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Best Ways To Book Japan Airlines Business Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

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Japan Airlines’ business class product is a great option when you have a long trans-Pacific journey ahead of you. You can expect a great meal, a nice lounge, and fantastic service all the way through.

Let’s dig into what the business class experience is like and how you can book this flight using points.

A Look Inside Japan Airlines Business Class

Relax in one of Japan Airlines’ Sakura Lounges before your flight across the Pacific. Image Credit: Japan Airlines

As a business class passenger with Japan Airlines, you will have access to the Sakura Lounge at Tokyo-Narita (NRT) and Tokyo-Haneda (HND) before flying to the U.S. The Sakura Lounge provides a nice selection of food and drink and a place to relax before your flight.

If you enjoy plane-spotting, the views of the tarmac from the lounge at Narita are particularly nice.

Japan Airlines also has a very nice business class seat that it calls the Sky Suite. While the business class cabin on Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 features a 2-2-2 layout and its Boeing 777-300ER has a 2-3-2 layout, all seats have direct aisle access and are lie-flat.

Aisle seats have a decent amount of privacy, while the middle seat in the middle section of the Boeing 777-300ER has tons of privacy thanks to partitions on each side. However, the middle seat can feel a bit tight with both partitions raised.

Pick a window seat to have the best business class experience on Japan Airlines. Image Credit: Japan Airlines

For the best experience on either aircraft, try to book a window seat. While the space to get to your seat is narrow, you won’t have to step over anyone, and these seats have a ton of room — with the partition raised, they are very private without the cramped feeling of a middle seat on the 777-300ER.

Hot Tip: Try to book in row 5 in the 777-300ER — it’s essentially a mini-cabin and feels like you’re on a private jet! Don’t miss our review of business class on a JAL 777-300ER flight from LA to Tokyo!

Row 5 on Japan Airlines’ 777-300ER business class is extremely private because it’s a 1-row mini-cabin with a true private jet feel to it. Image Credit: SeatGuru

Japan Airlines has new business class seats on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which features reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 cabin layout. However, these are typically deployed on regional flights instead of long-haul flights.

Just as you will find in first class on Japan Airlines, the service in the business class cabin is excellent. The cabin crews are always friendly and happy to help make your flight as enjoyable as possible.

How To Fly Japan Airlines Business Class Using Points

You can book Japan Airlines business class through one of its Oneworld partners or one of its non-alliance partners, such as Emirates. Let’s take a look at some great ways to book business class.

Availability is usually best either 1 to 2 days before departure or 2 to 3 weeks before departure.

Japan Airlines releases all unoccupied seats available for award redemption 1 to 2 days before departure, so if there are vacant seats, you’ll have a great chance of finding close-in award availability.

Occasionally, you’ll notice award availability very far in advance, but your best bet will always be closer to the departure date.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank uses a region-based award chart for its own flights. This is a different award chart than the distance-based award chart it uses for booking award flights with its partners.

RegionClassMiles
North AmericaEconomy Class50,000
Premium Economy Class65,000
Business Class100,000
First Class140,000

Follow the simple steps below to book your next business class flight on Japan Airlines:

  1. Go to the Japan Airlines website.
  2. Log in to your JAL Mileage Bank account.
  3. Toggle to Redeem award flights, choose Book International Award Tickets, then select JAL International Award Tickets.
  4. Choose round-trip or one-way, your travel dates, and departure and destination airports, then select Business Class under Destination Class. Click Search.
  5. Confirm the Mileage Bank miles and taxes/fees required.
  6. Choose your desired flights and hit Continue so that you can select your seat and complete the booking process.

Make sure there is award space — Japan Airlines will also show you waitlist space, which does not guarantee you a seat.

Japan Airlines will show more information about your flight via icons indicated by the legend. Image Credit: Japan Airlines

Hot Tip: Keep the image above with you while booking so you know what to look for under the Seat Availability column to ensure you get a seat.

Here’s an example of what you’ll see:

This flight has 3 business class seats available, plus Sky Suites on the 777-300ER. Image Credit: Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

In this example, the flight from New York (JFK) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) has award space for 3 seats.

If you need to connect on American Airlines (or another partner airline) to get to your flight on Japan Airlines, you will need to use the partner award chart to determine the number of miles required.

