potential problem with a work stoppage - Anyone have advice for me?

[Suji to Seoul]

My parents are coming to China tomorrow. My mother is staying in Shijiazhuang (I will have her register when she gets here) and teaching here with me.

My father will return to the States on June 22nd, which is where the problem may arise.

He has safe passage out of China and into Narita for his layover, but American Airlines has threatened a strike. If they do, he is stranded in Japan.

What can he do to get home if the airline goes on strike? He has his return ticket paid for. This is not an evacuation, because it isn't an emergency.

Anyone know what I can do? The Embassy has been contacted already.

[rpannier]

1. American Airlines is part of a group of Airlines

I fly Korean Air a lot and they are part of Sky Team
Sometimes the other members of a flight group will honor the ticket (sometimes with a surcharge, sometimes without)
I'd check to see what group of Airlines American belongs to and see what their policies are

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. What rpannier said

American Airlines is in an alliance with Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific, to name two Asian airlines. Those are the two I can remember offhand.

If AA is on strike, they will try to get their passengers accommodated on partner airlines--and given the superior service on Asian airlines, your father may even luck out and get put on one of those.