Let me share with you guys my experience and hope this helps. So I currently have the JAL DC Club-A Mastercard and the JAL MUFG AMEX Platinum but I started with a JAL DC Navi Card for students and then changed to a normal JAL Card after I became a salaryman.
Along the way, I regretted that I didn't get the JAL Card Club & TopQ. (Please take note that the Club & TopQ JMB Card is different as this card earns less miles per spend). What's nice about this card? You get all the standard benefits of a JAL branded credit card like the following:
1. 100Yen = 1 Mile conversion (need to sign up for Shopping Mile Premium-for an annual fee)
2. Up to 5000 Miles bonus on first flight after card sign up
3. Up to 2000 Miles bonus annually on first JAL flight
4. Receive double miles on JAL Partner shops/restaurants
5. Discounts when availing services from any JAL group of companies
6. Less miles when exchanging for award tickets
Other benefits:
1. Be able to earn 100% mileage accrual even when purchasing discounted fares by signing up for JAL Card Tour Premium (for an annual fee).
Note: FOPs towards status is exempted from this benefit. You get the corresponing FOP based on your booking class.
2. JMB Waon Charge --> currently only works with Mastercard/Visa and not AMEX. This is the reason why I still keep my JAL Mastercard. 100Yen = 1 mile conversion when charging. When using, up to 100 Yen = 2 miles depending on the establishment.
3. Pasmo Charge (Auto Charge) --> you can also earn miles unlike Suica where you can't
4. Earn more miles when shopping via Amazon / Yahoo / Rakuten Japan sites. For Amazon should be via the JMB website. For Yahoo and Rakuten should be via Top&Net Mall site which you can exchange to JMB miles. You should be able to read Japanese to do this.
5. This is the biggest advantage of this card --> While you earn miles for you spending, you get to earn Tokyu Points as well at the same time at Tokyu Group Companies/Partner Stores --> anything that has the Tokyu Brand (hotels, supermarkets, department stores, Tokyu Hands, etc)
Conversion 100 yen = 3pts / 2 pts / 1 pt which you can convert to JMB miles. 200 points = 100 miles
As for the AMEX Platinum, the only advantage I can think of would be 100 yen = 4 miles when purchasing JAL air tickets aside from the standard insurance coverage and higher credit limit.
As for being a foreigner, I didn't have any difficulty applying for any cc but I guess that depends on luck. Only thing to note is that the application forms are all in Japanese so you might need assistance when filling up. A hanko/stamp is also important as they put more importance on this over than your signature. As what the others have advised on this thread, start on the basic card and upgrade it after a year or two or after you reach 50K FOPs.
It would be nice to have a master thread for mile accruals but not sure if I am the right person as we need the mod to set the guidelines. I can surely help if needed...