Total Trip DistanceEconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
1 to 1,00012,00017,00024,00036,000
1,001 to 2,00015,00021,00030,00045,000
2,001 to 4,00023,00030,00042,00065,000
4,001 to 6,00037,00046,00060,00090,000
6,001 to 8,00045,00059,00080,000120,000
8,001 to 10,00047,00062,00085,000135,000
10,001 to 12,00050,00070,000100,000145,000
12,001 to 14,00055,00077,000110,000165,000
14,001 to 20,00070,00094,000130,000190,000
20,001 to 25,00090,000112,000145,000220,000
25,001 to 29,000110,000135,000160,000250,000
29,001 to 34,000130,000160,000190,000290,000
34,001 to 50,000150,000180,000210,000330,000

Additionally, a booking that involves a partner will mean that you have to call Japan Airlines to complete it.

If you want to fly on American Airlines from Philadelphia (PHL) to Chicago (ORD) and then connect on Japan Airlines to Tokyo-Narita (NRT), this will require you to use the partner award chart.

If you need some travel inspiration, take a look at the best ways to redeem Japan Airlines miles.

Earning Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles

Japan Airlines has just 1 transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy.

You can transfer points at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 JAL miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at a time to Japan Airlines. Transfers take around 2 business days to process.

For more fun ways to earn miles, check out the best ways to earn Mileage Bank miles.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

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U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
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Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
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Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

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Cons

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  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

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Pros

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Cons

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  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
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Financial Snapshot

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Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

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U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
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Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros

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Cons

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  • Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
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Financial Snapshot

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

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U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

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A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months.
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Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros

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  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

  • Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
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  • $650 Annual Fee.
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Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
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Marriott Bonvoy

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is another great way to book business class on Japan Airlines. For 60,000 Alaska miles, you can fly between North America and Japan in business class.

Hot Tip: Keep in mind that Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan intra-Asia awards on Japan Airlines must be booked at least 72 hours in advance. Other routings are not affected and can still be booked last minute.

To book, go to Alaska’s website and follow these simple steps:

  1. Go to the Alaska Airlines website.
  2. Sign in to your account.
  3. Search for your desired route (make sure you select Use Miles).
  4. Choose your desired flight and click Add To Cart.
  5. Pay the necessary taxes/fees and complete your booking.

You can even book a stopover on one-way awards when booking with Alaska Airlines.

For some more ways to use your miles, you can check out the best ways to redeem Alaska miles.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines, just like Japan Airlines, has just 1 transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy. You’ll transfer points at a 3:1 ratio in around 4 business days. And for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred in 1 transaction, you will get an additional 5,000 Alaska Airlines miles.

Additionally, Alaska Airlines has partnered with Bank of America to offer co-branded credit cards that earn miles directly!

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

For Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program, you’ll need to check mileage by partner airline using Asia Miles’ calculator. As an example, New York (JFK) to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) business-class round-trip is 150,000 miles.

Image Credit: Asia Miles

Here are the steps to search for award space and book over the phone:

  1. Go to British Airways.
  2. Log in to your Executive Club account.
  3. Select Spend Avios.
  4. Click Book A Reward Flight.
  5. Hover over Redeem Miles.
  6. Enter your travel dates, city pairing, and select business class.
  7. Find your desired flight.
  8. Note the flight numbers, departure dates, and flight times.
  9. Call Cathay Pacific Asia Miles at 866-892-2598.
  10. Provide the flight details and complete the booking process.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific has several credit card transfer partnerships that can be used to earn Asia Miles.

American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, and can all be transferred at a solid 1:1 rate. Amex usually takes just a few hours but can take up to 1 week to complete. Bilt and Citi are almost instant transfers, Capital One takes up to 36 hours, and Brex takes 1 business day.

You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio in around 5 business days. For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer at a time to Asia Miles, you will get an additional bonus of 5,000 Asia Miles.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Platinum Card® from American Express

This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
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See Pay Over Time APR
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

  • The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
  • Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.

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  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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American Express® Gold Card

This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Credit ranges are only a recommendation and a variation of FICO© Score. Issuers may use many types of credit scores when considering an application.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express® Gold Card is definitely a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are a number of other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Amex business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards.

Hot Tip: Check out our Transfer Partner Tool to easily calculate how many miles you’ll need to transfer for your award.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American’s AAdvantage program is one of the most popular ways to book awards on Japan Airlines.

