JAL - Will they be flying in 2010

[megmcw]

I wonder if there are any experts out there that can tell me about the position of JAL and bankruptcy. Will Delta or AA buy it out or will the Government bail it out. Might they just stop flying due to their incredible debt. What would be the position to tickets bought for travel in Sept/Oct 2010 should Delta or AA take it over. Have heard nothing on the Australian news.
Grateful for any advice - thanks.

 

[harvyk]

Two words - travel insurance.

Quite a few insurance policies will cover an airline going bankrupt, and it's one of the major pre-travel protections which exist.

If you purchased tickets without travel insurance and JAL went under you'd probably lose the tickets period. Even if another airline took over the tickets chances are it would probably be limited to those pax who have already started their travel, and won't help pax who have yet to leave.

 

[straitman]

There are a couple of other threads re JAL here and their situation. There is probably some good info to be had on those.

 

[cosi]

The Japanese Government will always keep JAL flying and will NEVER let it disappear.

Had a great lunch last week in J class between HKG and NRT.

Service was great and while they had problems with the IFE, a satelliate phone call from the aircraft to ground engineers resolved the problem.

I have NO hesisation with booking future flights with JAL.

 

[megmcw]

We always have travel insurance - would not travel without it. However, what I am interested is any information re the financial status of JAL and if anyone has any inside information about whether the government will bail them out or will they just cease to fly.

 

[megmcw]

The Japanese Government will always keep JAL flying and will NEVER let it disappear.

Had a great lunch last week in J class between HKG and NRT.

Service was great and while they had problems with the IFE, a satelliate phone call from the aircraft to ground engineers resolved the problem.

I have NO hesisation with booking future flights with JAL.

Thanks for your reply. That is what I have been told by several people so will just forget about it all and look forward to our trip. Just out of interest you might like to know our fares for two people, business class were $11,200 - that includes tax. Emirates wanted $11,000 EACH for Business Class and the seats out of Brisbane are not even really flat seats.

 

[megmcw]

The Japanese Government will always keep JAL flying and will NEVER let it disappear.

Had a great lunch last week in J class between HKG and NRT.

Service was great and while they had problems with the IFE, a satelliate phone call from the aircraft to ground engineers resolved the problem.

I have NO hesisation with booking future flights with JAL.

Forgot to add the flights were from Brisbane/London/Brisbane that we paid the $11,200 companion fares for.

 

[medhead]

I'm pretty sure i read in the Australian business section that japan govt had already committed a big chunk of cash to JAL. This was in the last few weeks, might be worth doing a search on the news limited website.

The same story also outlined that the interest in JAL is for the domestic network. Apparently there are advantages given to Japanese airlines in this respect and delta with a small presence in japan stands to benefit. Of course AA/oneworld will lost out if JAL moves. So it seems like there are good incentives to other airlines to help JAL out. I guess given the domestic situation they will keep JAL intact.

Btw to find out about this stuff I find it best to read the business sections

 

[Hvr]

We always have travel insurance - would not travel without it.

Same here, it is always purchased immediately after the ticket. Used it last year (BKK AP occupation) and was paid very quickly.

Back on topic, I am flying JAL in Feb and am not too worried but que sera sera, if it happens I find another way to get around.

 

[drron]

The Japanese Government will always keep JAL flying and will NEVER let it disappear.

Had a great lunch last week in J class between HKG and NRT.

Service was great and while they had problems with the IFE, a satelliate phone call from the aircraft to ground engineers resolved the problem.

I have NO hesisation with booking future flights with JAL.

Absolutely agree with this.
On one flight when IFE didnt work everyone was given vouchers for use on JAL-which we used for duty free.As an OWE I was given 20000 Yen,mrsdrron as OWS 15000 Yen.
IMHO standard of food has slipped over the years but which airline hasnt had this occur.
I would not worry.After all JAL has announced routes they will stop flying in March 2011.BNE has been announced as being dropped then.
From todays Japan times editorial-
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ed20091207a1.html
Their pension plan is the problem.Reforming it would save them an immediate $US3 billion(cf Delta's and AA's $US1 billion investment).Basically if they cant solve it with the workers they will go into a quasi government controlled bankruptcy and the government will legislate the changes.

 

[codash1099]

I certainly hope that they continue flying and stay part of OW.

I have them part of my March/April DONE4 for HNL-NRT. I don't think any other OW flies that route so any change would force a big rethink.

 

[equus]

Two words - travel insurance.

And another two words - Credit Card.

If you don't receive your goods (i.e. airline disappears and you don't fly), charging back through the credit card provider will get the money back. Lots of people utilised this with the Ansett demise.

So, thinkg of the CC surcharges as a form of insurance premium (after all, it is the credit risk associated with such events which is part of the cost built into the merchant fees which the surcharge is supposed to be covering).

 

[Alanslegal]

I certainly hope that they continue flying and stay part of OW.

I have them part of my March/April DONE4 for HNL-NRT. I don't think any other OW flies that route so any change would force a big rethink.

I have JL as part of a dONE4 that commences in July 2010. The JL flights in particular are likely to be pushed back to like as late as May/June 2011 (once inventory is released). So I do hope there is some certainty by then.

 

[Dee Thom]

I would not worry.After all JAL has announced routes they will stop flying in March 2011.BNE has been announced as being dropped then.
http://

drron, do you think we'll get an airline to replace JAL on the direct BNE/NRT flight ? OOL is a pain in the butt to pick up family, or travel to Japan, plus I'm not a fan of JQ. Maybe VA may put a 773 on the route...........

Cheers Dee

 

[drron]

drron, do you think we'll get an airline to replace JAL on the direct BNE/NRT flight ? OOL is a pain in the butt to pick up family, or travel to Japan, plus I'm not a fan of JQ. Maybe VA may put a 773 on the route...........

Cheers Dee

A question I have thought a lot about.I really cant see a direct alternative-probably have to transit if you want a OW partner.
Then again JQ might start MCY-NRT-I know pigs haven't yet begun to fly

 

[Dee Thom]

Then again JQ might start MCY-NRT-I know pigs haven't yet begun to fly

That would be a fun trip, MCY/POM/GUM/NRT - but no *class on the 320's, and would probably need special dispensation thru CASA to opperate at full fuel load, but having overflown Guam on numerous occassions it would be nice to visit, but not flying KE..................

Cheers Dee

 

[markis10]

That would be a fun trip, MCY/POM/GUM/NRT - but no *class on the 320's, and would probably need special dispensation thru CASA to opperate at full fuel load, but having overflown Guam on numerous occassions it would be nice to visit, but not flying KE..................

Cheers Dee

You always have the option of CO ex CNS, not that great timings though with a 1.30AM departure and a 12.30AM arrival back into Cairns!

 

[serfty]

I have JL as part of a dONE4 that commences in July 2010. The JL flights in particular are likely to be pushed back to like as late as May/June 2011 (once inventory is released). So I do hope there is some certainty by then.

I certainly hope that they continue flying and stay part of OW.

I have them part of my March/April DONE4 for HNL-NRT. I don't think any other OW flies that route so any change would force a big rethink.

Yes, I have some QF codeshares on JL metal SIN-NRT booked for October - I intend to rebook these for Feb/Mar 2011, obviously I cant do this for three more months. I am watching with interest as if JL goes under before I can rebook, there goes that part of my xONEx (unless I decide to travel in October).