JAL Mileage Bank - JAL mileage run?

Just curious, anyone here planning to do a JAL mileage run this year to obtain/maintain their JMB status?

Not yet sure, but right now I'm flying about half of what I did over the past two years and so it looks I might have some problems just attaining Sapphire.
For a mileage run, is there anything better on JAL and Oneworld partners than the Osaka-Tokyo flight? (1020 points or 1360 points depending on fare)

I've seen a few Japanese MR sites focus on the HND-OKA route, but I am not sure whether it is really more cost-effective.

I've seen a few Japanese MR sites focus on the HND-OKA route, but I am not sure whether it is really more cost-effective.

It should be more cost effective if you are Tokyo based as I checked on JAL website,

Sept travel
HND CTS 12000 - 24300
HND OKA 15000 - 25800

And Random pick from sept
HND OSA cheapest is 9100 yen

So for approx the same price you fly almost double the distance which is quite nice, might nicer when you compare it with OSA

Not yet sure, but right now I'm flying about half of what I did over the past two years and so it looks I might have some problems just attaining Sapphire.
For a mileage run, is there anything better on JAL and Oneworld partners than the Osaka-Tokyo flight? (1020 points or 1360 points depending on fare)

That's the only promotion I have ever seen. And I don't even qualify for it :( I am ~6000 shorts this year for Sapphire if I force myself to cut my vacation short and fly back to the US before the end of year. If i don't want to cut my vacation, I would need an extra ~13000 fly on points...It's just so difficult to come up with a good deal for mileage run in the US. The best I can come up with is 3 times LAX-JFK on AA or fly to Okinawa on JAL (LAX-NRT/HND-OKA-FUK-NRT-LAX) :( And time is running out...

That's the only promotion I have ever seen. And I don't even qualify for it :( I am ~6000 shorts this year for Sapphire if I force myself to cut my vacation short and fly back to the US before the end of year. If i don't want to cut my vacation, I would need an extra ~13000 fly on points...It's just so difficult to come up with a good deal for mileage run in the US. The best I can come up with is 3 times LAX-JFK on AA or fly to Okinawa on JAL (LAX-NRT/HND-OKA-FUK-NRT-LAX) :( And time is running out...

I would say it depends on if you have your JAL flights on JAL hardware in. If you've done the 4 flights, I'd go ahead and do some good ol' AA mile runs (I believe your based out of LAX). I did a few JFK/LAX and JFK/Portland runs when there was some super saver fares floating around.

Unfortunately being in the states and JAL minimum stay rule makes it hard to do NRT/JFK mile runs on the weekend ;)

I feel for you though. I know I'm not making Sapphire this year, and even Crystal is dubious with me losing my job in the middle of the year. Good thing I did the miles last year to get JGC.

I would say it depends on if you have your JAL flights on JAL hardware in. If you've done the 4 flights, I'd go ahead and do some good ol' AA mile runs (I believe your based out of LAX). I did a few JFK/LAX and JFK/Portland runs when there was some super saver fares floating around.

Unfortunately being in the states and JAL minimum stay rule makes it hard to do NRT/JFK mile runs on the weekend ;)

I feel for you though. I know I'm not making Sapphire this year, and even Crystal is dubious with me losing my job in the middle of the year. Good thing I did the miles last year to get JGC.

Sorry to hear you have lost your job. IMHO the money you spent last year are well justified, especially after the two JFK-NRT op-up's you got ;)

Yes I am based out of LAX. I have taken care of the 4 JAL flights requirement. Right now the 3 AA LAX-JFK flights would costs roughly $750 and the cheapest Okinawa flight I found on JAL website is around $800...That's why I am tempted to do the OKA MR (and I would rather give the money to JAL :D) But I am still looking around to see if there are better options...

But I am still looking around to see if there are better options...

ANA?

(ducks)

ANA?

(ducks)

Seriously...they are. But I am not changing my name to ANAPak :p

The cheap Y fare will give me 70% miles vs JAL's 50%. Instead of buying a $700 LAX-HKG ticket I have to spend $960 to get 70% miles. And ANA's ticket comes with a free stopover in Japan. :(

And ANA actually gives elite the PY seats as long as it is available at check in, something JMB has yet to offer

Sorry to hear you have lost your job. IMHO the money you spent last year are well justified, especially after the two JFK-NRT op-up's you got ;)

Yes I am based out of LAX. I have taken care of the 4 JAL flights requirement. Right now the 3 AA LAX-JFK flights would costs roughly $750 and the cheapest Okinawa flight I found on JAL website is around $800...That's why I am tempted to do the OKA MR (and I would rather give the money to JAL :D) But I am still looking around to see if there are better options...