RouteMain CabinBusiness/FirstFirst
U.S. to Asia Region 135,00060,00080,000

Here are the simple steps to book:

  1. Go to British Airways.
  2. Log in to your account.
  3. Select Spend Avios.
  4. Click Book A Reward Flight.
  5. Scroll over Redeem Miles.
  6. Enter your travel dates, city pairing, and select business class.
  7. Find your desired flight.
  8. Note the flight numbers, departure dates, and flight times.
  9. Call American Airlines at 800-882-8880.
  10. Provide the flight details and complete the booking process.

If Japan Airlines isn’t your thing right now, there are other great options for redeeming your American AAdvantage miles, too.

Hot Tip: The ability to put award seats on hold for 5 days makes using American miles one of the easiest ways to book Japan Airlines business class.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

Currently, American Airlines AAdvantage is transfer partners with just 2 partners: Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Bilt transfers at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly and Marriott Bonvoy transfers to AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio in around 2 business days.

However, one of the best ways to get AAdvantage miles is to make purchases on American Airlines co-branded credit cards from Barclays or Citi.

Other Options for Booking Japan Airlines

Any of Japan Airlines’ Oneworld partners, including British Airways, can be used to book award flights. Unfortunately, the redemption rates on these other carriers are often quite poor.

Great Japan Airlines Business Class Redemptions

Japan Airlines business class flights are easy to book with points. Image Credit: rebius / Adobe Stock

Let’s start with some typical awards and then move on to some interesting options between the U.S. and Japan.

You can use 100,000 Japan Airlines to fly from New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), or Los Angeles (LAX) to Japan. These routes can also be booked for 120,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles, 120,000 American AAdvantage miles, or 150,000 Asia Miles.

Here are the top U.S. routes, along with each frequent flyer program’s redemption prices:

Route (One-way)Japan Airlines Mileage Bank CostAlaska Airlines Mileage Plan CostCathay Pacific Asia Miles CostAmerican Airlines AAdvantage Miles Cost
Boston (BOS) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
Los Angeles (LAX) – Osaka (KIX)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita/Haneda (NRT/HND)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
New York (JFK) – Tokyo-Narita/Haneda (NRT/HND)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Narita/Haneda (NRT/HND)50,000 miles60,000 miles75,000 miles60,000 miles
Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT)50,000 miles60,000 miles61,000 miles60,000 miles

If you want to fly Japan Airlines as part of a broader, “round-the-world” award trip, Asia Miles has the following award chart for Oneworld multi-carrier awards. These complex itineraries could provide huge value!

Award ZoneDistance in Actual MilesEconomyBusinessFirst
011 to 1,00035,00055,00070,000
021,001 to 1,50030,00060,00080,000
031,501 to 2,00035,00065,00090,000
042,001 to 4,00035,00070,00095,000
054,001 to 7,50060,00090,000140,000
067,501 to 9,00065,000100,000150,000
079,001 to 10,00070,000110,000160,000
0810,001 to 14,00090,000135,000220,000
0914,001 to 18,000100,000155,000250,000
1018,001 to 20,000105,000165,000260,000
1120,001 to 25,000115,000185,000280,000
1225,001 to 35,000130,000210,000300,000
1335,001 to 50,000150,000240,000345,000

Here are some wild multi-carrier/round-the-world award trips you can book with Japan Airlines as a long-haul carrier:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) on Japan Airlines business class
  • Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific business class
  • Hong Kong (HKG) – Doha (DOH) on Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Doha (DOH) – London (LHR) on Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • London (LHR) – San Francisco (SFO) on British Airways business class

This itinerary would cost around 165,000 Asia miles, which represents a huge discount compared to if the segments were booked separately.

Here’s another RTW award ticket you can book:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Madrid (MAD) on Iberia business class
  • Madrid (MAD) – Helsinki (HEL) on Finnair business class
  • Helsinki (HEL) – Bangkok (BKK) on Finnair business class
  • Bangkok (BKK) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) on Japan Airlines business class
  • Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Los Angeles (LAX) on Japan Airlines business class

This itinerary would also be priced at 165,000 Asia Miles!

Hot Tip: If Tokyo is a bucket list destination for you, check out our in-depth Tokyo travel guide for great ideas on things to do, see, eat, etc.

