Certificate of Cancellation/Delay/Diversion
 

I was checking normal actual arrival times for NH7 (SFO-NRT) and noticed that the flight yesterday was delayed by several hours, and curiosity about why led me to the NH flight status page where I noticed an obscure link obtain a Certificate of Cancellation/Delay/Diversion.

I clicked through and the result was this page:

https://afs.ana.co.jp/fli/api/CertificateOut?jsoncallback=CertificateOut&airline =NH&site=INT&lang=EN&channel=PC&requestYearMonth=2 01802&requestDay=15&flightNumber=0007&operationOrd er=2&legNumber=0

For the life of me, I can't figure out what purpose this paper certificate would serve. Certainly NH already has this information in their system for rebooking, etc. Does one give it to your boss to show why you're late for work? You're spouse to show that you were actually late and not just out drinking? To a hotel when requesting reimbursement for a non-refundable prebooking? Or, do you need this when filing for delay compensation? Again, wouldn't NH already have that information in their system? Do other airlines have similar links? I've never noticed one.

It isn't personalized in any way, just a certificate for the flight.

Just idle Friday afternoon curios1ty.

In typical Japanese customer service, a Certificate of Cancellation/Delay/Diversion is for the person affected to produce to their employer/client as proof that they are late for a meeting/engagement/work because of the airline's fault. It is also common for train service here within Japan.
Reason is, to eliminate any doubt that the person affected is lying/making up a story for their lateness, without having their employer/client have to verify themselves with ANA. Its a cultural thing.

This dates to a time before online status was easily available.

Some travel insurers also reserve the right to require the claimant (passenger) to produce a document, but no longer do for the reasons you point out,

Most carriers will produce this for you on request.

united has that too, but manual

(verification letters / [email protected])
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ellations.html

it's also referred to as "military excuse" on usa soil
https://www.reddit.com/r/Military/co...xcuse_voucher/
https://saverocity.com/milewriter/20...reimbursement/

I've seen UA agents in NRT hand these out around baggage claim when a flight is delayed. Came in handy when I missed my connection and was able to use the letter as proof to claim my trip delay insurance.