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Japan Airlines Awards Can Now Be Searched, Booked Through American Airlines' Website

July 11, 2019
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3 min read
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Japan Airlines Awards Can Now Be Searched, Booked Through American Airlines' Website
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While American Airlines isn't exactly making it cheap or easy to redeem miles on its own flights, it's been consistently adding functionality to book partner awards through its website. On Thursday, American added its 16th partner for online award booking.

As of Thursday morning, Japan Airlines awards can be searched and booked on AA.com. This is excellent news for those looking for the easiest way of searching for awards on Japan Airlines' amazing economy, business and first class products. (Unfortunately, premium economy awards aren't bookable at this time.)

American Airlines allows anyone to search a month of award availability at a time. Thanks to the option to limit search results to "nonstop only," you can easily find which dates have award availability on the direct flight through AA.com, even if you end up booking through another mileage program.

But that's not necessary, since AA's rates for JAL awards are very reasonable. Flights between the US and Asia Region 1, which includes Japan and South Korea, cost:

  • 35,000 AA miles each way in economy
  • 60,000 AA miles each way in business class
  • 80,000 AA miles each way in first class

To test out the functionality, I searched for an award from New York JFK to Tokyo. This is a nonstop route that would only be bookable with AA miles if Japan Airlines awards were showing online. Sure enough, Japan Airlines' wide-open economy award availability is on full display:

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If anyone is looking for a last-minute trip from NYC to Tokyo, first-class award availability on Japan Airlines is pretty wide open for the next two weeks. 14 hours in JAL's excellent first class product will only cost you 80,000 AAdvantage miles:

Since I have free award cancellation as a benefit of my American Airlines Executive Platinum elite status, I went forward with ticketing a Japan Airlines business class award to check if the process is fully functional. Less than 15 minutes later, the ticket status switched from "on request" to "ticketed":

With this addition, there are now 16 AA partners who's awards you can search and book on AA.com:

This addition leaves just two Oneworld airlines and two non-Oneworld airline partners that aren't searchable and bookable through AA.com:

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.