Japan Airlines Launches New Credit Cards — Are They Worth It?

Updated: October 23, 2024, 2:41pm CDT

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New Japan Airlines Card Details
Final Thoughts

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Japan Airlines offers a valuable loyalty program where U.S.-based travelers can book business class award tickets between the U.S. and Japan for just 50,000 miles one-way.

The downside is that earning Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles can be quite difficult as the only major transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio. This is where having a Japan Airlines credit card can come in handy.

For those looking to boost their balance of JAL miles, the airline has launched a new credit card in partnership with FNBO to help you do just that.

New Japan Airlines Card Details

The new card comes with 2 tiers, Basic and Premium. Here is a quick overview of what each tier offers.

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Benefit	Basic Tier	Premium Tier
Annual Fee	$35 (waived for the first year)	$85 (waived for the first year)
Welcome Bonus	5,000 bonus miles after $5,000 in spend in the first 3 billing cycles	5,000 bonus miles after $5,000 in spend in the first 3 billing cycles, plus an additional 5,000 bonus miles after $7,000 in spend in the first 3 billing cycles
Rewards	1x miles per $2 spent on the card	2x miles on JAL purchases 1x miles on all other purchases
Joint Card Benefits	5,000 bonus miles on your first international flight with JAL (one-time benefit) Earn 10% sector bonus miles for every flight with JAL and its partners 10% discount on JAL inflight purchases including Wi-Fi service Receive 5 Life Status points for every $1,500 spent on your card 5% savings on Duty Free shopping at Haneda and Narita Airport No foreign transaction fees

As you can see, both the Basic and Premium tiers are quite similar, with the main differences coming down to earning rates, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee that you’ll pay.

If your goal is to earn more JAL miles for your daily spending, then the only tier that makes sense in our estimation is the Premium tier, allowing you to earn at least 1x mile per $1 spent on all purchases.

Otherwise, those considering the Basic tier and its 1x miles per $2 spent would do better using one of the many Marriott credit cards that offer at least 2x points per $1 spent — even when factoring in the 3:1 transfer rate. Programs that transfer to Marriott, like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, would be worth considering as well.

Hot Tip:

If you’re looking for ways to put all of these new JAL miles to good use, read our guide to the best ways to redeem Japan Airlines miles.

Final Thoughts

While it is always great to have more opportunities to earn points, especially for valuable programs whose points or miles are challenging to earn, most award travelers will likely be better off opting for better travel rewards cards.

That said, if you’re a U.S.-based Japan Airlines loyalist looking to earn more miles, receive more flight perks, and spend your way toward elite status, then this new card could be a worthy addition to your wallet.

The information regarding JAL USA CARD was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.