Save 33% to 45% on Business and First Class—or save enough for a free domestic First Class round-trip ticket for every long-haul booked. Plus, 10 more great savings opportunities that can net you, in effect, free upgrades...
Many FCF readers are American-focused travelers. Maybe because you live in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, or another city where American holds sway. That’s fine. But many of you use American co-branded credit cards well beyond your elite-credit-bonus spend level.
Why? Because you have too many miles as it is with the airline—and don’t need any more of this limited-opportunity currency.
Here’s a better idea—if you insist on flying American: Use Starwood Starpoints or points earned with the new Barclays Mastercard and transfer them to a Japan Airlines (JAL) mileage account. It makes a lot more sense because it gives you a better value per mile in most cases.
The Devil’s in American’s Details AND JAL IS OFTEN AN ANGEL
JAL’s mileage program often has lower mileage award rates for American-operated flights than American’s own rate. Plus, award availability using JAL’s mileage program is often the same as American’s, and award taxes are the same as those American charges to Asia, Europe, and South America.
BONDAGE BUSTER PROOF #1: HOW TO SAVE UP TO 45% / 52,000 MILES TO EUROPE
The European itinerary below saves 52,000 miles when booked with JAL miles instead of American miles. New York-Madrid in Business Class using American miles costs 115,000 miles round-trip and $53 in taxes. Book the same flights using JAL miles, however, and you’ll only be out 63,000 miles and $53 in taxes.
BONDAGE BUSTER #2: South America
On Dallas-Santiago, American’s lowest Business Class award costs 115,000 miles and $52 in taxes, while JAL charges 65,000 miles round-trip and $52 in taxes.
BONDAGE BUSTER #3: ASIA
On Los Angeles-Tokyo, American’s lowest round-trip Business Class award costs 120,000 miles and $46 in taxes, while with JAL the ticket costs 80,000 miles and $46 in taxes.
FIRST CLASS BONDAGE BUSTER #4: SOUTH AMERICA
On New York-São Paulo, American’s lowest First Class award costs 170,000 miles and $54 in taxes, whereas JAL charges 105,000 miles and $54 in taxes.
CONNECTING FLIGHT BONDAGE BUSTER #5
Connecting trip to South Americasaves 50,000 miles when booked with JAL instead of American. On Atlanta-São Paulo (connection in Miami), American’s lowest Business Class award costs 115,000 miles and $59 in taxes. On JAL it’s 65,000 miles round-trip and $59 in taxes.
HOW TO SEARCH FOR JAL PARTNER AWARD SPACE
First, create a Japan Airlines mileage account (takes five minutes), then login.
Go to “Book JMB Partner Airlines Award Tickets” under the “JAL Mileage Bank” header, click on it, and then click on the “JMB Partner Airlines Award Tickets” header.
Here, you will need to select the airline partner from a drop-down box, input your travel dates, departure and destination, cabin desired, and number of travlers; and then hit “Search”.
Award booking for the following partner airlines is available through the JAL website: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Qantas, Qatar Airways, S7 Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Air France, and Bangkok Airways.
For other airline partners, you will need to call JAL at 1-800-525-3663.
10 More Great Opportunities for American Airlines Loyalists
Through Japan Airlines ticketing strategies that can net you, in effect, free upgrades, and convince you why the JAL mileage program is worth a look.
- FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy delivering First Class for 33% less than Business Class; 155,000 JAL miles for the four international segments
- FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy delivering Business Class for 17% less than coach; 100,000 JAL miles for the four international segments
- Fly First Class around the world with seven stops for only 170,000 miles and Business Class for only 120,000 JAL miles; Delta charges 160,000 miles for single trip in Business Class to Asia
- Business Class to/from Tokyo (and beyond) starting at 85,000 JAL miles round-trip
- Save up to 45,000 miles (31%) on Cathay Pacific Business Class when using JAL miles to Hong Kong
- Save 36,000 miles (26%) on British Airways First Class when using JAL miles to London
- Save up to 30,000 miles (22%) on Emirates First Class when using JAL miles to Milan
- Save up to 82,500 miles (38%) on Emirates First Class when using JAL miles to the Middle East
- Save up to 40,000 miles (32%) on Korean Business Class when using JAL miles to Asia
- Save up to 60,000 miles (48%) on Air France Business Class when using JAL miles to Europe