So basically, we’ve had flights from Dublin to Tokyo booked since January this year for mid-August. These are with Etihad via Abu Dhabi. Obviously, with the Japan tourism situation it’s looking unlikely we’ll be able to get there.
Furthermore, we booked sale flights so they are likely not going to refund these if they still have flights going for business travellers or whatever. Obviously this will be the first thing to try when it comes to it.
If all else fails, is it possible to opt to just end the trip at Abu Dhabi and take our original Abu Dhabi to Dublin flight home? At least then we could do AD and Dubai and make the most of the trip!
Nope. You won’t even be able to get on in Dublin if your final destination is closed to you. And even if you could, they’ll cancel your return if you skip a leg. You’ll need to actually change your ticket if you want to go somewhere else.
You could in theory proceed directly to Abu Dhabi immigration instead of mid airport security assuming you have visa free entry to the uae…but 2 things 1) ethiad will cancel your return trip for failure to show for the Japan leg leaving you having to buy a new ticket home 2) it’s highly unlikely you’ll even be allowed to board a flight with your final being Japan unless you have documents showing you can enter. Why not just get set up with a tour company in Japan so you can still go?
The most likely scenario is, if it’s all on one ticket you probably will not even be able to board the first flight as the airline will know you do not qualify to enter japan.
Yeah, that’s kind of what I expected.
Does anyone know (with Etihad specifically) if them not allowing us to board will count as “cancelling” then. Such a weird edge scenario where the plane might go but we aren’t allowed on it.
Not such an edge case really. Happens all the time that someone wants to go somewhere but they lack the visa or whatnot needed. It’s your responsibility to comply with the entry requirements of wherever you’re going, so Etihad is not on the hook if they deny you boarding over this
You could in theory proceed directly to Abu Dhabi immigration instead of mid airport security assuming you have visa free entry to the uae…but 2 things 1) ethiad will cancel your return trip for failure to show for the Japan leg leaving you having to buy a new ticket home 2) it’s highly unlikely you’ll even be allowed to board a flight with your final being Japan unless you have documents showing you can enter. Why not just get set up with a tour company in Japan so you can still go?