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SALT LAKE CITY -- The disaster in Japan is creating nightmares for people traveling to Japan and those trying to get out.
Right now, all the airlines are allowing changes free of charge. So what I would do is change that ticket to delay for a few months at least.
–Douglas Wren
The State Department issued a travel warning for Japan Sunday. Essentially it means don't go unless you have to. Unless you're involved in the emergency response, if you do go you might be sorry you did.
Japan is grappling with its worst crisis since two Atomic bombs were dropped in 1945. With shortages of food and water and nuclear plants in jeopardy -- airports are jammed with people trying to get out.
Travel adviser Douglas Wren echoes official warnings: stay out of Japan. He advises those already there to head south.
"Right now, all the airlines are allowing changes free of charge. So what I would do is change that ticket to delay for a few months at least," said Wren. "What I would recommend, if you have relatives, you've got loved ones that are traveling, they just need to get to Southern Japan. They need to get to Tokyo, Kyoto and those areas and try to fly out from those areas because the northern airports are shut down and train service is really spotty right now."
He estimates 5,000 Americans are in Japan trying to get out. For some, there could be a long wait.
Direct flights between Salt Lake City and Tokyo run from June to October only, so no flights in Utah have been affected by the crisis.
E-mail: hollenhorst@ksl.com
