I’ve seen some people say they’ve already secured their tickets, and I can’t help but feel anxious as I watch the prices increase more and more. I asked my supervisor if I could purchase my ticket (this was two weeks ago) because of this concern, to which he basically says “let’s talk about it in June” and then asks me for the top three flights I’m thinking of.
Just now got an email from him asking if we can meet halfway through June to discuss and finalize this. Can’t say I’m happy to hear that, cause I’m certain I’ll be told there’s a budget for the airline ticket, and it’s nerve-inducing thinking about how much I may have to pay out of pocket because I have to wait on other people 🫠
Anyways, anyone else in a similar situation? In general, I’m curious to hear how many have already taken care of this, and if you’ve been given a budget/need to pay out of pocket.
9 comments
So, unless something has changed that I am unaware of, they’re contractually required to pay for your flight to your home country— not part of it, but all of it. If they won’t do that or try to bully you into paying for part of it, then I’d talk to your PAs.
I was told that my school would arrange it for me and pay for it outright. They only asked me what day I wanted to leave.
I paid for mine and the BOE reimbursed me. If you stayed the duration of your contract, they are supposed to pay for your ticket back.
Leavers from my prefecture purchased their flights **2 weeks or so ago** (that was the deadline set by our BOE).
I agree with the other poster that your BOE has to purchase your ENTIRE flight–not make you pay half or something. Did they purchase your flight when you came to Japan? The only way I think maybe they could get off the hook with paying is if you’re a 1st year. I heard that some BOEs don’t have to pay for flights home if you’ve only done one year on the program, but I don’t know if that’s true or not.
I was able to book *2 separate flights* to get home, which combined was still $1,000 cheaper than a direct flight. Took some convincing until my BOE accepted, but I think they wanted to save money. Also, they set a limit of ¥200000 for our flights. Sort of BS since there are so many factors making flights much more expensive than years past, but oh well. *shrug*
Everyone else in my prefecture has booked flights but I’m yet to. Last word was they may not pay for my flight but they’re looking into it.
Needless to say I’m not too thrilled.
They will absolutely cover your entire flight. It might not be the flight you want, but they’ll cover the one they think is best. It is REQUIRED that they pay for it within their means, which means, if the price keeps going up, so does their required amount to cover. They agreed in the JET Terms and Conditions, the document that they signed to have you, that they’d pay for your returning flight. Does that mean a 9+ hour layover? pffft maybe. But they’ll pay for the entire trip from within Japan (whereever you are) to the international airport (KIX, NRT, HND, whatever) to the origin international airport in your country.
It says in this years [JET Handbook](http://jetprogramme.org/wp-content/MAIN-PAGE/COMMON/publications/2021GIH_e.pdf) on page 167 (page 87 of the hyperlink):
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>As stated in the proposed JET Programme Terms and Conditions, JET Programme participants who meet all of the following conditions are eligible to receive a travel allowance for their return flight home.
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>1. Completes his or her term of appointment.
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>2. Does not enter into a subsequent term of appointment/employment with their contracting organisation or a contract with a third party in Japan within one month of completing their term of appointment.
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>3. Leaves Japan to return to his or her home country no later than one month from the day following the end of the term of appointment.
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>JET Programme participants who fulfil all of these conditions must complete and hand in the JET Return Travel Itinerary form (JET Sankasha Kikoku Yotei sho) or separate forms designated by the contracting organisation by the deadline stipulated by the contracting organisation.
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>Based on this travel itinerary, the contracting organisation will bear the cost of the JET Programme participant travelling from an international airport in Japan to the international airport in their home country designated at the time of entering Japan, via the most reasonable route and means of travel as determined by the travel expense regulations of the contracting organisation. This includes domestic travel in Japan to the airport as well as the cost of the flight.
If your PA is telling you that they won’t cover the whole thing, the PA is wrong. If you’ve met the requirements, they cannot not cover it because they’re contractually obligated to do so. You fulfilled your end of the bargain and no BOE is gonna face the public embarrassment of abandoning an ALT who is here on a government program. Again the flight may not be the specific one you want, it might have long layovers or different airport changes, but it will absolutely be covered.
Some prefectures have their own rules about this sort of thing, but in general its part of the JET Programme contract that your return flights are paid for by the BoE. I’ve been doing a dance for a few weeks with my BoE about my tickets, they’ve been really unhelpful. While they are willing to pay, they’re only allowing me to leave from my nearest airport and they are being very fussy about the prices as well. You would think they would be more reasonable given the circumstances (corona/Russian airspace), but apparently not. The sooner you can begin this process the better, but it really depends on how willing the BoE will be to work with you.
I had to give my school my intended flight on Monday, so they will refund me based on that flight. Not sure what those budget is etc. So I just bought the flight, luckily I have a credit card with room it was ¥250000
My BoE keeps saying that there’s uncertainties in flights due to the war in Ukraine so they haven’t booked anything yet… But I’m from Australia so I’m a bit skeptical.