Will JAL leave OW?

[drron]

It appears that Delta is gaining the upper hand-
UPDATE 2-JAL likely to choose Delta over American -Asahi | Reuters
It may all come to a head towards the end of January.JAL have given their retirees until Jan 12 to decide if they will reduce their pension benefits.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20091220a2.html
Thinking of a circle Asia at the end of next year and without JAL it will be a lot more difficult.

 

[samh004]

This might sound a bit off the wall (either that or wishful thinking), but QF could consider doing a "DJ" with 3K (ie evolve it from a LCC to a "new world" carrier with offerings like lounge access, luggage interlining, Y+ to enhance corporate appeal) and somehow find a way for it to enter ow. Particularly could feed to/from QF at SIN, as 3K (in contrast to Tiger), does have a tilt towards the business destinations (KUL, BKK, SGN, MNL, CGK, HKG, Yangon) rather than focussing on primarily leisure destinations.

If JAL does leave, there’d be a hole, but I was thinking the same thing, albeit with the whole of Jetstar taking up the slack. Wishful thinking perhaps, but they fly to Japan and a few other destinations as it is, and with 3K too, it seems they’d be in a good position to replace them in the region.

 

[serfty]

I am concerned about this.

We have LONE4's with a SIN-NRT JAL flight. We plan to travel in Late Feb 2011 but is currently booked for October 2010.

My intention is to rebook to our preferred dates as soon as we can in Late March. If JAL drops out of oneworld that would may make rebooking somewhat interesting; although the fare rules at the time of booking should still be valid:

• Travel on any AA/AY/BA/CX/IB/JC/JL/JO/KA /LA/LP/MA/MX/NU/QF/RJ/XL/4M
  codeshare service operated by
  AA/AY/BA/CX/EG/IB/JC/JL/JO/KA/LA/LP/MA/MX/NU/QF/RJ/XL/4M is permitted. Other codeshare services not permitted.

Of course, I could re-book in a few weeks for early December dates but we don't want to travel then as it's a bit cool.

Also, perhaps no F lounge access at NRT by the time we travel.

 

[anat0l]

If JAL does leave, there’d be a hole, but I was thinking the same thing, albeit with the whole of Jetstar taking up the slack. Wishful thinking perhaps, but they fly to Japan and a few other destinations as it is, and with 3K too, it seems they’d be in a good position to replace them in the region.

*shudder* Not only would you have non-premium planes taking up the slack, JQ isn't part of oneworld, so that'll put a dent in many xONEx itineraries as well as any sort of premium travel on oneworld to/from Japan (bar a few exceptions).

 

[Alanslegal]

I am concerned about this.

We have LONE4's with a SIN-NRT JAL flight. We plan to travel in Late Feb 2011 but is currently booked for October 2010.

If Serty is concerned, then count me in too!!

My dONE4 seg's are SIN-NRT-DPS on JL currently in Aug 2010, will be pushed back to at least Dec 2010 at the earliest (thinking about Christmas time) or as late as Jun 2011.

Hypothetically, what would happen to my tix if JL goes under?

 

[codash1099]

If Serty is concerned, then count me in too!!

My dONE4 seg's are SIN-NRT-DPS on JL currently in Aug 2010, will be pushed back to at least Dec 2010 at the earliest (thinking about Christmas time) or as late as Jun 2011.

Hypothetically, what would happen to my tix if JL goes under?

Good question. I'm looking at my DONE4 in March/April which has HNL-NRT (with JAL) then NRT-HKG (with CX).

My only other option out of HNL would be HNL-LAX (or SFO) with AA then CX to HKG. Even if that is possible under the rules (I haven't had a chance to check yet) it would turn a 14 hour journey into a 24 hour journey!

 

[Dave Noble]

Hypothetically, what would happen to my tix if JL goes under?

If you have a ticket for the flight, you should be perfectly fine. If the rules change to no longer allow JL , existing tickets should still be honoured

Dave

 

[dajop]

*shudder* Not only would you have non-premium planes taking up the slack, JQ isn't part of oneworld, so that'll put a dent in many xONEx itineraries as well as any sort of premium travel on oneworld to/from Japan (bar a few exceptions).

I think you'd need to see a bit of an overhaul with JQ international and flights to/from JP. But for 3K (which has flights all <4 hours) a simple overhaul at the front of the plane (provide a little extra legroom in the front three rows), then don't sell the middle seats of the those rows, provide free catering from the food cart (instead of sale) and there you have a European style premium cabin not unlike BA or IB .....

 

[straitman]

Hypothetically, what would happen to my tix if JL goes under?

If you have a ticket for the flight, you should be perfectly fine. If the rules change to no longer allow JL , existing tickets should still be honoured

Dave

Dave a good and probably correct answer but not to the question asked.

