You have so many options for NRT, as well as HND . Make sure you check for ANY major holiday periods, including Chinese New Year, etc. We had to route thru ICN once on purpose, once by need to get to other parts of SE Asia. In that case, it's zed ticket for KE or whichever new partner we have thru NRT.
No complaints--flown with Boss and then w/S4 niece this past spring. Lots of gateways--PDX might be the "closet" choice based on less traffic but toughest to connect from CHS.
You've got ATL, DTW, JFK, SEA, MSP, SFO, PDX, LAX.
Employee costs? $35 MAke "dummy" booking--all the way except paying to get actual cost
Buddy pass or Non-dep around $6-700RT
Various aircraft 767, 777, 747, 330