Japan Airlines: Reviews, Guides, Deals, and News - The Points Guy

Overview Frequent Flyer Program Alliance Credit Cards Japan Airlines Japan Airlines (also known as JAL) is the largest commercial carrier in Japan, serving 45 countries across the globe. JAL has hubs at Tokyo’s two airports, Haneda and Narita. The airline is part of the Oneworld alliance, which counts American Airlines and Qantas among its 15 members. Japan Airlines Frequent Flyer Program The JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) program lets frequent flyers earn miles for travel on Japan Airlines and partner airlines. Here’s where things get a bit confusing: Within JAL Mileage Bank, there’s a FLY ON sub-program for earning elite status. You’ll earn FLY ON points based on an eligible flight’s distance in miles. You’ll need to accrue at least 30,000 FLY ON points in a year to qualify for JMB Crystal, the lowest of the four elite tiers. JAL JMB FLY ON elite status levels JMB Crystal (30,000 FLY ON points/30 segments): Oneworld Ruby; priority waitlist, check-in and standby; one free checked bag for international flights. For JGC members: Oneworld Sapphire status; JAL Global Club entrance; priority boarding (domestic flights) and baggage; advance front seat assignment on Japanese domestic flights; fast security lane; 55-percent mileage bonus. JMB Sapphire (50,000 FLY ON points/50 segments): All of the above, plus Oneworld Sapphire status; advance front seat assignment on Japanese domestic flights; fast security lane; lounge access with JMB card; priority boarding on international flights; 105-percent mileage bonus. JGC Premier (80,000 FLY ON points/80 segments): All of the above, plus Oneworld Emerald status; special security gate; JAL First Class lounge access; Diamond/Premier lounge access; priority boarding on domestic flights; 105-percent mileage bonus; no mileage expiration. Diamond (100,000 FLY ON points/120 segments): All of the above, plus 130-percent mileage bonus, Diamond award tickets. JMB members who earn at least 50,000 FLY ON points in a year qualify for the JAL Global Club. Benefits include lounge access, annual gifts and bonus miles. There’s a 5,000-mile “membership fee” for joining this program. You can redeem JMB miles for flights on Asiana and partner airlines. Note that one-way tickets will cost the same number of miles as a round-trip ticket for the same routing unless you make the reservation by phone. A round-trip Economy award ticket from the US to Japan requires 50,000 miles, and the same itinerary costs 110,000 miles in First Class. (Award chart: https://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/use/jal/inter/miles.html) Japan Airlines Alliance JAL is a member of the Oneworld alliance, a network that includes Air Berlin, Qantas and 13 other carriers. Award tickets on American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Air France can be booked through the JAL website. Starwood Preferred Guest is a Japan Airlines transfer partner. JAL flyers can transfer Starpoints to their JMB accounts at a 1:1 ratio. For every 20,000 Startpoints transferred, you’ll receive 5,000 bonus miles. If you’re drowning in Starpoints, transferring them to JBM can help you nab a round-trip ticket from New York to Dubai in Emirates First Class. This award will set you back 135,000 Mileage Bank miles. Japan Airlines Credit Cards For JAL flyers based in the US, the JAL USA MasterCard can get you closer to award travel with mileage bonuses on every eligible flight. Cardholders also get discounts on in-flight purchases and duty-free shopping.