A reader asked: "For a trip in June 2023, I booked a first-class ticket on Japan Airlines from New York to Tokyo (and continuing on to Osaka) using 100,000 miles I had accumulated on Alaska Airlines, one of JAL's partners. The flight from New York to Tokyo was canceled a few hours before departure because of a mechanical failure. A Japan Airlines agent categorically refused to help me rebook, even when I offered to take a downgrade in the following days or fly another airline. The agent insisted I take it up with Alaska, in direct violation of JAL's contract of carriage, which requires it to book me on an upcoming flight with it or 'any other Carrier.' Alaska could only refund my miles, so I ended up paying for a last minute, one-way ticket later that day on United Airlines to Tokyo and then a train ticket to Osaka, for a total of $3,400. That is far more than the value of the refunded Alaska miles. Can you help"
