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This week’s reader success story comes from Leigha, and shows how points and miles can really save the day when things go wrong!

Japan was a bucket list destination for both my husband and me, and we were thrilled to share the experience with our toddler. We had everything meticulously planned—flights booked months in advance, award stays secured in Tokyo and Kyoto, and even hard-to-get reservations at the Planet Lab and Nintendo Museum. We were ready.

 

Oops, We Have a Problem

Our journey began smoothly. We arrived at CLT early, breezed through TSA PreCheck®, and boarded our United flight to EWR at 6:30 a.m. We knew EWR had been experiencing delays and cancellations, but we figured the worst case would be a layover in NYC.

Then things unraveled.

Just ten minutes after the cabin door closed, the pilot announced a mechanical issue. Twenty minutes later, we were asked to deboard due to an engine failure. At the service counter, we were told there were no flights available that day—only an option to rebook for the next day via ORD. That delay would throw off our entire itinerary.

 

 

The Problems Don’t End😩

Determined not to lose a full day, I started searching other airlines. Cash fares were outrageous—$5,000 one-way in economy for three people. Fortunately, I found three Premium Economy seats to Tokyo via American Airlines using 165,000 AA miles and $5.60 per person. It wasn’t ideal because it had two layovers (AUS and LAX), but it kept our trip on track.

Just our luck—right before boarding to AUS, the gate agent announced a delay due to a broken captain’s seat. We’d miss our next connection entirely. The AA customer service rep was unhelpful, insisting no flights were available that week. I found a Japan Airlines flight myself and insisted she rebook us. Eventually, she did—for the next day.

 

Points and Miles Save the Day

We returned home that evening and reworked everything. Our original Tokyo hotel was the Conrad Tokyo, booked with two free night certificates and 100,000 Hilton points. Because of the delay, we were able to cancel one night and get points back. Later, we extended our trip and used 70,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book two nights at Hyatt Centric Ginza—saving over $3,400 in cash rates.

 

 

 

We also adjusted our return flight from HND to CLT, rebooking two days later in Premium Economy for 135,000 AA miles + $5.60 per person, avoiding a cash price of $11,850. Since we flew economy outbound on JAL, we even got miles refunded from the upgrade difference.

It was a frustrating and stressful start, and many signs pointed to canceling. But thanks to the flexibility of points and miles, we were able to adapt quickly without spending a fortune. We had an amazing time in Japan, and we’re already planning our return—once we’ve replenished our points stash.

 

Bottom Line

Thanks, Leigha, for your reader’s success story about how points and miles save a trip to Japan. We have had the same experience in other countries where points and miles have saved the day!

 

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