What is Japan Mileage Bank? Why should I join?

Japan Mileage Bank (JMB) is the free loyalty program of Japan Airlines (JAL). Members earn miles by flying JAL and its partner airlines. You can also earn points by making purchases with other JMB partners. Miles can be redeemed for flight awards and upgrades.

Miles earned in the Japan Mileage Bank program are valid for 36 months.

Is Japan Airlines a member of an airline alliance?

Japan Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance. It has additional partners including Emirates, Air France, Jetstar Japan, China Eastern Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Korean Air, Latam Airlines, Srilankan Airlines, and Vistara. JAL is also a member of Asia Miles, which includes over 20 airlines.

How can I contact Japan Airlines from the U.S.?

From the U.S., call the JAL Mileage Bank Center at 800-JAL-FONE (800-525-3663).

What is the login for JMB?

Log in to the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank.

Is there a credit card to earn JMB Miles?

Earn up to 2 points per $1 spent with the JAL USA card depending on which annual fee option you choose. You can also transfer miles directly from Marriott Bonvoy. Any of the travel rewards cards from American Express Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards will earn miles transferable to Asia Miles as well.

19 Best Ways To Earn Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles [2023]

In 1951, Japan Airlines (JAL) became the first international airline in Japan. Now the largest commercial carrier in the country, it has hubs at Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) airports.

As a member of the Oneworld alliance, JAL serves more than 90 airports in 20+ countries.

Members of its airline loyalty program, JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), can earn miles for flights on JAL and partner airlines, as well as by making purchases with JAL’s travel and non-travel partners.

Let’s take a look at the myriad ways you can earn JMB miles to redeem for award flights, e-money, and other awards. Plus, you can read our post on the best ways to fly to Japan using points.

JAL Mileage Bank (JMB)

Join JMB To Earn Miles

Sign up for JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) and start earning miles for JAL flights, partner flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more!

1. Take Flights on JAL

Japan Airlines First Class — Japan Airlines first class. Image Credit: JAL

Earn miles for flights on JAL Group Domestic and JAL International Airlines: Japan Airlines, Japan Transocean Air, Japan Air Commuter, and Ryukyu Air Commuter.

Flight mileage is determined by the sector mileage and the fare. Below is a table showing the JAL accumulation rates on international flights from Japan. Find accumulation rates for other international and domestic fares on JAL’s website.

Classes	Applicable Booking Classes	Accumulation Rate
First Class	F, A	150％
Business Class	J, C, D, I	125％
Business Class	X	70％
Premium Economy Class	W, R	100％
Premium Economy Class	E	70％
Economy Class	Y, B	100％
	H, K, M	70％
	L, V, S	50％
	O, G, Q, N	30％

2. Book Flights on JAL Partner Airlines

JAL partners with the Oneworld alliance and several additional carriers.

The following table shows the percentage of miles earned (depending on fare) for flights on each airline.

Oneworld Airline Partners

Airline	Miles Earned	Airline	Miles Earned
Alaska Airlines	30% to 150%	Malaysia Airlines	25% to 150%
American Airlines	30% to 150%	Qantas	50% to 150%
British Airways	25% to 150%	Qatar Airways	30% to 150%
Cathay Pacific	50% to 150%	Royal Jordanian	25% to 125%
Finnair	25% to 125%	Royal Air Maroc	30% to 125%
Iberia	25% to 125%	S7 Airlines (temporarily suspended)	25% to 125%

Other Partners

Airline	Miles Earned	Airline	Miles Earned
Air France	20% to 150%	Jetstar Japan*	30%
Bangkok Airways	50% to 150%	Korean Air	30% to 150%
China Eastern Airlines	30% to 150%	LATAM Airlines	30% to 125%
Emirates	15% to 150%	SriLankan Airlines	30% to 125%
Hawaiian Airlines	30% to 125%	Vistara	50% to 125%

* On Plus Bundle and Max Bundle (not Starter Fare)

Hot Tip: For more information, check out this in-depth guide to help you know where to credit your airline miles.

3. Elite Status Bonus Points

In addition to earning miles for flights on JAL and its partner airlines, JMB members earn FLY ON Points, which are calculated based on mileage. Collect FLY ON Points (or qualifying segments) to reach different membership levels and earn bonus miles:

Membership Level	Qualifying Points	Qualifying Segments	Mileage Bonus
Crystal	30,000 FLY ON Points	30 segments	55%
Sapphire	50,000 FLY ON Points	50 segments	105%
JGC Premier	80,000 FLY ON Points	80 segments	105%
Diamond	100,000 FLY ON Points	120 segments	130%

JMB miles calculation: flight mileage x FLY ON point conversion rate

Eligible Route		Conversion Rate
Japan domestic flight		2.0
International flight	JAL flight to and from Japan – China + Hong Kong + Asia + Oceania routes	1.5
	JAL flight other than above routes	1.0

4. Bonus FLY ON Points

JAL is running a promotion for bonus points to add up to 400 points according to the purchased fare as follows:

