Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

JAL Mileage Bank redemption structure

JAL uses two parallel charts:

Chart	Routes	Pricing model
JAL International Award Chart	JAL-operated international flights	Region-pair x cabin x season; not distance-based
JAL Domestic Award Chart	JAL-operated domestic Japan flights	Distance zones (A through G); flat per-zone pricing
Partner Award Chart	oneworld + non-alliance partners	Distance-based, generally higher than JAL's own region-pair chart

Carrier-imposed surcharges (fuel surcharges): Lower on JAL-operated metal than most major international carriers. Significantly cheaper than BA, Lufthansa, ANA. Surcharges revised periodically; most recent revision May 1, 2026.

Award Ticket PLUS: Variable higher-mileage pricing for Economy / Premium Economy / Business when base-level (saver) award space is exhausted. Does NOT apply to First class.

Booking window: 360 days in advance for JAL-operated awards (first-mover advantage over partners).

JAL international award chart (post-June 10, 2025; one-way base miles)

Route (to/from Japan)	Economy	Premium Economy	Business	First (L/R/H)
North America (JFK/ORD/LAX/etc.)	27,000	40,000	55,000	110,000-140,000
Hawaii (HNL)	20,000	28,000	40,000	50,000-60,000
Europe (LHR/CDG/HEL/etc.)	27,500	40,000	55,000	110,000-140,000
Southeast Asia (BKK/SIN/etc.)	17,500	25,000	36,000	55,000-70,000
East Asia (ICN/PVG/HKG/TPE)	12,000	18,000	25,000	35,000-50,000
Guam	10,000	15,000	21,000	n/a
Oceania (SYD/MEL)	20,000	32,000	42,000	70,000-100,000

JAL domestic award chart (one-way base miles)

Zone	Example routes	Economy	Class J / First
A (short-haul)	Osaka-Kochi, Fukuoka-Miyazaki	4,500	4,500
B	Sapporo-Aomori, Tokyo-Nagoya	5,500	5,500
C	Tokyo-Osaka (Itami/Kansai)	6,500	6,500
D	Tokyo-Hiroshima, Tokyo-Matsuyama	7,500	7,500
E	Tokyo-Fukuoka, Tokyo-Kagoshima	9,000	9,000
F	Tokyo-Okinawa (Naha)	10,000	10,000
G (long-haul)	Tokyo-Ishigaki, Osaka-Naha	12,000	12,000

Domestic awards also use Award Ticket PLUS variable pricing when base space is unavailable (up to 18,500-50,000 miles depending on zone).

Earning rates on JAL international flights (% of distance flown)

• First (F, A): 150%
• Business (J, C, D): 125%
• Business discounted (X, I): 70%
• Premium Economy (W): 100% / discounted (E): 70%
• Economy Flex (Y, B): 100%
• Economy Standard (H, K, M): 70%
• Economy Discount (L, V, S): 50%
• Economy Deep Discount (Q, N, O): 30-50%

Plus JMB tier bonus: Crystal +55%, Sapphire / JGC +105%, Diamond +130%.

Notable redemption pricing

• US-Japan Business: 55,000 JAL Miles one-way
• US-Japan First (Low season): 110,000 JAL Miles one-way
• US-Japan First (High season): 140,000 JAL Miles one-way
• Hawaii-Japan Business: 40,000 JAL Miles one-way
• Japan-Southeast Asia Business: 36,000 JAL Miles one-way
• Intra-Japan domestic: 4,500-12,000 JAL Miles one-way

Official chart: https://www.us.jal.co.jp/us/en/jalmile/use/

What does NOT transfer to JAL Mileage Bank

• American Express Membership Rewards - no direct transfer
• Chase Ultimate Rewards - no direct transfer
• Citi ThankYou Points - no direct transfer

This is a defining program constraint. Plan earn strategy around Bilt + Capital One + flying.

No US co-brand card

JAL Card products are primarily Japan-only. US readers reach JAL Miles via Bilt / Capital One direct, Marriott indirect, or by crediting AA flights to JMB.

• Intra-Japan domestic at 4,500-12,000 miles is one of the best sweet spots in any program. Combine an international award to Japan with multiple domestic hops to maximize trip value.
• JAL Sky Suite Business US-Japan at 55,000 miles is highly competitive - and JAL has dramatically lower fuel surcharges than BA, Lufthansa, or even ANA.
• JAL First Class at 110,000 JAL Miles in Low Season - aspirational but achievable through a single 30%-bonus Capital One transfer or accumulated Bilt earnings.
• Japan-Southeast Asia Business at 36,000 miles beats most other programs for SE Asia premium-cabin redemptions out of Tokyo.
• JGC lifetime status is the secret weapon - 50,000 FOP in one calendar year + a JAL Card unlocks permanent oneworld Sapphire-equivalent benefits. Easier to attain than American's lifetime tiers and globally useful.
• 360-day booking window gives JMB members first-mover advantage over partner programs that typically get later access to JAL premium-cabin space.
• Capital One 30% transfer bonuses (recurring; April 2026 was 30%) bring the 4:3 ratio close to 1:1. Time large transfers to bonus windows.
• Credit AA flights to JMB rather than AAdvantage if pursuing JGC lifetime status or stockpiling JAL Miles for a specific redemption.

