Tokyo 2020 Olympics discussion [consolidated]
Mar 30, 2020, 3:08 pm
#151
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
JOC is said to be planning to honor the purchased 2020 tickets to be used for 2021 Games, and to provide refund to those who can't make the new dates.
https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic...300000542.html
Sorry it's in Japanese.
Question is, will this translate to smooth execution by the ticket vendors (eg, Cosport)?
https://www.nikkansports.com/olympic...300000542.html
Sorry it's in Japanese.
Question is, will this translate to smooth execution by the ticket vendors (eg, Cosport)?
Apr 2, 2020, 12:40 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2011
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Visit Tokyo Anyway?
I still have my airline tix from the US to HND during the original Olympics dates. I could avoid the change/cancellation fees by going to Tokyo anyway, assuming travel is permitted. I've never been to Japan (outside of NRT). Anyone else have similar thoughts?
Apr 2, 2020, 12:50 pm
#153
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Aren't the airlines already waiving cancellation fees due to the virus? If you are set on traveling during the original dates, be aware that Japanese summers are oppressively hot and humid. This is especially so in the urban areas with the concrete absorbing the heat.
Apr 2, 2020, 1:34 pm
#154
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Seriously, don't go anywhere now.
Apr 2, 2020, 1:47 pm
#155
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Apr 2, 2020, 2:04 pm
#156
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I still don't see why you'd go anywhere three months from now. There's a reason why the Olympics and Wimbledon and any number of other summer events have already been cancelled.
Apr 2, 2020, 2:27 pm
#157
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Unfortunately for travel insurance 'an indefinite period' doesn't cover dates of travel - if Japan said 'until September' then insurance could kick in. My airline isn't allowing for credit that covers the 2021 dates (only until April 2021 if I cancel now).
Apr 2, 2020, 3:08 pm
#158
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You're welcome to stay in your 4LDK as long as you like. Others may want to get out every once in a while.
Apr 2, 2020, 3:13 pm
#159
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Apr 2, 2020, 3:24 pm
#160
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Obviously if in July the situation remains complicated, I wouldn't travel either. But why pull the trigger on that right now, in a possibly unforced error? Let somebody else make that decision, and that way you're more likely to be off the hook when it comes to cancellation fees and flexibility.
Apr 19, 2020, 6:11 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
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For those of you with tickets, what are your strategies and thought processes?
This is how I'm sort of thinking about it.
For lodging, one of the hotels I had non-refundable booking at this summer was kind enough to refund my money. It helped that I've been a regular there for years. As for summer 2021, I'm already seeing some hotel rooms available in Tokyo either at decent price but non-refundable, or astronomical rates. So we're back to this charade again. This time, what I am thinking is that I will take a chance and not rush to book anything until I find a fully refundable room rate that I feel comfortable with. I could be wrong, but I anticipate the hotel demands will not be the same for 2021 as it was for 2020. I think the Olympics will inevitably be slightly scaled down from the original plan. I don't think everyone who was planning to attend this summer will be going next year.
For airfare, most airlines are only offering waivers for travels through May. So I will just have to keep my fingers crossed and see what happens with any new waivers that may come along. If the Corona situation remains bad, airlines will cancel the flights themselves. Sort of like what Pickles said. As for next summer, I'm not going to do what I did last year and snatch up award seats that became available as soon as t-330d hit. By doing that last summer, I got stuck with horrible 3-country, 4 separate tix itinerary out of desperation. In fact, I probably won't even book my trip until next spring when we have much more clarity on if the Olympics will even happen.
As for Game tickets, that is the biggest question mark. It sounds like we'll be given the option to either keep the current tix to have them be good for 2021, or get refund. I'm actually leaning towards asking for refund as long as it comes without strings attached. If the Olympics happen in 2021, then for sure we'd like to go. But we don't know if they'll happen. And if the Olympics don't happen next summer either, or if it does happen but then I can't find any reasonable airline seats next spring, then I'll again be stuck with tickets I can't use.
This is how I'm sort of thinking about it.
For lodging, one of the hotels I had non-refundable booking at this summer was kind enough to refund my money. It helped that I've been a regular there for years. As for summer 2021, I'm already seeing some hotel rooms available in Tokyo either at decent price but non-refundable, or astronomical rates. So we're back to this charade again. This time, what I am thinking is that I will take a chance and not rush to book anything until I find a fully refundable room rate that I feel comfortable with. I could be wrong, but I anticipate the hotel demands will not be the same for 2021 as it was for 2020. I think the Olympics will inevitably be slightly scaled down from the original plan. I don't think everyone who was planning to attend this summer will be going next year.
For airfare, most airlines are only offering waivers for travels through May. So I will just have to keep my fingers crossed and see what happens with any new waivers that may come along. If the Corona situation remains bad, airlines will cancel the flights themselves. Sort of like what Pickles said. As for next summer, I'm not going to do what I did last year and snatch up award seats that became available as soon as t-330d hit. By doing that last summer, I got stuck with horrible 3-country, 4 separate tix itinerary out of desperation. In fact, I probably won't even book my trip until next spring when we have much more clarity on if the Olympics will even happen.
