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Alaska Airlines devalues Japan Airlines awards without notice, increasing award rates by up to 100%

March 14, 2023
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3 min read
Japan Airlines planes at Haneda International Airport
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

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-200 at San Jose International Airport in California
ALEX TAI/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET/GETTY IMAGES

Here's a look at some of the award changes affecting both inbound and outbound flights from Japan.

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DestinationEconomyBusinessFirst
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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