Indeed!

Is that 800$ for okinawa from LAX? If so, go for it ^

AA is pretty good if you watch for sales from your airport. The trick is to find when they're running some insane discounted fares and then hit them up. They have $89 each way to cancun in early september that I'm looking at :) I like AA as a way to fill in the gaps and also to do one day MR so there's no need for hotel or as to go visit friends and crash on their couch. "Uncle Bill, long time no see! I was thinking I hadn't seen you in years (and no the $50 super saver fares had nothing to do with it) :D "

I need to get one more flight in for my 4 flights requirement on JAL metal. I'm debating using some of the miles I have and the discounts to do an awards flight to tokyo and then take some discounted waribiki flights around Japan to make up the miles difference :p

Indeed!

Is that 800$ for okinawa from LAX? If so, go for it ^

AA is pretty good if you watch for sales from your airport. The trick is to find when they're running some insane discounted fares and then hit them up. They have $89 each way to cancun in early september that I'm looking at :) I like AA as a way to fill in the gaps and also to do one day MR so there's no need for hotel or as to go visit friends and crash on their couch. "Uncle Bill, long time no see! I was thinking I hadn't seen you in years (and no the $50 super saver fares had nothing to do with it) :D "

I need to get one more flight in for my 4 flights requirement on JAL metal. I'm debating using some of the miles I have and the discounts to do an awards flight to tokyo and then take some discounted waribiki flights around Japan to make up the miles difference :p

Yup $800 from LAX. How much was your JFK-LAX flight when it was on sale? $250 is the lowest I have seen (I am routing via SFO to maximize my miles :p)

You can go to OKA too. The OW Yokoshi fare is on sale right now (10% discount on all oneworld fares in all cabin classes for 10 weeks beginning August 26, 2009.) Which means only 9000 yen for ~2000 miles for you one-way :)

Yup $800 from LAX. How much was your JFK-LAX flight when it was on sale? $250 is the lowest I have seen (I am routing via SFO to maximize my miles :p)

You can go to OKA too. The OW Yokoshi fare is on sale right now (10% discount on all oneworld fares in all cabin classes for 10 weeks beginning August 26, 2009.) Which means only 9000 yen for ~2000 miles for you one-way :)

I got a ridiculous fare last fall of like 85$ each way to go to Santa Barbara. So it was JFK->LAX, 2 hour layover at LAX and then a 20 minute flight on a prop to SBA. That flight to SBA was the most amazing flight, the poor steward literally had 20 minutes to get up, serve everyone a beverage, before immediately having to turn around and collect all beverages and trash to prepare for landing. But I did eke out an extra 88 miles for that leg :D

I usually find it's the weird airports that get you deals. Or sometimes if you hit it just right you can take an hour flight an turn it into and all day 4 airport connecting flight for like 20$ more. I had that when I crashed with a friend in Columbus, OH. JFK->Charleston->DFW->Chicago->Columbus It was insane and was like 50$ more than a simple LGA->Columbus route and it took all day. But I got to see all the nice AC lounges ;)

I ended up choosing the LAX-SFO-JFK-SFO-LAX routes. It turns out I only need 2 of this instead of 3 if I route one of my LAX-HKG trips through Osaka (that's an extra 671 FOPs, more if I got a J class seat for the NRT-ITM flight). So the Okainawa trip will be a few hundreds more expensive. Sorry JAL I have to go for AA this time.

If everything goes as planned, I will be crossing the 50000 FOPs line on 12/31. Finger crossed that I didn't make any mistakes in my FOPs calculation :p

Good deal ^

It's like a fun trying to figure it all out. And as you saw, direct is not always the cheapest ;)

If you're worried about making the cut I'd throw in an AA mile run when you see they have a crazy sale from LAX. It's amazing the deals you'll sometimes find :)

Good luck with hitting 50K ^



I ended up choosing the LAX-SFO-JFK-SFO-LAX routes. It turns out I only need 2 of this instead of 3 if I route one of my LAX-HKG trips through Osaka (that's an extra 671 FOPs, more if I got a J class seat for the NRT-ITM flight). So the Okainawa trip will be a few hundreds more expensive. Sorry JAL I have to go for AA this time.

If everything goes as planned, I will be crossing the 50000 FOPs line on 12/31. Finger crossed that I didn't make any mistakes in my FOPs calculation :p

I got a ridiculous fare last fall of like 85$ each way to go to Santa Barbara.

What was the booking class? LAX-JFK is $99 one-way now but it's in O class. Does that qualify for JMB miles?

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/flight/aa.html

Flights between the US/Canada/Caribbean/Mexico and Central/South America booked in “O” class are not eligible for mileage accumulation.