JAL operates the Sakura Lounge (Business class) and First Class Lounge networks at Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT), and select international gateways including JFK and other US hubs. JAL's lounges are widely regarded among the best in the world for food quality (the Sakura sushi bar at HND is famous) and quiet design.

Access rules:

• Same-day JAL or oneworld flight + oneworld Sapphire (JMB Sapphire / JGC Sapphire) - Sakura Lounge / oneworld Business class lounges worldwide for member + 1 guest, any cabin.
• Same-day JAL or oneworld flight + oneworld Emerald (JMB Diamond) - JAL First Class Lounge / Star First lounges for member + 1 guest, any cabin.
• Same-day JAL First Class boarding pass at HND / NRT - First Class Lounge access in any context.
• Same-day JAL Business Class or Premium Economy boarding pass - Sakura Lounge access in any context.
• JGC lifetime members - Sakura Lounge access for life when traveling on JAL or oneworld.

JAL does not generally sell day passes to non-status passengers. Access is by status or premium cabin only.

• US-Japan Business class on JAL Sky Suite at 55,000 JAL Miles one-way. Highly competitive transpacific Business redemption.
• US-Japan First class on the new A350-1000 at 110,000-140,000 JAL Miles one-way (Low / Regular / High season). Six private suites per aircraft - one of the world's best First class hard products.
• Intra-Japan domestic awards at 4,500-12,000 JAL Miles one-way - the program's most underrated sweet spot. Hop between Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto (via KIX), Sapporo, Fukuoka, Okinawa for minimal miles after arriving in Japan.
• Japan-Southeast Asia Business class at 36,000 JAL Miles one-way (BKK, SIN, etc.). Excellent value for the JAL Sky Suite product.
• AA-operated US routes credited to JMB - the AA/JAL transpacific JV allows JAL Mileage Bank members to redeem on AA metal at JAL's partner pricing.
• oneworld partner awards (BA, Cathay, Iberia, Qantas, Qatar, Finnair, Alaska, Malaysia, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan, Oman Air, Fiji Airways).
• Non-alliance partners: Hawaiian Airlines, Emirates, Air France, China Eastern, Bangkok Airways, Vietjet, Jetstar Japan.

• Miles expire 36 months from the calendar month earned, with no extension via activity, fees, or credit card spend. Each batch of miles has its own death date. Plan redemptions ahead.
• Limited US transfer-partner access: only Bilt (1:1), Capital One (4:3), and Marriott (3:1). NO Amex, Chase, or Citi direct transfers. This is the program's biggest constraint for non-flying earners.
• March 31, 2026: JetBlue partnership ENDED. JetBlue earning and redemption are no longer available on JMB.
• September 2025: Capital One Miles became a JAL transfer partner at 4:3. Periodic 30% bonuses bring effective rate near 1:1.
• Region-pair award chart for JAL-operated international flights (not distance-based). Pricing is determined by origin/destination region and cabin.
• Award Ticket PLUS = variable higher-mileage pricing when base-level award space is exhausted on Economy / Premium Economy / Business. Does NOT apply to First class.
• First class seasonal pricing: Low (L) / Regular (R) / High (H). 110K/120K/140K JAL Miles US-Japan one-way.
• AA / JAL transpacific joint venture lets US-based JAL Mileage Bank members earn JAL Miles + FLY ON Points on AA metal, and book AA awards through JMB at partner pricing. Particularly valuable for travelers near AA hubs (DFW, MIA, CLT, ORD, PHL, JFK, LAX).
• JAL Global Club (JGC) lifetime status triggered by reaching JMB Sapphire (50,000 FOP) once + holding a JAL Card. Permanent oneworld Sapphire-equivalent. One of the easiest lifetime-status pathways in major airline loyalty programs.
• 360-day booking window for JAL-operated awards - first-mover advantage over partner programs that typically get access later.
• Waitlist for international awards: miles not deducted until seat is confirmed. If unconfirmed, waitlist clears before departure.
• Low fuel surcharges on JAL-operated awards relative to BA, Lufthansa, ANA. Surcharges are revised periodically (most recently May 1, 2026).
• New account restriction: JAL may block redemptions for up to 60 days after account opening.
• No US-issued co-brand credit card. JAL Card products are primarily Japan-only.