Very interesting events and I am sorry to hear this. I can only figure that like MF mentioned, you "Pissed on the nonrev Gods wheaties this morning"......or.....summer travel must be KrAzY in NRT right about now. And with all the heat of summer, there comes the ever dreaded weight restrictions. So loads look good but they are not. I was curious to know if you checked into the HNL routes. How about any other station from NRT like to Denver or IAH, or even EWR. I've had issues in Japan before, seems like they don't operate like we do in Conus. They are polite as hell and smile, and very cute, but like you say, they probably JUST DON'T KNOW how to deal with Zeds. Try this next time. Have the ticket lady call their station supervisor for UNITED.
Years ago, I had an issue in Nagoya flying in from Detroit. Nobody knew what I needed or wanted to do. I wanted to go to Guam from Nagoya, but didn't have any listings or anything to show anyone. Reason was my original plan was to go via HNL whick was wide open but I couldn't get out of Jacksonville to Houston. I had to go NWA via DTW to NAGOYA. In Nagoya, I was kind of put on hold after I showed them my CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA badge, and a nice Japanese representative from CMI came over and took us to her office, and issued us the tickets. Dam Tony. You should have just got wasted on KIRIN beer and made a spectacle of yourself in the airport. Like getting up close with beer breath to female customers and asking them questions in English....two things. No understand, and beer breath. Bet you they'd find a spot on a plane and be glad just to see you go. SAYONARA!