	Fares	Flight Bonus FLY ON Points
JAL Group domestic flights within Japan (for flights departing on or before April 11, 2023)	Normal Fare, Child Fare, Round-trip Fare, JAL Business KIPPU, e Business, Shareholder’s Saver Fare, Discount for the Disabled, Care Giver’s Saver, Tokubin 1, Tokubin 3, Tokubin 7, Tokubin 21, Remote Island Round-trip, RAC Round-Trip Fare, etc	400 points
	Special Transit, Child Fare for Special Transit, Discount for the Disabled for Special Transit, Transit Fare7	200 points
	Sakitoku, Super Sakitoku, Ultra SAKITOKU, Senior Citizen Stand-by, Sky Mate Stand-by, JMB Award, JMB Companion, Transit Fare 28, Individual Inclusive Tour Fares, Group Discount Fares, etc.	0 points
JAL Group domestic flights within Japan (for flights departing on or after April 12, 2023) When traveling on the transfer fare, flight bonus FLY ON Points will be earned for each flight sector involved.	Flex, JAL CARD Flex, Business Flex, Remote Island Flex, Specific Route Flex, Shareholder’s Flex	400 points
	Saver, Special Saver, Round Trip Saver	200 points
	Promotion, Sky Mate Fare, Senior Citizen Fare, Award Tickets, Individual Inclusive Tour Fare, Inclusive Tour Fare, Group Discount Fare, School Educational Fare, etc.	0 points
JAL international flights (Flights departing on or after July 1, 2022)	F, A, J, C, D, I, X, W, R, E, Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S * Ineligible for agent-organized tours.	400 points
	Booking classes other than those above	0 points

* For Japan domestic flight sectors included in international tickets that are eligible for flight mileage accrual, Flight bonus FLY ON Points are based on booking class as shown.

It really is possible to earn a ton of points and qualify for the bonuses that come with elite status!

One of the great things about the JAL status program is you don’t have to wait a full calendar year if you qualify for the next tier earlier. About 1 week after qualifying for a higher FLY ON tier, you’ll receive a new membership card to activate some of the service benefits!

Hot Tip: If you qualify for JMB Sapphire or JMB Diamond, you will receive an invitation to join JAL Global Club (JGC). Membership costs 5,000 miles and includes lounge access, annual gifts, and even bonus miles!

Earn JMB Miles With Credit Cards

5. JAL USA CARD

JAL USA CARD bonus — Image Credit: First National Bank of Omaha

With the JAL USA CARD, you earn miles and receive discounts on in-flight purchases. Pay a $20 annual fee (waived the first year) to get 1 point per every $2 spent. Add a $50 upgrade fee (for a total of $70 per year) and you can earn 1 point for every $1 spent.

Hot Tip: JMB has a variety of non-U.S. financial partners. Check out more details on the JAL points transfer program.

6. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Japan Airlines at a transfer rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra 5,000 JAL miles bonus.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Earn Asia Miles With Credit Cards

7. American Express Membership Rewards Credit Cards

While JAL is not a direct airline partner of Amex Membership Rewards, it’s a partner of the Asia Miles program. If you want to use your miles with JAL through Asia Miles (1:1 ratio), you can use any of the Membership Rewards credit cards:

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! (The current public offer is 80,000 points.)

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card! (The current public offer is 60,000 points.)

If you’re a business owner, see our list of the best Amex business credit cards.

8. Citi ThankYou Rewards Credit Cards

Similar to Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards has Asia Miles as a transfer partner. Earn Citi ThankYou Points and transfer them to Asia Miles to use with JAL.

Recommended Citi Card (Personal)

Collect Miles With JMB Travel Partners

9. Partner Hotel Miles

With more than 15,000 participating hotels around the world, it’s easy to earn miles in your JMB account. Browse hotels with the partner hotel search engine or visit JMB World Marketplace.

10. Transfer Hotel Loyalty Points

You can transfer points from several hotel loyalty programs, but we would not recommend this as a good use of your points unless you needed to top-up your JMB account for an award.

Hotel Loyalty Program	Minimum Transfer	Transfer Ratio
ALL – Accor Live Limitless	5,000	5:1
Hilton Honors	10,000	10:1
IHG One Rewards	10,000	5:1
World of Hyatt *	5,000	5:2

* If you transfer 50,000 or more World of Hyatt points, you’ll get a bonus of 12,500 World of Hyatt points transferred to the airline partner.

11. Hotel Special Offers

JMB provides plenty of opportunities to earn extra miles. For instance, earn up to 1,000 miles with Tokyu Hotels. Look for new deals on the JMB Promotions page (search for Hotel Mileage Information).

12. Book a Rental Car

Check out the variety of per-mile, per-day, and per-rental offers from JMB car rental partners:

Car Rental Agency	Mileage Offer	Car Rental Agency	Mileage Offer
Alamo	300 miles per rental	Funinsha Rent-a-car	1 mile per ¥100
Avis	100 miles per day	Hertz	50 miles per day
Budget	50 miles per day	Japan Executive Limousine, Inc. (Southern California)	1 mile per $1
Dollar	300 miles per rental	Smile (Japan)	1 mile per ¥100

JMB World Marketplace also offers earning opportunities for car rentals.

