thanks for taking the time to respond. We made reservations at the Holiday Inn...can always cancel them but we've got a start here.

Just another idea:

Take a delay in route (ticket change) and spend a couple days in Tokyo/Japan and enjoy it a bit.

We are actually thinking about that. You need some time to "find" a place. It does seem a shame to waste an opportunity.

Taking advantage of the enroute stopover allowance is one of the best ways to maximize the value of the FF award.

If you think about it, it is a free trip to Japan for you. It will cost you nothing extra, in terms of travel time or airfare, to visit because there you will be.