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Alaska Airlines devalues Japan Airlines awards without notice, increasing award rates by up to 100%
Kyle Olsen
Points and Miles Expert
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
March 14, 2023
•
3 min read
Alaska Airlines devalues Japan Airlines awards without notice, increasing award rates by up to 100%
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Alaska Airlines isn't showing any TLC to its Mileage Plan members.
After publishing different award rates for each of its partners in December and spiking award rates and taxes on some partner flights in January, the airline is back at devaluations.
Now, Mileage Plan has increased Japan Airlines award rates by up to 100%, as View from the Wing first reported.
As with each of these changes, Alaska hasn't given advance notice to its Mileage Plan members, which is troubling since Alaska promised TPG when it joined the Oneworld frequent flyer alliance that it would "strive to give at least 90 days' notice if changes are coming to any current partner awards."
This is what you need to know about the most recent Japan Airlines changes.
New award rates
Here's a look at some of the award changes affecting both inbound and outbound flights from Japan.
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| Destination | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
West Coast | 35,000 miles (no change). | 60,000 miles (no change). | 85,000 miles (18% increase). |
Midwest and East Coast | 45,000 miles (29% increase). | 80,000 miles (33% increase). | 100,000 miles (43% increase). |
Asia | 25,000 miles (43% increase). | 50,000 miles (100% increase). | N/A. |
While none of these changes are favorable, inter-Asia business-class redemptions have been disproportionately devalued.
Up until this round of changes, Alaska Airlines offered the nine-hour hop from Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) to Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for just 25,000 miles in business class.
Now, this flight, in addition to other Japan Airlines destinations like Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), will cost 50,000 miles in business class.
Related: How to redeem miles with the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program
Bottom line
Alaska Airlines has increased award rates on Japan Airlines without notice. Now, you'll need to redeem some 100,000 miles one-way to travel from the Midwest and East Coast to Japan in first class.
We've been longtime fans of Alaska's award rates, but with recent devaluations, we recommend checking award rates on other Oneworld partners (like Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airlines AAdvantage) before redeeming Alaska miles.
Featured image by JAMES MATSUMOTO/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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