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Japan Airlines, Japan's national carrier, consistently ranks among the top airlines in the world. Yet, its own loyalty program, JAL Mileage Bank, often gets overlooked by travelers looking to use points and miles to fly to Japan. That's because it's traditionally been pretty difficult to earn Japan Airlines miles, but that's no longer as true as it once was.
For those who want to book award flights through JAL, the airline released new award charts that took effect on June 10, 2025. While many awards for flights on JAL itself or its Oneworld airline alliance partners increased in price, Mileage Bank miles are now quite a bit easier to earn, so there's a bit of a tradeoff.
And if you're now a bit more curious about the intricacies of the JAL Mileage Bank, this guide will show you all you need to know about earning and redeeming miles with Japan Airlines.
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How to Earn Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles
Japan Airlines miles haven't always been easy to earn. But with Bilt Rewards officially adding JAL as a transfer partner in May 2025, the program is becoming more accessible and useful.
However, before you can start earning JAL miles, you'll need a JAL Mileage Bank account, which you can sign up for here if you reside in the United States. JAL has a separate sign-up page for different regions. Here are links to each region:
You'll select your country of residence from the drop-down menu. Be sure to add your membership number to your AwardWallet account for easy access in the future.
Important: JAL typically requires new accounts to be open 60 days before the account holder can redeem miles for flights. So, even if you don't have plans to redeem miles in the near future, it's worth signing up for an account as soon as possible to start the clock.
Related: Japan Airlines Miles Expiration Guide: Managing JAL's Inflexible Expiration Policy
Transfer Bilt Points or Marriott points to JAL
Until recently, Japan Airlines only partnered with one transferable credit card points program: Marriott Bonvoy. Now, Bilt Rewards members can earn Points on The Bilt Mastercard® (Rates & Fees) and transfer those points to JAL at a 1:1 ratio, in increments of 1,000 Points.
There's also Marriott, which was the primary way for U.S. residents to earn JAL Mileage Bank miles before Bilt's partnership with JAL. Marriott Bonvoy members can transfer points to nearly 40 airline programs (including JAL) at a 3:1 ratio. And for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus. You can earn Bonvoy points on any of the Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
In addition, JAL also has a handful of other hotel transfer partners, but these partners generally offer poor value for your points.
Fly JAL or partner airlines
The easiest way to earn JAL Mileage Bank Miles is by flying Japan Airlines or one of its partners. Japan Airlines has separate earnings charts for its own flights and for partners. You'll earn miles based on how far you fly, plus a multiplier that depends on the fare class you book. Remember, you won't earn any miles for award flights – this is for revenue fares only.
Here's the chart for Japan Airlines flight earnings:
| Class of Service | Booking Class | Earning Rate |
|---|---|---|
| First Class | F, A | 150% |
| Business Class | J, C, D, I | 125% |
| Business Class | X | 70% |
| Premium Economy | W, R | 100% |
| Premium Economy | E | 70% |
| Economy Class | Y, B | 100% |
| Economy Class | H, K, M | 70% |
| Economy Class | L, V, S | 50% |
| Economy Class | O, G, Q, N | 30% |
You can also earn JAL miles when you fly Oneworld partner airlines, so long as you add your JAL Mileage Bank account number to your reservation when you fly. Here's a list of those airlines and a range of earning rates, depending on the fare class you book:
- Alaska Airlines (30%-150%)
- American Airlines (30%-150%)
- British Airways (25%-150%)
- Cathay Pacific (50%-150%)
- Finnair (25%-125%)
- Iberia (25%-125%)
- Malaysia Airlines (25%-150%)
- Qantas (50%-150%)
- Qatar Airways (30%-150%)
- Royal Jordanian (25%-125%)
- Royal Air Maroc (30%-125%)
- S7 (Suspended)
Like other airlines, Japan Airlines also has one-off partnerships outside of the Oneworld alliance. Here is a list of airlines whose flights you can earn JAL miles on:
- Air France (20%-150%)
- Bangkok Airways (50%-150%)
- China Eastern Airlines (30%-150%)
- Emirates (15%-150%)
- Hawaiian Airlines (30%-150%)
- Jetstar Japan (30%, but not on Starter fares)
- Korean Air (30%-150%)
- LATAM Airlines (30%-125%)
- SriLankan Airlines (30%-125%)
- Vistara (50%-125%)
Status bonuses and family pooling
Travelers with JAL elite status will earn additional miles on JAL flights and flights operated by select partner airlines. How many bonus miles you'll earn depends on your status level.
- Crystal Status: 55% bonus
- Sapphire: 105% bonus
- JGC Premier: 105% bonus
- Diamond: 130% bonus
Japan Airlines even has a family points pooling program called JAL Family Club, which allows a primary member over 12 years old, plus up to eight other family members, to pool their points for award flights. This feature could get you that much closer to your next award.
