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JAL Mileage Bank has become much more useful for U.S. travelers thanks to the addition of transferable points partners over the past year. While Japan Airlines flights can be booked through partner programs, JAL Mileage Bank can provide better award availability and added flexibility.
Here's what you need to know about earning and redeeming JAL miles.
Quick Facts on JAL Mileage Bank
To start, here are several key facts to know about the loyalty program before we dive deeper:
- Award pricing: Distance-based award pricing, with dynamic “PLUS” pricing when Saver awards aren't available
- Best uses for: Premium-cabin redemptions to Japan and the rest of Asia, plus partner airline redemptions
- Transfer partners: Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy, Rove
- Airline partners: Oneworld airlines, plus select partners including Air France, Bangkok Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, and LATAM Airlines
- Mileage expiration policy: 36 months, no exceptions
Earning JAL Miles
Transfer partners
JAL Mileage Bank partners with several transferable points programs, giving U.S. travelers multiple ways to earn JAL miles without flying. These transfer partners now include Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Rove, and Marriott Bonvoy at varying transfer ratios:
To earn Bilt Points and Capital One miles, here are some current offers:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 Miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
$95
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
$395
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
$495Rates & Fees
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
For most U.S.-based travelers, transfer partners are the easiest way to earn JAL miles.
Keep in mind that your account must be open for at least 60 days before redeeming miles. If you haven't already, it's a good idea to create a JAL Mileage Bank account as soon as possible.
Related: All Current Transfer Bonuses Available Now
Fly Japan Airlines (JAL)
Earning miles when booking directly with JAL depends on the distance flown and your fare class. For international flights, First Class earns 150% of the distance flown, and Business Class earns anywhere between 70% and 125% of the distance flown. Premium Economy and full-fare Economy can earn up to 100%, while discounted economy fares earn between 30% and 70% of miles flown. In short, the number of miles you'll earn depends on your fare class and how much you pay.
Let's say I wanted to fly from New York to Tokyo in Business Class. When searching for a flight on JAL, you can find your fare class on the right-hand side when you click “Show details” after selecting a fare.
In the example above, my booking class would be I, which earns 125% of the miles flown between the two cities. In total, I'd earn 8,424 miles from this booking (125% of 6,739 miles between New York City and Tokyo).
While flying JAL is certainly a way to earn miles, you'll build a balance much faster — and cheaper — through transferable rewards programs, especially when taking advantage of welcome bonuses and everyday spending.
JAL has a miles calculator online that can help estimate how many miles you'll earn from a specific flight.
Fly JAL partners
In addition to earning miles on Japan Airlines flights, you can also earn JAL miles when flying Oneworld airlines and select nonalliance partners, including Emirates and Korean Air. When flying any of JAL's partners, you can credit the flight to your JAL Mileage Bank account and earn miles.
Earning rates differ based on the airline, so be sure to check JAL's partner earnings chart before making decisions.
Redeeming JAL Miles
Award chart for international flights
JAL publishes an award chart for international flights. For flights between North America and Japan, one-way awards start at the following rates:
| North America to/from Japan | Miles starting at: |
|---|---|
| Economy | 27,000 |
| Premium Economy | 40,000 |
| Business Class | 55,000 |
| First Class | 110,000-140,000 |
Note that these are “starting” prices, meaning they can cost much more if Saver-level space isn't available (JAL calls these PLUS awards). First Class, in particular, is priced depending on the season.
These lowest-priced awards are extremely competitive to grab, often requiring you to book very far out in advance. It's a good idea to set expectations and prepare to take an award ticket at a higher cost, especially if your travel dates are not flexible.
Additionally, Japan Airlines charges fuel surcharges on award flights. As of the time of writing, flights to and from North America have a fuel surcharge of 56,000 yen, or about $350 at the current exchange rate.
You can view the rest of JAL's award chart for other regions here.
Award chart for Japanese domestic flights
JAL miles can also be redeemed for domestic flights within Japan. Award prices start at 4,500 miles for the airline's shortest routes to 10,500 miles for its longest.
Some common domestic routes include:
- Tokyo–Osaka: from 6,500 miles
- Tokyo–Sapporo, Fukuoka: from 8,500 miles
- Tokyo–Okinawa (Naha): from 9,500 miles
These awards are also dynamic and can be priced higher during peak travel periods. Busy seasons in Japan include spring break in late March, Golden Week in late April/early May, Obon in mid-August, and New Year's in late December/early January.
Award chart for partner airlines
JAL miles can be redeemed on Oneworld airlines partners, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and others. The airline also has a select number of nonalliance partners, including Air France, Bangkok Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, and LATAM Airlines.
Award pricing for JAL partner flights can be found on its partner award chart.
Stopovers
JAL Mileage Bank offers one of the more generous stopover programs in the industry. Travelers are allowed up to three stopovers on multiple partner airlines. The number of miles needed will depend on the total distance, based on the airline's Oneworld award chart:
Booking these stopovers will often require calling JAL, especially for more complex itineraries.
Best Uses of JAL Miles
JAL Business Class to/from Japan
While it's possible to book Japan Airlines Business Class through partner programs, like American Airlines AAdvantage, JAL Mileage Bank offers better availability and the ability to book 360 days in advance.
In the U.S., Japan Airlines currently deploys its flagship Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on routes between Tokyo Haneda (HND) and New York (JFK), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Los Angeles (LAX). These aircraft offer one of the best onboard experiences across the Pacific, and one-way Business Class awards can be booked for as few as 55,000 miles when Saver space is available.
Travelers can also find JAL flights out of Boston (BOS), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle (SEA).
Related: Japan Airlines' New A350 Business Class Is Incredible – Here's How To Book It With Points and Miles
Emirates Business Class
With JAL's partner award chart, you don't need an itinerary that touches Japan to enjoy valuable premium-cabin redemptions. JAL's partnership with Emirates allows JAL Mileage Bank customers to redeem Business Class flights on the Gulf carrier.
A round-trip redemption between New York (JFK) and Dubai (DXB) will cost a total of 110,000 miles, given a total distance between 12,001 and 14,000 miles.
JAL Mileage Bank Expiration Policy
One thing to be aware of with JAL Mileage Bank is its strict mileage expiration policy. JAL miles expire after 36 months, with no exceptions. Unlike some other programs, holding a credit card or having elite status does not bar you from this expiration policy.
When transferring points and miles from a transfer partner, it's important to remember this policy and only transfer an amount you are confident that you will redeem. You don't want to have additional miles sitting in your account and about to expire, without any use for them.
Bottom Line
JAL Mileage Bank can potentially unlock solid value with the right use. It offers better access to redemptions on JAL over partner programs, and is a great way to book an award trip both to and within Asia. Additionally, its partner award chart and generous stopover programs are something to keep in mind for those looking to get creative with an itinerary.
Transfer partners like Bilt Rewards and Capital One are your friends for earning JAL miles. Keep in mind JAL's mileage expiration policy, and don't transfer more than you know you'll use.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Bilt Palladium Card (Rates & Fees)
