Unimatrix One

The latest issue of Agora (the magazine for JAL Global Club members) arrived today, with details on JAL's entry into the Oneworld alliance. JAL officially enters Oneworld on April 1, 2007. Here are some quick facts:

JAL flyers with elite status who are not JAL Global Club members will have the following Oneworld status:

1. JMB Crystal members will have "Ruby" status in Oneworld

2. JMB Sapphire members will have "Sapphire" status in Oneworld

3. JMB Diamond members will have "Emerald" status in Oneworld


JAL Global Club members will have the following Oneworld status:

1. Oneworld Ruby status if they earn fewer than 20,000 Fly On points in a calendar year

2. Oneworld Sapphire status if they earn more than 20,000 Fly On points (and fly at least 4 segments on JAL group flights) in a calendar year

3. Oneworld Emerald status if they have at least JGC Premier status (requiring at least 70,000 Fly On points in a calendar year)


Flights on Oneworld partners on "qualifying fares" (not sure exactly what that means) will qualify toward JAL status (i.e. they will earn Fly On points).

Strangely, I cannot find any announcement on the JAL website. Maybe they're informing JGC members first via the magazine.

Sorry, that's all I have time to post for now! Feel free to add anything I've missed.

Nippon_UK

Hi,

For JGC-->Sapphire status, did it not say:
前年20,000FLY ONポイント以上かつJALグループ搭乗４回以上

which would mean you need to fly 20,000 points AND 4 segments? (not or)

Nippon_UK

Moomba

Someone posted on the OW forum

http://www.jal.co.jp/en/jmb/oneworld/

mosburger

Yep, looks like "ijyo".

fumitani

Reading it with JGC. It's 20000 Fly On Points plus 4kai ijyo on JAL.

Maybe I should call JMB

AlexS

According to the Japanese guys in my office, it's definitely AND--20,000 points and more than 4 segments.

fumitani

I don't like this devaluation of JGC, but I guess it forces people to fly more Hopefully when flying on JL flights using JGC they will still allow benefits like it has for the past 10+ years to continue

sipples

It can't be a devaluation because, at present, JGC members don't get anything on oneworld carriers, regardless of flight activity. Actually I'm pleasantly surprised.

Unimatrix One

You are right! I was in such a hurry I did not bother to read the explanation carefully enough!

I will edit my post...

Unimatrix One

I don't see how it is a devaluation (?) All the existing JGC benefits are still there.

sipples

I'm quite amused that a JAL Global Club member with a mere 20,000 FLY ON points and 4 JAL flights gets access to AA's AAdmirals Clubs when flying any AA route. However, AA's Executive Platinums (top tier elites) cannot enter their own airline's lounges without first paying a substantial membership fee.

How funny.

hauteboy

Actually that's pretty standard for Oneworld/AA; AA elites can use other member lounges, but can't use Admirals Clubs (unless flying internationally).

Black Adder

On NRT-ORD yesterday, they had a presentation on the video screen about JAL joining Oneworld but of course I didn't have my headphone on so missed the audio.

KIXman

They had a video too on the flight from KIX to BKK yesterday. I missed the start, but basically the explanation was about how JMB status levels match up with those in Oneworld, as well as how JAL joining would result in easier connections etc. etc.

Unimatrix One

I wonder if US-based JGC members also get free Admirals Club access after only 20,000 Fly On points. If so, that would be a huge loophole for getting out of paying the Admirals Club fee. One could just credit all their AA flying to their JAL account to get the 20,000 Fly On points and get free Admirals Club access without ever setting foot on a JAL plane.

Most FF programs are designed to prevent US-based FFs from getting free lounge access. (Example: NW gives Asia-based Gold and Platinum Elites free Worldclub access but does not give access to US-based elites.) I wonder if JGC will have any such provisions...