How To Earn Enough Miles for Japan Airlines Business Class

Ready to book a flight in Japan Airlines business class, but don’t have enough miles for the itinerary you want? Here is the summary of transfer partnerships for the major frequent flyer programs we discussed:

  • American Express Membership Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles usually in around a few hours, but sometimes up to 1 week.
  • Bilt Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and American Airlines AAdvantage almost instantly.
  • Brex Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles in 1 business day.
  • Capital One Miles transfers at a 1:1 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles in up to 36 hours.
  • Citi ThankYou Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles in 1 business day.
  • Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio to Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, and American Airlines AAdvantage in around 2 business days, 4 business days, 5 business days, and 3 business days, respectively.

In the past, we’ve seen transfer bonuses to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles from Brex Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards of anywhere from 15% to 25%. We haven’t seen any transfer bonuses for Japan Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or American Airlines.

Simply put, if you have any credit card that earns points from a major transferrable currency, you can book Japan Airlines business class with points. Even Chase Ultimate Rewards (not discussed in this guide) has transfer partnerships with British Airways Executive Club, although we wouldn’t recommend this due to high redemption prices.

When Should You Search for Award Space

Flexible travel dates will make your award search easier, as business class award space on Japan Airlines is not always easy to find.

Once you know when you’d like to travel, start your search. Space is not always available months in advance, but keep checking — Japan Airlines might release award availability closer to the date of departure.

What Makes Japan Airlines a Great Redemption

For long transpacific flights, comfort is always a top priority. When you book business class on Japan Airlines, you can expect a comfortable flight and so much more.

Business Class Sky Suite

The Japan Airlines business class seat is spacious and comfortable! Image Credit: Stephen Au

Every seat has direct aisle access, so you won’t have anyone climbing over you. If you’re in a window seat, you don’t have to crawl over anyone either!

A window seat should be your first choice (especially if you’re traveling alone) since it has the most privacy without feeling cramped. You might even feel like you’re flying in first class!

You will also enjoy a fully lie-flat bed, which makes it so much easier to sleep on the long journey across the Pacific.

Business Class Service

Japan Airlines has cultivated a reputation for having absolutely amazing cabin crews in both first and business class. They seem to take so much pride in their jobs, and you can tell by how they treat every aspect of the flight. Not only are they attentive to your needs during the flight, but they do their jobs with a refreshing friendliness.

Final Thoughts

Business class on Japan Airlines really is a wonderful way to fly. From the moment you set foot on board, you can relax and enjoy yourself. Enjoy a glass of Champagne and a great meal knowing that you’re going to have fun on this flight!

If you happen to be flying out of Tokyo, visit the Sakura Lounge to make this an even more memorable trip.

With several great ways to book a business class flight on Japan Airlines, all you have to do is figure out when you can jump on the opportunity!

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are booking business class on Japan Airlines, check Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage, or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.

Japan Airlines and Alaska Airlines will have the best redemption rates, but booking with American Airlines can be much easier since you can put awards on hold. It’s also much easier to earn Asia Miles to book with Cathay Pacific through credit card transfer partnerships.

You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards points, Brex Rewards points, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Marriott Bonvoy points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Synchrony Bank provides a co-branded credit card that earns Asia Miles, as well.

Bank of America also provides co-branded cards that earn Alaska miles if you need to top off your Mileage Plan account, while Citi and Barclays provide co-branded American Airlines credit cards.

Japan Airlines has a great business class Sky Suite and an amazing cabin crew. If you depart from Tokyo-Haneda (HND) or Tokyo-Narita (NRT), make sure you enjoy the Sakura Lounge before your flight to the U.S.

On long-haul flights from the U.S. to Japan, you will probably get lie-flat seats in business class! Depending on which exact type of aircraft you’re flying, it can either be Sky Suites (which are Apex suites with direct aisle access), the reverse herringbone Sky Suites III product, or even the Thompson Vantage XL lie-flat seats on select 767-300 aircraft.

On rare occasions, you may find the older, angled-flat business class seat aboard the 787-8. These are almost lie-flat but not quite lie-flat.

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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15 comments

Cora Martin

July 11, 2019

Hello, I am curious if the comment on reward flights opening up 2-3 weeks before travel applies to only bookings through JAL or if that is also the case for Alaska?
Thank you!

Stephen Au

July 12, 2019

Hi Cora,

Generally, the availability you’ll see on Alaska is less than the availability on JAL’s website. This is a way to reward people who earn JAL miles and want to redeem with JAL. Thanks for reading.

