As stated in the JET Programme Terms and Conditions, JET participants are eligible to recieve a travel allowance for passage back to their home countries. However, this "free flight" is not a right of all JETs. It only applies to JETs returning home after their contract ends, and meets the following conditions: 1. Completes their contract period; 2. Does not enter into a subsequent contract with their Contracting Organization or a third-party within one month after completion of the period of contract; 3. leaves Japan to return to his/her home country no later than one month from the day following the end of the contract period.
A JET participant who fulfills ALL these conditions is to receive a one-way economy class ticket, from Japan directly to the home country airport from which the JET participant departed. The Contracting Organization is also responsible for the passage from the Contracting Organization to the international airport in Japan from which the JET participant will depart. The following two conditions are attached to the provision of the ticket:
1. In principle the ticket should be for a direct flight. If a direct flight is not available, a ticket requiring the least possible number of transfers should be provided. In such circumstances the traveling time should not be unreasonable longer than a direct flight. 2. In the event that the JET participant unavoidably has to cancel the reservation (due to an unforeseen accident or illness) the Contracting Organization is to provide a ticket for another flight.
Contracting Organizations may select the type of ticket to be provided and may also choose whether to provide an actual ticket or the equivalent amount in money. The above information can be found in the General Information Handbook p201. For Municipal JETs:
The exact procedure for handling flights home may vary from municipality to municipality. In most cases, they will provide you with a discount ticket back to your departure airport. Your supervisor should explain how it will work for you. If you are having any problems, feel free to contact one of the PAs.
For Prefectural JETs: Your supervisor should receive a form from the General Affairs Division at Kencho in late May or early June. So that your supervisor can fill it out, please provide three possible flights for the date that you wish to return home as soon as possible. Kencho will decide on one of the three flights. The Board of Education sends the money for the ticket to your school or education office. Your school either pays for the ticket or deposits the money into your account. It is their choice.
If anyone has a problem with the flight home, please call a PA as soon as it comes up.
The Last Day to Leave Japan For ALL JETs: You have up until one month after your contract ends to leave Japan, if you wish to use the flight provided to you under the JET Programme Contract. For example, if the last day of your contract is August 5th, the departure date of your return flight can be no later than September 5th.
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