When I saw the typhoon was coming I was able to change our Sunday flight to Saturday. I was still trying to find flights out on Friday using miles with no success.
Then, my Saturday flight and all other flights on ANA or JAL were cancelled for the weekend. I read that over 1600 flights were cancelled. Once that happened, combined with the news reporting about a super typhoon that would be as strong as the one that killed 1200 people back in 1958 coming directly for us, I figured I shouldn’t have a problem with the trip insurance we purchased for the
ABD covering an escape plan.
I found same day business class flights for Friday out of Narita (90 minutes away from the Tokyo
Disneyland Hotel) with a 5 hour connection in Shanghai. Ww could make it if we left the hotel right away and it would allow a cushion of time to get there early and a buffer for whatever chaos would be happening at the airport. We called China Eastern to book but their ticket office was closed. So we booked it on Expedia. There’s a reason beyond being married to PlanePrincess that I chose business class seats and I will get to that in a bit. Also trip insurance helped with that decision too.
The airport bus transportation wasn’t due to arrive for another 40 minutes so we opted to take a cab. The cab was spacious and immaculate and the seats had what could best be described as fancy white doilies covering them. It was rather charming. I chalked it up to the universe providing me with much needed amusement during a rather stressful morning.
Our flight was for 1:50 pm and the check in counter for that flight was not going to open until 11 am. We made it there little after 10:30 am. I wanted to get there early because I wasn’t sure if we even really had tickets since we booked on Expedia. We only had a confirmation number nothing else. I didn’t know if the flight might be oversold due to all the cancellations. I also knew the airport might be in chaos.
The economy line for check in was already 50 deep. The business class line only had 2 people ahead of us. Since I don’t speak the language I am not sure what was happening while the agent was trying to get us boarding passes. It took forever. The agents on either side of us had a number of people check in get boarding passes and leave while we waited on pins and needles for our gate agent to issue boarding passes. Our agent not only made a phone call but she also had two different people come over to help. I was sweating bullets thinking our Expedia confirmation was not going to fly, no pun intended, and we wouldn’t get boarding passes or on the flight. After what seemed an eternity she was able to get them to issue and print.
We made our way to the lounge and eventually our flight to Shanghai. Thank goodness we had a 5 layover. Our flight sat on the tarmac for over an hour before being able to take off. I knew the airport would be a mess.
Once we arrived in Shanghai I called the MiraCosta and Disneyland hotel to cancel our next two nights. They said they’d refund us and then after much misunderstanding back and forth I was informed that my car keys were at the hotel. Sigh.
We were able to fastpass our way through security at PVG in their VIP line thanks to flying in business class. Good thing too because the other lines were super long.
Once we were sitting in the lounge we booked a one night stay at a Fairfield that included breakfast near JFK. We called to let them know we’d be arriving very late and to please add notes to the reservation about that and not give away the room. We also requested a late checkout and after explaining where we were coming from and why, they gave us a 4 pm checkout. Rather nice to say Bonvoy! and not to have been Bonvoyed.
We got to the hotel and I booked our flights back home for Saturday afternoon. So, I am getting back a day early. AA never sent me a flight cancellation notice. I got the alert from TripIt Pro. I had to call AA this evening and inform them that JAL cancelled our flight. They will be redepositing the miles and refunding the taxes and fees.
So under the circumstances I am glad we had trip insurance for our ABD. I am also glad that we had the coverage dates fixed for the entire trip, not just the ABD part of it. It’s definitely something to think about for international travel. I also realized how our penchant for using miles to book the comfy seats also has other perks beyond comfort.
so I guess I will not be reapplying. I'm telling myself there is always another good deal down the road but myself is still so ticked. I am happy for all you new SW card owners though!
)
Most other offers are going to pale in comparison to that 
I think quite a few of us were suspicious. My rule is never ever ask a woman if she’s pregnant until she tells you.
