Reply #10: The low fares have always existed as round trips with many stipulations -.

[peacetalksforall]

especially advance purchase.

There are normal fares that are good for a year and their are special fares to fill seats that are usually empty.

The airlines can't change international fares that easily or quickly. The fare structure has been in existence for decades.

I think the guy should shut up about airlines gouging to take advantage of a disaster. They do a lot of crappy things, but I would bet that this isn't one of them.

There are international regulations about raising fares. I just don't believe anything nefarious going to take advantage of a disaster. Public relations is important. I would say the employee he spoke with didn't know how to explain the fares.

One way fares purchased for travel on any day at any time when a seat is available is the most expensive way to travel, but there might be last minute specials when the airline is trying to fill flights. It makes sense that they would exclude discount fares on the Japan US route at this time. I would guess that the same airlines being criticized for their fare structure might offer free air lifts if the entire country had to be air lifted out. Or they might loosen up their stipulations on the round trip fares. Traveling out of Japan presently is voluntary.