Agreed. That's why I wrote I'd settle for those; that would make me happy. Not asking for those ridiculous cheap fares, just some normalcy. But even that is far off, unfortunately.

I can get from Eastcoast USA to Beijing and back for ~$3000 in J on UA (for the long flights) with some creativity, at least one night's stay along the way in either Japan or Korea, some PlusPoints, and one or two of the shorter flights in E.

Not ideal, but financially acceptable.