What would happen to existing tickets if JL goes under :?:

 

[anat0l]

What would happen to existing tickets if JL goes under :?:

That would be mildly amusing for a start. Imagine that - the flag carrier of Japan - Japan Airlines - files for bankruptcy. ANA would have a field day for one, and might just become the de facto new flag carrier of Japan (i.e. government stops worrying). That might be a historical record - first flag carrier to kick the bucket.

After the initial hysteria, it'd probably be dealt with in a collapse-of-<insert carrier here> fashion, e.g. when AN tragically went under. I'd imagine there might be a few airlines putting up their hands to take in affected pax. ANA might pick up on some, or the Japanese government might just enlist ANA (with some financial support) to pick up affected pax. Of course, there would be no oneworld benefits for those affected (so whip out your *A card).

In any case, if JL went under, I've got my money that there would be no established protocol on how the airline would cope with existing bookings. Period.

 

[Mal]

That might be a historical record - first flag carrier to kick the bucket.

It's already a well beaten path ... think Alitalia, SwissAir, Pan Am/United (although you may not consider either to be a flag carrier), and a host of small countries too .

 

[anat0l]

It's already a well beaten path ... think Alitalia, SwissAir, Pan Am/United (although you may not consider either to be a flag carrier), and a host of small countries too .

Aaah...very true. Forgot about those first two, i.e. fairly easy ones.

In saying all of this, there has been news reports around saying that it'll be over the dead bodies of the Japanese government (so to speak) before JAL collapses. Don't think the government will bail them out, but interesting that it would suggest the option of merging JAL and ANA (of which the latter would probably be against).

 

[codash1099]

Assuming that JAL continue to fly in some form and assuming they are no longer a member of OW, I presume that the flight would not earn me SC's as part of the DONE4.

If that's the case, my WP status would not be forthcoming :evil:

 

[drron]

Cnn is now reporting that JAL has picked Delta-
JAL Decides On Capital Tie-Up With Delta - Report
No source is given though over the weekend there were reports JAL's president has expressed support for the Delta proposal.
Found a reference to that on FT-
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/jal-...al-chief-says-skyteam-offers-more-merits.html

 

[serfty]

That thread is indicating confirmation of Skyteam.

Goodness! This could muck up my intended travel as posted earlier in this thread - I guess as ticketed it should stand - but I'm unlikely to get Sakura lounge access in March next year (and it's such a nice lounge :-|)

 

[anat0l]

Cnn is now reporting that JAL has picked Delta-
JAL Decides On Capital Tie-Up With Delta - Report
No source is given though over the weekend there were reports JAL's president has expressed support for the Delta proposal.
Found a reference to that on FT-
JAL chief says SkyTeam offers more merits - FlyerTalk Forums

Damn. JAL in oneworld, we hardly knew ye.

That leaves CX as the only intra-Asia carrier for oneworld. I'm not sure how valuable the Japanese market was to oneworld, but it's still a blow nonetheless. I wonder if oneworld will now speed up trying to butter up some of its potential new candidates in the Asia region, like Jet Airways.

 

[samh004]

Damn. JAL in oneworld, we hardly knew ye.

That leaves CX as the only intra-Asia carrier for oneworld. I'm not sure how valuable the Japanese market was to oneworld, but it's still a blow nonetheless. I wonder if oneworld will now speed up trying to butter up some of its potential new candidates in the Asia region, like Jet Airways.

I think Jet Airways or Kingfisher Airlines would be a good move for Oneworld.

 

[anat0l]

I'm getting some sources (mainly by reading the quoted threads from FT) that suggest no deals have been sealed yet.

In saying that, I'm confident that those reports that may have "jumped the gun" mightn't need to worry; DL is probably going to collect JL.

 

[Scrimo]

JL has been extremely helpful in Asian routes although would like them to have a MEL-NRT route! Hope they don't leave OW

OW also really needs Etihad to complete the gap and give OW FF an option of getting to Europe through UAE for business & pleasure.

 

[VirginiaF]

from reuters, posted at 5:21 est monday 4 january:

The president of JAL, Haruka Nishimatsu, said he is against a bankruptcy proceeding under a state restructuring plan, the Asahi newspaper reported on Sunday.



The Asahi also said quoted Nishimatsu as saying he was eyeing an alliance with Delta and the SkyTeam airline group, ending current ties with American Airlines and the Oneworld alliance.


JAL spokesman Taro Namba said the company could not confirm the president's remarks, adding that nothing has been decided.


"We think this is going to continue to be a story in flux," Helane Becker, a U.S.-based analyst with Jesup & Lamont Securities, said on Monday.


"JAL will continue to look around for money and will continue to talk to American and Delta and try to get the best deal available to it."