Nico

July 11, 2019

Is it possible to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to redeem JAL Business Seats?

Jarrod West

July 12, 2019

Hi Nico,

You can transfer Chase Ultimate Reward points to British Airways or Iberia Avios in order to book JAL business class!

Xuan Vuong

July 12, 2019

Can I use AAdvantage from American airline to upgrade JAL flight?

Stephen Au

July 12, 2019

Hi Xuan,

Unfortunately you can’t use AA miles to upgrade JAL flights.

BklynProf

September 22, 2020

We are planning a trip to Japan in September 2021 (need something to look forward to) because the trip we had planned in May of this year was cancelled. We had transferred 130,000 miles from our Citi Thankyou points account to my AsiaMiles account, so those points are now stuck there. Currently there is wide open availability on JAL business class using 150,000 AsiaMiles for the outbound flights in mid-September. I’m concerned about booking the NY to Tokyo portion now without knowing if we’ll be able to get award flights back in mid-October. We have enough points for two round trips using Virgin Atlantic but we can only book round trips, not one-way flights. We also have enough points in either Citi or Chase accounts for return flights through Star Alliance or OneWorld. Should we take the chance and book those flights now or wait and also take a chance that those flights will no longer be available when we can book the return flights a month from now? Buying one-way tickets from Japan is almost as expensive as buying round trip tickets, which are astronomical in business class so we might be stuck. We are reasonably flexible in our dates, both the outbound and inbound portions.

Also, is AsiaMiles separate from Cathay Pacific in that if CP goes bankrupt the award flights booked through AsiaMiles will still be honored by JAL? That’s another concern about booking the flights now.

Thanks for any insight/advice.

Stephen Au

September 22, 2020

Hi BklynProf,

Without knowing your specific situation, it can be hard to tell.

For example, if your family and you are incredibly flexible, it makes a lot of sense to wait. The reason why is because the availability is wide open on JAL business class, so there would be multiple viable dates, as long as you are flexible.

Asia Miles is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, a lot like LifeMiles is for Avianca.

Without getting into the details of their corporate finance, it is unlikely that Cathay Pacific will go bankrupt in the same way that people usually imagine bankruptcy.

Cathay Pacific would be able to raise funds and the Hong Kong government has already lead a huge rescue package for Cathay Pacific.

It is likely that your Asia Miles flights will still be honored by Japan Airlines, but it is not guaranteed.

And if you feel like you’d get value from a service that will optimize your award travel and offer ultra-personalized points wealth management, please feel free to contact me directly at stephen@upgradedpoints.com to inquire about a monthly subscription service.

Brad

December 01, 2020

American Airlines’ web site shows JL flights now in its award search results. There is no need to search for availability on British Airways’ site and then to call AA Reservations. Once AA shows your flight is ticketed, you will still have to call AA to get your JL PNR, which you’ll need in order to select seats on JL’s website.

This has been the case since July 2019.

Austin

May 08, 2021

Alaska Airlines virtually removed First Class awards for JAL. Last availability was April 31st. Have searched every route online and called as well. AA & BA show availability in First Class but Alaska shows nothing!

Noi

December 09, 2021

It’s very helpful information overall for me. I am a 78-year-old lady and would like to travel to BKK with my daughter. I like to use AS miles for my daughter’s tickets. I like to buy my tickets with c/c so I can earn AS miles. I would like to treat my daughter and myself by fly business lay flatbed once in a lifetime. Could you please advise how to book the flight? My business class budget at $3,200. Thanks for your help.

Stephen Au

December 10, 2021

Hi Noi,

It’s actually not that difficult to get those tickets for free with Alaska Airlines miles. Just follow the steps outlined in the Alaska Airlines section of this guide to book the business class ticket for free!

Mike

May 26, 2022

Hi Stephen, thanks for your informative article. I have American Airlines points and am trying to book business class for my honeymoon to Bali. There is a nice option on JAL to Kuala Lumpur but it will not release Business or first class using points. Any suggestions on how to use my points???

Stephen Au

May 27, 2022

Hi Mike,

I recommend being flexible on your travel dates and following the steps in this guide. Thanks for your question!

Ron

May 28, 2023

I understand that Hawaiian miles can be used to book Japan Airlines flights but Hawaiian is very opaque and not at all helpful on the steps required; (and Japan’s website, like that of most foreign carriers, is impossible to navigate due to inadequate English translation).

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