or known anyone that has returned from Hong Kong on Cathay recently...?

 

[ithongy]

I returned to Oz 6 weeks ago on United out of SFO. Another passenger who seemed to be much more attentive to what had been happening told me that neither United nor Delta (out of LAX) had been bumping anyone. My flight probably only had about 50 people onboard. I was able to redeem United miles (200K) for the flight in business class. Mind you it was the same 200k for economy class. With regards to the redemptions, they seem to release the seats a few days in advance and seems to be a regular thing.

Well hope this is the case, have a flight out with UA around mid March & on WL for upgrade.

 

[PineappleSkip]

You'll find the definitive guide on how to get back to Australia - best I've seen by far - on this thread.

cheers skip