Award tickets using airline mileage are an attractive option for traveling abroad at a lower cost compared to regular tickets. By utilizing an airline’s mileage program, you can obtain tickets that might otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of yen either for free or for a minimal payment. However, there are significant risks that cannot be overlooked. In this article, I’ll explain in detail the biggest risk when using award tickets—”flight cancellations by the airline”—based on two cases I experienced using partner airline award tickets with JAL miles.
What Are Flight Cancellations by Airlines?
Flight cancellations by airlines refer to situations where scheduled flights are canceled at the airline’s discretion. This is not limited to specific airlines but can happen with any airline worldwide. These cancellations can occur for various reasons, including route reviews based on management decisions, cancellations due to low occupancy rates, aircraft allocation issues, adverse weather conditions, and more.
In the case of regular tickets, when a flight is canceled by the airline, they typically arrange alternative flights or provide refunds. In many cases, they offer alternatives including rebooking on other flights or, in some instances, using flights from other airlines.
However, the situation is significantly different when using award tickets. Regardless of the airline, the number of seats available for award ticket bookings is substantially limited compared to regular tickets. This makes it more challenging to arrange alternative flights. Especially on routes during high seasons or with high business demand, finding available award ticket slots on alternative flights can be extremely difficult.
Learning from Real Experiences with Flight Cancellations by Airlines
Here, I’ll share two cases I experienced using partner airline award tickets with JAL miles. While these experiences occurred with specific airlines, similar situations can arise when using award tickets with other airlines as well.
A Relatively Smooth Response Example
My first experience was with Qatar Airways on a Riyadh to Incheon flight via Doha. About a month before departure, I suddenly received an email from the airline informing me that the last flight from Riyadh to Doha that I had scheduled was canceled due to airline reasons. This cancellation was likely due to anticipated low occupancy rates.
Fortunately, multiple flights operated on this route daily, and award ticket seats were still available on an earlier flight. Therefore, negotiations with the airline through the reservation center proceeded smoothly, and I was able to transfer to an alternative flight. Although this differed from my original itinerary and slightly inconvenienced my activities at the destination due to timing changes, I could avoid having to abandon the trip entirely.
The Worst-Case Scenario
My second experience, which became more serious, was with China Eastern Airlines on a flight from Istanbul to Nagoya via Shanghai. Just two weeks before departure, I first learned of the situation through a missed call from the reservation center. Since the booking was made by phone, it was problematic that important communications were made by phone rather than email. If I hadn’t noticed the missed call and returned it, the subsequent response might have been neglected.
What made it even more serious was that this flight was during the high season. Through the reservation center, I searched for alternative flights a few days before and after, but there were no vacancies in the award ticket slots, making it completely impossible to transfer. As a result, I had to cancel the entire itinerary, including the outbound flight. This affected all related reservations, including hotel bookings and local activities, resulting in significant losses.
Minimizing the Risk of Flight Cancellations by Airlines
From these experiences, I learned important lessons about using award tickets. First, regardless of the airline, award tickets have significantly limited seating availability compared to regular tickets. This means that when a flight is canceled by the airline, the possibility of being rebooked on an alternative flight is substantially lower than usual. This risk is particularly pronounced during high seasons.
Additionally, the longer the period between the booking date and the travel date, the greater the risk of flight cancellations by the airline. It’s not uncommon for flights scheduled months in advance to be suddenly canceled due to airline management decisions or route plan changes. Therefore, when using award tickets, I recommend considering bookings as close to the travel date as possible.
Furthermore, the communication methods and frequency of contact from airlines vary significantly. Some airlines primarily notify via email, while others prioritize phone communications. It’s important to provide accurate contact information when booking and to be vigilant about not missing communications from the airline.
Conclusion
Award tickets using airline mileage can provide wonderful travel opportunities when utilized effectively. However, it’s important not to forget the significant risk of flight cancellations by airlines. It’s wise to use them with a full understanding of these factors—that securing alternative flights can be difficult regardless of the airline, risks vary depending on the booking period, and communication with the airline is crucial.
When using award tickets, I recommend aiming for last-minute bookings as much as possible and being prepared to respond promptly to communications from the airline. Also, if important plans or other travel arrangements are involved, effective countermeasures include securing alternative means of transportation and considering travel insurance to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.