JAL bookings

[Isabel]

What are the thoughts of the forum on the viability of the airline, and would you book a flight with them? I've got a booking in the system for September but it doesn't have to be paid until end March. I can't see them not operating at all, but daily reports in the papers suggest they will be cutting routes - although can't think that Sydney to Tokyo once per day is a route they'd do away with.
Thanks

 

[samh004]

If you don’t have to pay till March, at least you have some time for the dust to settle, as right now nothing is really set in stone.

If I needed to go to Japan tomorrow, or needed to fly domestically in Japan tomorrow, I’d have no problems with booking with them.

 

[codash1099]

You have the luxury of being able to wait for a while - I don't, I'm committed at this stage - but I'd certainly be looking at what options I have.

It's highly uncertain at the moment where JAL will end up. Routes, alliances etc are all uncertain. Personally, I'd not be booking with them at the moment.

 

[cosi]

The Japanese Government will guaranteed all bookings - you have no worries and I would not have any hesitation in making a future booking.

The main problem for JAL has been flying unprofitable domestic flights forced upon them by previous Japanese Governments and top heavy with managerial staff in all departments. In other words, JAL has failed to reform over the recent decade.

 

[harvyk]

What are the thoughts of the forum on the viability of the airline, and would you book a flight with them? I've got a booking in the system for September but it doesn't have to be paid until end March. I can't see them not operating at all, but daily reports in the papers suggest they will be cutting routes - although can't think that Sydney to Tokyo once per day is a route they'd do away with.
Thanks

With travel insurance, I'd have no problems booking with them. I just wouldn't pay them until things become due, just in case.

However I thinks that JAL will manage to pull out of this. Many major airlines have been declared bankrupt at some stage, and quite a few of them are still in the air now.