Other credit cards that earn Japan Airlines miles
The JAL USA Card is the only co-branded credit card option available associated with JAL Mileage Bank. It's mainly aimed at expats living in the U.S. without much credit history. That being said, there are periodic sign-up bonuses, and you'll earn a 10% mileage bonus for paid JAL flights. The Premium Rewards version of the card carries an annual fee of $85 and earns 2 JAL Miles per $1 spent on eligible JAL purchases, as well as 1 JAL Mile for all other purchases.
The Basic Rewards version of the card earns 1 mile for every $2 spent, and has a $35 annual fee.
How to Redeem Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles
Japan Airlines uses a route-based award chart for awards on JAL-operated flights, which you can find here for international travel and here for domestic travel. If you're planning on using JAL miles to book award flights on partner airlines, both Oneworld partners and JAL's other partners have their own separate award charts.
On June 10, 2025, JAL devalued its award chart for domestic and international flights on its own metal, greatly increasing the cost of awards in premium cabins, among other changes. Here's a breakdown of the current award charts, after the devaluation.
JAL international award charts
JAL has award charts for domestic and international flights for its own flights. The airline also has a seasonally priced award chart for first-class tickets. You can find the calendar below, which is updated annually:
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Low Season | April 1 - April 24, 2025, January 14 - February 28, April 1 - April 23, 2026, January 13 - February 28, 2027 |
| Regular Season | March 1 - March 31, May 13 - July 10, August 26 - December 11, 2025, March 1 - March 31, May 12 - July 8, August 26 - December 12, 2026, March 1 - March 31, 2027 |
| High Season | April 25 - May 12, July 11 - August 25, December 12, 2025 - January 13, 2026, April 24 - May 11, July 9 - August 25, December 13, 2026 - January 12, 2027 |
For Asia flying, here is the current pricing for routes on JAL:
| Route | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First Class (Low/Medium/High) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | 7,500 | - | 18,000 | - |
| Guangzhou | 10,000 | - | 24,000 | - |
| Shanghai (Hongqiao) | 11,000 | 16,000 | 26,000 | 36,000/43,000/50,000 |
| Shanghai (Pudong) | 10,000 | 15,000 | 25,000 | 36,000/43,000/50,000 |
| Dalian | 10,000 | - | 24,000 | - |
| Tianjin | 10,000 | - | 24,000 | - |
| Beijing | 10,000 | - | 24,000 | - |
| Hong Kong | 11,000 | 16,000 | 26,000 | 36,000/43,000/50,000 |
| Taipei Flights (NRT, KIX, NGO) | 9,000 | - | 24,000 | - |
| Taipei Flights (HND) | 11,000 | - | 26,000 | - |
| Guam | 10,000 | - | 23,000 | - |
| Kuala Lumpur | 15,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | - |
| Jakarta | 15,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | - |
| Singapore | 13,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 67,000/75,000/82,500 |
| Delhi | 17,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 | - |
| Bengaluru | 17,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 | - |
| Hanoi | 13,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | - |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 13,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | - |
| Bangkok (Tokyo flights other than JL031/JL034) | 13,500 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 67,000/75,000/82,500 |
| Bangkok (Tokyo flights JL031/JL034) | 17,500 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 67,000/75,000/82,500 |
| Bangkok Flights to KIX and NGO | 12,500 | 20,000 | 37,500 | 67,000/75,000/82,500 |
| Manila | 10,000 | 15,000 | 24,000 | - |
Here's the chart for Oceania:
| Route | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 23,000 | 31,000 | 45,000 | 90,000/97,500/105,000 |
| Melbourne | 25,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | - |
And now, the chart for Europe and the Middle East:
| Route | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 27,000 | 40,000 | 57,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Frankfurt | 23,000 | 38,000 | 55,000 | - |
| Helsinki | 23,000 | 38,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| London | 27,000 | 40,000 | 57,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Doha | 20,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 | 70,000/80,000/90,000 |
Finally, the chart for North America, including Hawaii:
| Route | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona | 25,000 | 35,000 | 45,000 | 90,000/100,000/110,000 |
| Honolulu | 20,000 | 30,000 | 43,000 | 90,000/100,000/110,000 |
| San Diego | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | - |
| San Francisco | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Seattle | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Chicago | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Dallas Fort Worth | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| New York | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Boston | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | - |
| Los Angeles | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
| Vancouver | 27,000 | 40,000 | 55,000 | 110,000/125,000/140,000 |
Even with the new, higher award rates, a business class flight from the U.S. to Tokyo is just 55,000 miles each way, which is cheaper (on a mileage basis) than booking through Oneworld partners like American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or British Airways.
JAL domestic award charts
JAL also has a sizable domestic route network, serving many communities across Japan's 14,125 islands. The airline categorizes these routes into zones, designated as A through G. The airline offers a Base mileage price and a “PLUS” mileage price, which becomes available once the base fares have sold out. For your specific route, you'll want to consult JAL's webpage, as there are dozens. For connecting domestic itineraries, those are priced individually as well here.
