I used points for a return business class trip to Europe. The Qantas search engine offered me a return leg from Frankfurt via Tokyo on JAL, which sounded good, so I took it. A month or so later, when I go to put the flight details into my calendar, I notice that the ticketing has me going into Narita and out of Haneda. Puzzled, I investigate further, and find that there’s no shuttle or transfer, I have to exit Narita and make my own way to Haneda - which requires a visa. Which isn’t available. Had I not twigged, I would not have been permitted to board in Frankfurt - had I flown, I would have been entering the country illegally. Six hours of waiting on line and calls dropping out later, I finally get a valid return flight, on Emirates, 8 days after I had planned to return. After being told by several that there were no flights, and my only option was to have my points refunded and make my own way back.
I contacted a friend, who was also booked home via Tokyo. Same thing. Qantas initially told her when she called that there was no problem. The Japanese Embassy told her otherwise. She didn’t get a return flight, so had to fork out over $2k for a one way economy flight.
Anyone else experience this?
