Questions and Answers

Hi Ben,

I have a dilemma I am hoping you can help shed some light to. Would you risk flying JAL ORD-NRT or take the safer option of Cathay LAX-HKG (2 days later) a few days before Thanksgiving? If the JAL flight were cancelled due to weather, what would be the most likely scenario (and chance) for accommodation to other airlines/flights out of any other city by AA or JAL (since it’s award reservation, would it be very difficult or impossible to find an alternative flight at that point)? I need to make a decision by tomorrow night since AA would only hold JAL seat for 24 hours.

Thank you for your time and response!

Jason

Hi Ben,

I just posted this same question but realized after submitting that I didn’t log in. In case you are reading it twice, I apologize. Basically, would you risk flying JAL ORD-NRT a few days before Thanksgiving or would you take the safer route of LAX-HKG on Cathay (but 2 days later)? If the JAL flight were cancelled due to weather, is there any hope of getting accommodated to other flight/airline by AA or JAL (since it’s award seat)?

Thank you for your time and response!

Jason

[USER=155]@747380[/USER] — Why would you feel the JAL route is risky? Just because of the potential for weather in Chicago?

[QUOTE=”Tiffany, post: 11614, member: 7″][USER=155]@747380[/USER] — Why would you feel the JAL route is risky? Just because of the potential for weather in Chicago?[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your reply, Tiffany. That’s correct. My fear is that JAL decides not to deploy the plane from NRT to ORD to begin with for that day due to the anticipated snow storm and outright cancels the flight out of ORD instead of a plane sitting in ORD waiting for departure clearance. Ideally I would like to sample both JAL and Cathay in each direction but is that too much risk to take? Thanks for your input!

Hah, I’d risk it! I don’t think it’s that much of a gamble in the grand scheme of things, and if the forecast starts looking rough a few days beforehand you can always change the itinerary proactively.

[QUOTE=”Tiffany, post: 11621, member: 7″]Hah, I’d risk it! I don’t think it’s that much of a gamble in the grand scheme of things, and if the forecast starts looking rough a few days beforehand you can always change the itinerary proactively.[/QUOTE]
I see your point. However, isn’t it hard to find a first class award seat close to departure date, especially when there is a snow storm across the midwest and/or east coast?

Not necessarily — the best first class award availability is generally a few days before departure.

Keep in mind there could just as easily be storms in Hong Kong causing delays.

[QUOTE=”Tiffany, post: 11638, member: 7″]Not necessarily — the best first class award availability is generally a few days before departure.

Keep in mind there could just as easily be storms in Hong Kong causing delays.[/QUOTE]
Agree. Thanks for your insight.

No risk in my book.

the risk is minimal, but regarding the two first class products, i’d say that CX is better on the hard product while JAL is better on the soft product.

I wouldn’t not book JAL because of weather concerns, but with the exception of wifi, I enjoy riding CX F quite a bit more!

Also, if something does happen to the JL flight, CX’s ORD-HKG leaves a few hours later so it could be possible to get accommodated on that.

[USER=1393]@AlexGBBAGold[/USER] Thank you for liking my post and sharing your input.
[USER=1253]@beijingdweller[/USER] Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts on both airlines.
[USER=1378]@FastMarkA[/USER] Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts on both airlines as well as input on alternative flight for the scenario.