As for Game tickets, that is the biggest question mark. It sounds like we'll be given the option to either keep the current tix to have them be good for 2021, or get refund. I'm actually leaning towards asking for refund as long as it comes without strings attached. If the Olympics happen in 2021, then for sure we'd like to go. But we don't know if they'll happen. And if the Olympics don't happen next summer either, or if it does happen but then I can't find any reasonable airline seats next spring, then I'll again be stuck with tickets I can't use.
Apr 20, 2020, 8:33 pm
#162
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We lost out in the lottery system and we were only able to get tickets to one event. We really wanted to get tickets for a basketball game.
With this postponement, we should have another kick at the can at getting tickets for a few more events. I hate to ask for a refund and then have to go through the lottery system again in the hopes of getting more tickets.
As for hotels, while it was technically non-refundable, they processed the refund without any issue.
We also are holding off for a few months to see where this situation goes. We are keeping an eye on prices and availability and we will book when we think it is the optimum time.
With this postponement, we should have another kick at the can at getting tickets for a few more events. I hate to ask for a refund and then have to go through the lottery system again in the hopes of getting more tickets.
As for hotels, while it was technically non-refundable, they processed the refund without any issue.
We also are holding off for a few months to see where this situation goes. We are keeping an eye on prices and availability and we will book when we think it is the optimum time.
Apr 22, 2020, 6:07 pm
#163
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
We lost out in the lottery system and we were only able to get tickets to one event. We really wanted to get tickets for a basketball game.
With this postponement, we should have another kick at the can at getting tickets for a few more events. I hate to ask for a refund and then have to go through the lottery system again in the hopes of getting more tickets.
As for hotels, while it was technically non-refundable, they processed the refund without any issue.
We also are holding off for a few months to see where this situation goes. We are keeping an eye on prices and availability and we will book when we think it is the optimum time.
With this postponement, we should have another kick at the can at getting tickets for a few more events. I hate to ask for a refund and then have to go through the lottery system again in the hopes of getting more tickets.
As for hotels, while it was technically non-refundable, they processed the refund without any issue.
We also are holding off for a few months to see where this situation goes. We are keeping an eye on prices and availability and we will book when we think it is the optimum time.
Cosport has tons of tickets right now, including basketball. Lots of it.
Thing is, the dates are still based off of summer 2020. But since it's my understanding that 2020 tix will transfer to equivalent event tix in 2021, I think they're available for you to snatch up if you wanted to. I personally will hold off on spending any more money on Olympics at least until this winter.
Apr 23, 2020, 7:38 pm
#164
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
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I know your ticket vendor is different than ours (ours is Cosport). But maybe the inventories are similar.
Cosport has tons of tickets right now, including basketball. Lots of it.
Thing is, the dates are still based off of summer 2020. But since it's my understanding that 2020 tix will transfer to equivalent event tix in 2021, I think they're available for you to snatch up if you wanted to. I personally will hold off on spending any more money on Olympics at least until this winter.
Cosport has tons of tickets right now, including basketball. Lots of it.
Thing is, the dates are still based off of summer 2020. But since it's my understanding that 2020 tix will transfer to equivalent event tix in 2021, I think they're available for you to snatch up if you wanted to. I personally will hold off on spending any more money on Olympics at least until this winter.
Just like you, I feel a tad hesitant in spending money on the Olympics until later on the year.
Apr 27, 2020, 9:11 pm
#165
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Holding Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will be 'difficult', Japanese health chief warns
The head of the Tokyo Medical Association (JMA) has added his voice to speculation that the Tokyo Olympics, now due to be held next summer, could again be delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Unless an effective vaccine is developed I think it will be difficult to hold the Olympics next year,” JMA president Yoshitake Yokokura told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. “I’m not saying at this point that they shouldn’t be held. The outbreak is not only confined to Japan ... it’s a worldwide issue.”
Several health experts have cast doubt on plans to hold the Games next July and August. Last week, Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases, said he thought it “unlikely” that the Games would be held just over a year from now.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year,” Iwata, a professor at Kobe University, said. “Holding the Olympics needs two conditions; one, controlling Covid-19 in Japan, and controlling Covid-19 everywhere.”
“I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer unless you hold the Olympic Games in a totally different structure such as no audience, or a very limited participation.”
“Unless an effective vaccine is developed I think it will be difficult to hold the Olympics next year,” JMA president Yoshitake Yokokura told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday. “I’m not saying at this point that they shouldn’t be held. The outbreak is not only confined to Japan ... it’s a worldwide issue.”
Several health experts have cast doubt on plans to hold the Games next July and August. Last week, Kentaro Iwata, a specialist in infectious diseases, said he thought it “unlikely” that the Games would be held just over a year from now.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think the Olympics is likely to be held next year,” Iwata, a professor at Kobe University, said. “Holding the Olympics needs two conditions; one, controlling Covid-19 in Japan, and controlling Covid-19 everywhere.”
“I am very pessimistic about holding the Olympic Games next summer unless you hold the Olympic Games in a totally different structure such as no audience, or a very limited participation.”