Japan flights booked with BA this Oct - refund or reschedule next Apr?

[Sandgroper]

Hi

Need some advice please, especially anyone in Japan!

We have direct flights with BA to Tokyo this October half term holidays, used points and rest on Credit card.

I don’t even think we will be able to fly in Oct, also have a DS with Type 1 diabetes so need to think about hospitals/medical care should we need it.

Will tourist things be open, restaurants etc? I appreciate this may be too difficult to answer at the moment!

Not sure whether to cancel and go for refund (pretty sure we will loose the points) or reschedule for next year. If we do it will have to be April 2021 school holidays. My other DS has exams near Oct 2021 school holidays (would have been my preferred option). Don’t want to go in the July/Aug 2021 school holidays as it will be too hot, DH has been before.

It is supposed to be a trip of a lifetime, as was a present for my 50th and want to make the right decision.

Would appreciate your thoughts/comments.

Many thanks

Wait until nearer the time, it's a long way off and the science is advancing at a rapid pace. Nobody can tell you that it will be ok in October to travel but it may be. Rather than loose your points, see what the situation is in August then contact BA to reschedule if it doesn't seem like leisure travel is possible. I'm certainly not cancelling my November break yet

I used to live in Japan. If it won’t cost too much I would reschedule to April. Weather then much better than October. I don’t think flying will recover in a meaningful way this year.

Flying in November here. I’m waiting TIL sept October to reschedule depending o. The situation then

It's too far off to know, I have flights to Thailand booked for the end of September and I won't even be thinking about it until the end of August at least. Pointless fretting and worrying at this stage.

I would have booked Japan for April anywhere - for the cherry blossom (that's April isn't it?).

Thanks all for your input. Think we will sit tight and wait, everything is changing at such a rapid pace!

You dont loose the points. Avios flights can be cancelled for £35 each person and you get a full refund and points back- that is why they are so great- they are almost fully flexible. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure. If you used an amex voucher you get that back as well.

If they cancel the flight you can rebook using avios up to 355 days in advance- there does not need to be avios redemption available on the flight (you might have to remind them of this). The BA forum of flyertalk is very helpful.

Also October is a lovely time to be in Japan if you do go - the autumn leaves will be out in many parts, depending on where you’re going. Cherry blossom is lovely but prices can shoot up and it can get really busy - I’m not sure I’d choose April over October tbh!

We are about to book a long haul flight/holiday for October half term. BA have changed their terms so you don't pay more than the deposit until 3 weeks before, and you can change flights/holidays really late to.

We are willing to take the risk.
I'm really hoping we can get away by the end of October.

I would wait and see. The situation inJapan has greatly improved and things are relaxing, but whether there will be a second wave or not remains to be seen.

I also agree that autumn is very beautiful in Japan.

I have a long haul booked in October for my husbands 40th and really don’t know what to do! I know it will cost so much more to change till next year but will it be ruined if I go this year if I’m even able to! Iv been planning it for 3 years and I know it’s not the worst problem at the minute but I’m gutted!

I hazard to guess that in Oct Japan will be quite “normal” if no second wave of infections occurs. State of emergency is likely to be lifted countrywide from June. There are no stringent restrictions even now. Weather in Oct is better than April (less rain). Sakura bloom is usually over by the first week of April in Kanto region, earlier in Kansai. I live here and feel more safe than Europe in terms of virus atm, but would I fly all the way for a holiday?..Hmm...

At the moment, Japan has prohibited foreigners from entry to Japan, but that may be lifted soon depending on how things go. I agree that the big question is whether there will be a second wave or not.

Thanks to everyone who commented. We have decided we will wait and probably cancel our holiday closer to the time.

Japan has started lifting some restrictions and allowing some Asian countries visiting. I believe there will be some more some more announcements this week. I’ve seen a list of countries the eu will allow travelling to and Japan is among them (so is the uk). These kind of things are normally reciprocated so I’d assume Japan will allow eu (&uk with the current numbers) to travel.
I’ve got the holidays booked for November and so far I’m keeping it.
Also ba only allows changes or voucher for those holidays booked TIL the 31st of August so your holidays aren’t allowed I believe