Collect Miles With JMB Shopping Partners

13. JAL Shopping Americas

Purchase items at JAL Shopping Americas and earn miles. JLB members earn 1 mile per every $2 spent, while holders of the JAL USA Card get 1 mile per $1 or enjoy a 5% discount.

To receive miles, provide your JMB membership number and look for miles to be credited about 2 months after purchase.

Hot Tip: You can also shop to earn miles at the JMB World Marketplace!

14. Duty-free Shopping

The Shilla Duty-Free

Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you can’t catch up on some shopping! The Shilla Duty-Free has 3 locations to shop with your JMB membership card: 1 in Seoul, and 2 at Incheon International (ICN).

Earn 2 miles for every $3 spent here. JMB members can earn miles for shopping even without boarding a flight!

Lotte Duty-Free Shop Ginza

Lotte Duty-Free Shop Ginza is an airport-style duty-free shop located in the city, where products of over 200 different brands are sold on the 2 floors of Tokyo Plaza Ginza, a new landmark of Ginza. The shop offers a new style of shopping that can be enjoyed by not only foreign customers visiting Japan but also Japanese customers planning to travel abroad.

You can earn 1 mile for every ¥100 spent at Lotte Duty-Free Shop Ginza.

15. JALUX ASIA Ltd.

Earn miles for souvenir purchases or home delivery of orchids, fruits, and spices with JALUX ASIA Ltd. Mileage earned varies by product purchased.

Special Offers and Services

16. JAL Family Club

Japan Airlines JAL Family Club — Image Credit: JAL

Whether Japan is your former home or you just travel there frequently, the JAL Family Club can be useful. There’s no fee to join, and you get a variety of benefits, such as the ability to pool miles for award redemptions and bonus miles.

First, choose a JLB member over the age of 12 to serve as the Primary Member of the JAL Family Club Account. Members must live in an eligible region outside of Japan (America, Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia/Oceania).

Up to 9 people (including the Primary Member) may join the account, including the Primary Member’s spouse, children, parents, and spouse’s parents.

While there is no annual fee for the JAL Family Account, a registration fee of 1,000 miles is required.

Don’t have 1,000 miles in your account? You can agree to have them deducted as soon as you do! A renewal fee of 1,000 miles will be deducted every 5 years.

With a family account, you can earn bonus miles for your first JAL flight and other promotions.

17. Book Moving Services

Moving to Japan? Need to ship items overseas to friends and family? The following U.S. to Japan shipping services will earn you JMB miles!

Company	Miles Earned
Endo Freight Forwarders	10 miles per cubic feet
Nippon Express	1 mile per $1
Nissin International Transport U.S.A.	Up to 5,000 miles

18. Purchase a Newspaper Subscription

Sign up for a new subscription or renew your subscription to Asahi Shimbun Digital newspaper to receive 3,000 miles. JALFC members earn 5,000 miles. Asahi Shimbun Digital offers digital access to the printed morning edition newspaper as well as online features.

19. Local Area Services

Take a detailed look at all of the Japan Airlines partnerships:

Company	Service	Miles Offered	Location
Ai Klean	Maid services by Japanese professionals	1 mile per $1; 300 bonus miles for first-time customers	Los Angeles, CA
Global Action	Welfare service	500 miles for enrollment	Outside of Japan
JAL ABC Coat Storage	Coat storage	Up to 50 miles per piece	Narita/Haneda/ Kansai Airports
JAL ABC Mobile Phone Rental	Mobile phone and Wi-Fi router rentals	Up to 200 miles	Narita/Nagoya/Chubu Airports
JAL Airport Baggage Delivery Service	Baggage delivery	Up to 100 miles	Narita/Haneda/Kansai Airports
Nippan IPS	Education Services	Up to 500 miles	Mobile
Starts Pacific Inc.	Real estate	Up to 5,000 miles	Los Angeles, CA

Final Thoughts

Earning JMB miles is as easy as flying JAL and booking travel with its partners. Plus, JMB provides plenty of opportunities to earn miles with non-travel partners. Rack up miles even faster with the JAL USA Card!

Need some inspiration as to how you’d use those miles? Check out this Japan Airlines, 777 First Class review (Tokyo to LA)!

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

4 comments

Ben March 3, 2019
How do I transfer Asia Miles over to JMB? I’ve never heard of or seen this option. It’s not on their website (at least, I didn’t see it) – has it been discontinued, or do you have to call to transfer Asia Miles? Thanks!
- Christine Krzyszton March 18, 2019
  Hi Ben. Unfortunately you cannot transfer Asia Miles to JMB.
Ed September 21, 2021
If I purchase $100k of items such as gas, clothing, etc, and convert all points to JAL miles, which credit card would give me the most JAL miles? Make whatever assumption you want regarding the spend mix.
- Jarrod West September 24, 2021
  Hi Ed,
  Since Marriott is the only transfer partner, and Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 rate, your best bet would just be to use the JAL USA card. But make sure you pay for the $70/year version to get 1 points per $1.