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Best Way to Book It

Pick a route. We'll show you some of the ways you can book it with points, ranked by typical miles cost — with cash fees and the catches inline. Coverage expands as we add programs; if a program you expect isn't here yet, it's on the roadmap, not missing on purpose.

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Heads up: pricing here comes from published partner award charts, not live availability. Always confirm the seat on the operating airline's site before transferring miles in.

Cabin
Los Angeles (LAX) ↔ Tokyo (NRT)
5,439 miles · US ↔ Japan / Korea · Business
5 airlines fly this · cheapest first

Fly on United MileagePlus

Star Alliance
5 ways to book · from 50k miles

ANA Mileage Club

US to Japan (one-way equivalent of 100k RT chart)

Still absurdly good if you can plan like an adult.

Low fuel surchargesHas hoopsApproximate
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the ANA Mileage Club award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
  • Routing rules
    Round-trip required. 100k Avios RT total.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • What breaks this deal
    Round-trip required.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $100–250 in cash fees per direction. JP + US taxes (~$200-500 RT).
50k
miles
+ $100-250

Avianca LifeMiles

US to Japan / Korea

Great when it tickets. Annoying when it does not.

No fuel surchargesHas hoops
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Avianca LifeMiles award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • What breaks this deal
    Booking can stall — call to confirm before transferring.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $40–120 in cash fees per direction. US + JP taxes.
75k
miles
+ $40-120

Air Canada Aeroplan

North America to Pacific 5500-7500 mi (Japan / Korea)

Not the cheapest, but much easier than ANA round-trip restrictions.

No fuel surchargesApproximate
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Air Canada Aeroplan award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $60–120 in cash fees per direction. $60-120 in taxes.
75k-90k
miles
+ $60-120

Singapore KrisFlyer

US to Japan / Korea

Solid fallback when ANA space disappears.

Low fuel surchargesApproximate
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Singapore KrisFlyer award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $50–150 in cash fees per direction. $50-150 in taxes.
95k-110k
miles
+ $50-150

United MileagePlus

US to Japan / Korea

Polaris is great. The pricing is less emotionally stable. ANA 50k one-way equivalent crushes this.

No fuel surchargesDynamic — expect upper end
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the United MileagePlus award engine for United MileagePlus-operated flights.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $50–150 in cash fees per direction. $50-150 in taxes.
95k–350k
miles
+ $50-150

Fly on ANA Mileage Club

Star Alliance
1 way to book · from 52.5k miles

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

US to Japan via ANA (Virgin Atlantic partner award)

VS √ó ANA J: 47.5k WC / 60k EC. No surcharges, one-way allowed. The most famous transpacific sweet spot.

No fuel surchargesHas hoopsWorth a search
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club award engine for ANA Mileage Club-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Reality check
    Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
52.5k
miles

Fly on Japan Airlines

Oneworld
3 ways to book · from 55k miles

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

US to Japan on JAL (JAL region-pair chart, one way)
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank award engine for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
55k
miles

American AAdvantage

North America to Asia (Japan / Korea)

60k AA J on JAL is the best fixed rate in the game for US-Japan. Don't sleep on it.

Low fuel surcharges
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the American AAdvantage award engine for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $50–130 in cash fees per direction. US + Japan gov't taxes. Low fuel surcharge in J/F.
60k
miles
+ $50-130

Atmos Rewards

US to Japan via JAL

Atmos √ó JAL J to Japan: 60k West Coast / 75k East Coast. Legendary value.

Low fuel surchargesWorth a search
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Atmos Rewards award engine for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Reality check
    Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
75k
miles

Fly on Cathay Pacific

Oneworld
1 way to book · from 75k miles

Atmos Rewards

US to Asia via Cathay (Japan / Korea routes)

Atmos × Cathay J on Asia routes — chart-computed by distance band.

Low fuel surchargesWorth a search
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Atmos Rewards award engine for Cathay Pacific Asia Miles-operated flights.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Reality check
    Space is mixed. Worth a search; don't transfer until you see live availability.
75k
miles

Fly on American Airlines

Oneworld
2 ways to book · from 90k miles

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

AA long-haul

Strong for complex long-haul J with stopovers. Online booking is partial - some routings need a phone call.

Low fuel surcharges
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles award engine for American AAdvantage-operated flights.
  • Routing rules
    Multi-carrier oneworld itineraries are supported, including stopovers.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $10–80 in cash fees per direction. Low fuel surcharges + gov't taxes. Higher on premium long-haul.
90k
miles
+ $10-80

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

AA long-haul (round-trip)

Solid long-haul J round-trip when AA J availability lines up both ways.

No fuel surchargesHas hoopsApproximate
How to book this →
  • Where to search
    Search on the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank award engine for American AAdvantage-operated flights.
  • Routing rules
    Round-trip required.
  • Inventory requirement
    Needs saver-class space on the operating airline. If it's closed, the redemption isn't bookable at this rate.
  • Cash co-pay
    Expect roughly $12–60 in cash fees per direction. ~$5.60 each direction (RT required). No fuel surcharges on AA metal.
80k-100k
miles
+ $12-60