The best possible for the best possible?
Everyone knows that you can buy miles and points these days. Some travelers even understand that using them wisely can lead to substantial savings on premium cabin seats. But few have mastered these strategies and miss out on great opportunities.
Japan Airlines First Class: A Hidden Gem
JAL is one of the few airlines still offering First Class cabins. If you’re departing from/to the U.S., you can typically find First Class seats on select flights from Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco to Tokyo. If you’re based in Europe, options to/from Asia include Helsinki, London, and Paris to Tokyo.
Japan Airlines routes with First Class according to flightconnections.com
Japan Airlines routes with according to flightconnections.com
Booking one of these First Class tickets outright can set you back a staggering $29,972 round-trip. But what if you could book the exact same seat for just a fraction of the price?
Not Flying to Tokyo – or from One of Its U.S. or European Hubs? No Problem
The airline flies to different cities across Asia, and connections can be added for little or no extra cost. Depending on availability, connections on its partner American Airlines, could be possible to JAL’s U.S. hubs. Similarly, you can get connections in Europe through its Star Alliance partners like British Airways.
Why JAL Miles Are Hard to Get — And How to Work Around It
Unlike most airlines, Japan Airlines doesn’t have any direct points-transfer partnerships with major U.S. credit card programs, meaning you can’t simply transfer Chase, Amex, or Citi points to JAL Mileage Bank. They also don’t sell miles directly, unlike most airlines, making it difficult for most travelers to accumulate them outside of flying JAL regularly.
Occasionally, you can book JAL First Class using American Airlines miles, since AA is a partner airline. It’s a good option, but you can’t book as far out with AA miles, and there’s less availability.
So what’s the alternative?
The Secret: Buying Marriott Bonvoy Points & Converting to JAL Miles
Right now, Marriott Bonvoy is running a 45% bonus sale on points purchases, available through March 9th. Why does this matter? Because Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to JAL Mileage Bank at a 3:1 ratio.
Here’s how it works:
- Marriott is allowing travelers to buy up to 217,500 Bonvoy points for $1,875 (at 0.86 cents per point – which amounts to 2.58 cents per JAL mile).
- When transferred to Japan Airlines, this results in 72,500 JAL miles–enough for a First Class ticket!
- Marriott Bonvoy members can transfer up to 100,000 points per year to another member, allowing friends or family to pool points and buy even more miles.
- Need more points? Do this.
Now let’s break down the numbers further…
First Class: The Math That Makes It Work
Japan Airlines typically charges 70,000 miles one way (low season) for a First Class ticket between the U.S. and Tokyo, plus around $196 in taxes and fees.
With this method, a First Class ticket that normally costs as much as $29,972 round-trip can be booked for just $2,002 including taxes each way. One-way might be enough indulgence.
If you’re flying between Tokyo and Europe, the First Class redemption costs around 80,000 (low season) JAL miles, which, through the Marriott transfer method, can be obtained for about $2,260 each way—for a ticket that can cost $10,000+.
Business Class: An Even Better Deal?
If you can’t find dates that work for you in First Class, Business Class on Japan Airlines is the next best ticket and the same strategy applies. Where the airline typically charges 50,000 miles one-way plus about $196 in taxes for travel between Asia and the U.S. In other words, by leveraging the Marriott Bonvoy points purchase strategy, you can get a Business Class ticket to Tokyo for just $1,486 each way, compared to the usual $7,000+ price tag round-trip.
For travelers flying between Tokyo and Europe, Business Class costs 55,000 Japan Airlines miles each way, which, with the Marriott method, translates to just $1,615.
What About Actual Availability?
In two words, it varies. At time of publication, here’s what we found:
To/from the U.S. and Tokyo
Business Class
Boston to/from Tokyo: Both directions scattered availability 11 to 12 months out for up to two seats.
San Francisco to/from Tokyo: Both directions decent availability 11 to 12 months out for one seat; a bit less scattered availability for two seats.
Los Angeles to/from Tokyo: Both directions scattered availability 11 to 12 months out for up to two seats.
Chicago to/from Tokyo: Both directions scattered availability 10 to 11 out; more 11 to 12 months out; a bit less on the inbound flight.
Dallas to/from Tokyo: Both directions scattered availability 11 to 12 months out for up to two seats.
To/from Europe and Tokyo
First Class
Paris to/from Tokyo: At the moment, only close-in availability for one seat. Both directions scattered availability 11 to 12 months out for up to two seats.
To/from Europe and Tokyo
Business Class
London to/from Tokyo: Both directions scattered availability 10 to 11 out; more 11 to 12 months out; a bit less on the inbound flight.
Fine Print & Other Considerations
As with any points strategy, there are various things to keep in mind:
- Availability is unpredictable. JAL’s award availability fluctuates, so flexibility is key. This strategy works best for opportunity travelers who are willing to plan ahead or book last minute or wait for flash availability flights.
- Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. However, you can reset the expiration by making a small points purchase or other qualifying activity.
- Marriott typically runs sales on points every two to three months, with bonuses ranging from 40% to 50%. So if you miss this sale, another opportunity will likely come around.
- If you struggle to find JAL award availability, your Marriott points are still useful. You can redeem them for hotel stays, which sometimes provide solid value. So there’s nothing major to lose.
- Normally, Marriott allows you to purchase up to 100,000 points per year, but this promotion temporarily increases that cap.
- Japan Airlines allows bookings 12 months out, compared to the typical 11-month window most airlines offer. If you’re an early planner, this gives you an edge over those relying on American Airlines miles to book JAL flights..
- New Marriott Bonvoy members must wait 30 days after enrollment (with qualifying activity) or one year (without activity) to purchase points. If you’re new to the program, plan ahead to take advantage of future sales.
- Don’t forget, if you need more miles or points, that’s not a problem with FCF’s Unlimited Strategy
Final Thoughts: A Rare Bird Worth Chasing
This Japan Airlines strategy isn’t for the casual traveler. It’s for those who love the thrill of flying the Best Possible—for the Lowest Possible—and are willing to do what it takes to make it possible.
For those who know how to play the game, $29,972 First Class seats for around $4,004 round-trip are not just possible—they’re well within reach.
See you up front.