Core Viewpoint - The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised citizens to avoid traveling to Japan during the Spring Festival, prompting Hainan Airlines to announce a special ticket handling policy for flights to and from Japan [1][8]. Group 1: Applicable Scope - The special ticket handling policy applies to ticket changes or refunds requested after January 26, 2026, at 00:00, for tickets issued or exchanged using the 880 international ticket certificate before January 26, 2026, at 12:00, for flights between March 29, 2026, and October 24, 2026, operated by Hainan Airlines [1][8]. Group 2: Change and Refund Regulations - **Ticket Change**: Passengers can change their tickets to the same itinerary and class on Hainan Airlines flights without a change fee, but must pay for any fare differences and seasonal price differences. Subsequent changes will follow the ticket usage conditions [2][9]. - **Ticket Refund**: Passengers can request a full refund for unused segments at the original point of purchase without a refund fee. Tickets that have already been changed under this policy will need to follow the original ticket usage conditions for refunds [3][12]. - **Cancellation Requirement**: All changes and refunds must be processed before the scheduled departure time of the flight [4][13]. Group 3: Other Provisions - Tickets that do not meet the above conditions will be handled according to the original ticket usage conditions. The policy will take effect from January 26, 2026, at 18:00, and tickets that have already been processed for refunds or changes before this time will not be subject to this policy [5][14].

Group 1 - The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning for Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan due to serious safety threats, including rising crime against Chinese nationals and recent earthquakes [1][2] - Major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, have extended their free ticket refund and change policy for flights to Japan until October 24, 2026, in response to the travel advisory [1][2] - There has been a noticeable decline in Chinese tourists planning to visit Japan, with some travelers canceling their trips and opting for alternative destinations [3] Group 2 - The ticket refund and change policy applies to tickets purchased before January 26, 2026, for travel dates between March 29, 2026, and October 24, 2026, for various airlines [4][5][8] - Specific conditions for ticket changes or refunds include that the tickets must not have been used and must involve flights to or from Japan [6][7][12] - Each airline has outlined its own criteria for eligible tickets, including ticket number prefixes and the requirement for at least one unused segment involving Japan [9][10][11][13]

Core Points - Multiple airlines have announced special handling policies for tickets related to flights to and from Japan, allowing free changes and cancellations for affected travelers [1][3][6] Group 1: Airline Policies - China Southern Airlines allows free changes and cancellations for tickets purchased or reissued before November 15, 2025, for flights between November 15, 2025, and December 31, 2025 [1] - Air China has similar provisions for tickets purchased before November 15, 2025, covering flights to major Japanese cities during the same travel period, with specific rules for changes and cancellations [2] - Hainan Airlines has established a policy for tickets issued before November 15, 2025, allowing free changes and cancellations for flights to Japan within the specified dates [4][5] Group 2: Government Advisory - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning for Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan due to rising safety concerns and incidents involving Chinese nationals [6]