JAL flights and codeshare flights with Fuji Dream Airlines, Amakusa Airlines, and Oriental Air Bridge are valid with the award chart.
The airline also separates Jetstar Japan from other domestic and international flights with its own award chart, which prices routes based on your destination and your country of residence. You can consult the award chart here.
Here's JAL's domestic award chart. For PLUS fares, the maximum number of miles that can be charged for those fares is shown.
| Zone | Economy (Base/PLUS) | Business (Base/PLUS) | First (Base/PLUS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4,500/~18,500 | 5,500/~19,500 | - |
| B | 5,500/~22,500 | 6,500/~23,000 | - |
| C | 6,500/~23,500 | 7,500/~24,000 | 14,500/~27,000 |
| D | 7,500/~31,000 | 9,000/~32,500 | 18,000/~34,000 |
| E | 8,500/~39,500 | 10,000/~41,000 | 20,000/~41,000 |
| F | 9,500/~44,500 | 11,500/~46,500 | 22,000/~44,000 |
| G | 10,500/~51,500 | 13,500/~53,500 | 24,000/~60,000 |
Oneworld award chart
Like many airlines, JAL has a separate award chart for booking flights on partners in its airline alliance. Here is the chart for flights, which JAL prices by total mileage. That means you could fly round-trip for:
| Total Trip Distance | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 4,000 | 25,000 | 48,000 | 72,000 |
| 4,001 - 8,000 | 40,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 |
| 8,001 - 10,000 | 50,000 | 85,000 | 110,000 |
| 10,001 - 12,000 | 60,000 | 110,000 | 160,000 |
| 12,001 - 14,000 | 70,000 | 115,000 | 165,000 |
| 14,001 - 20,000 | 90,000 | 120,000 | 170,000 |
| 20,001 - 25,000 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 230,000 |
| 25,001 - 29,000 | 140,000 | 190,000 | 280,000 |
| 29,001 - 34,000 | 150,000 | 200,000 | 300,000 |
| 34,001 - 50,000 | 160,000 | 220,000 | 330,000 |
Note, first class isn't available on Malaysia Airlines. On flights that operate two-class service (economy and first class), first class will be priced as business class.
Other partner award chart
JAL also has non-Oneworld partners that have their own award chart.
| Mileage | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - 1,000 | 12,000 | 17,000 | 24,000 | 36,000 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 | 15,000 | 21,000 | 30,000 | 45,000 |
| 2,001 - 4,000 | 23,000 | 30,000 | 42,000 | 65,000 |
| 4,001 - 6,000 | 37,000 | 46,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
| 6,001 - 8,000 | 45,000 | 59,000 | 80,000 | 120,000 |
| 8,001 - 10,000 | 47,000 | 62,000 | 85,000 | 135,000 |
| 10,001 - 12,000 | 50,000 | 70,000 | 100,000 | 145,000 |
| 12,001 - 14,000 | 55,000 | 77,000 | 110,000 | 165,000 |
| 14,001 - 20,000 | 70,000 | 94,000 | 130,000 | 190,000 |
| 20,001 - 25,000 | 90,000 | 112,000 | 145,000 | 220,000 |
| 25,001 - 29,000 | 110,000 | 135,000 | 160,000 | 250,000 |
| 29,001 - 34,000 | 130,000 | 160,000 | 190,000 | 290,000 |
| 34,001 - 50,000 | 150,000 | 180,000 | 210,000 | 330,000 |
Note, first class awards are not available on:
- Malaysia Airlines
- Air France
- Korean Air
- Emirates
Just like the Oneworld chart, first class isn't available on Malaysia Airlines. On flights that operate two-class service (economy and first class), first class will be priced as business class.
How to book Japan Airlines award tickets
You can search for awards and redeem directly on the Japan Airlines website if your account has been open for at least 60 days. After logging in, select “JAL Award Tickets” under the “Redeem Your Miles” section.
From there, enter your departure and arrival cities, dates, and class of service. You’ll see the results in a list, and there's even a calendar view.
Be sure to avoid “Waitlist” dates since these awards don't offer a confirmed seat.
You can book JAL award flights 360 days out, although if you're booking round-trip, you'll need to wait until 360 days before the departure of your return flight to book.
Tickets can be booked online when logged into your account or over the phone. Note that there is a phone booking fee of $50 for North America-based JAL Mileage Bank members. U.S.-based members can call 1-800-JAL-FONE for award bookings.
Our Take
Japan Airlines offers amazing in-flight service for those booking awards or just flying the airline in general. While awards are now more expensive than before June 10, 2025, they still represent compelling value. And with new options for transferring credit card points to JAL thanks to its new partnership with Bilt, booking JAL flights through JAL itself, rather than partner airlines, is easier than ever.
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