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Definitive "Booking Japan Airlines (JL) Using AS Miles" Thread - 2019 and Earlier

Old Dec 6, 2016, 7:53 pm
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Last edit by: DoubleWidesFly
Wiki for using AS (Alaska) miles on JL (Japan Airlines)

All awards for domestic Japan will default to Economy (including international F or J award with domestic segments)
However, these can often be upgraded at reasonable cost at the ticket counter in the Japan connecting airport

Award Chart If not listed it's not available - EXCEPTION: Hawaii-Asia awards are bookable, not yet on the chart, at the same prices as Continental U.S.-Asia
(as of March 2017, Premium Economy is no longer available)
(As of October 2019, stopovers are no longer allowed on intra Asia awards)
Class of Service One-way Round-trip

U.S./Canada to Asia
Coach 35,000 70,000
Premium 40,000 80,000
Business 60,000 120,000
First 70,000 140,000

U.S./Canada to Southeast Asia
Coach 40,000 80,000
Premium 45,000 90,000
Business 65,000 130,000
First 75,000 150,000

Intra Asia
Coach 15,000 30,000
Premium 17,500 35,000
Business 25,000 50,000
First 30,000 60,000


International gateways
All AS valid destinations from Tokyo (HND/NRT), Osaka (KIX) or Nagoya (NGO).
PUS, GMP, ICN, DLC, PVG, SHA, PEK, TSA, TPE, KHH, CAN, HKG, MNL, HAN, SGN, BKK, SIN, KUL, CGK, DEL, HNL, KOA, YVR, SEA, SFO, LAX, SAN, ORD, DFW, BOS, JFK

USA

Boston - BOS
Chicago - ORD
Dallas - DFW
Honolulu - HNL
Kona -KOA
Los Angeles - LAX
New York - JFK
San Diego - SAN
San Francisco - SFO
Seattle - SEA

Canada
Vancouver - YVR

Asia

Delhi - DEL
Tokyo - HND & NRT
Osaka - KIX
Nagoya - NGO
Busan - PUS
Seoul - Gimpo GMP
Seoul - Incheon ICN


Southeast Asia or listed as SE based on how awards are pricing
Bangkok - BKK
Beijing - PEK
Dalian - DLC
Guangzhou - CAN
Hanoi - HAN
Ho Chi Minh City - SGN
Hong Kong - HKG
Jakarta - CGK
Kaohsiung - KHH
Kuala Lumpur - KUL
Manila - MNL
Shanghai - Hongqiao - SHA
Shanghai - Pudong - PVG
Singapore - SIN
Taipei - TPE
Taipei - Songshan - TSA
Tianjin - TSN (only from Nagoya, not very useful....)
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Definitive "Booking Japan Airlines (JL) Using AS Miles" Thread - 2019 and Earlier

Old Mar 14, 2019, 1:07 am
  #736  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward


Unless OP is flying on dates where SFO-PHX is available seasonally (basically “baseball spring training”), OP is looking at something like LAX-PDX/SEA-SFO. That’s probably 6-8 hours of additional flying and connection times for a flight that’s 1 hour out of LAX. Flying might be fun for you but I’d probably buy the positioning flight like OP suggests instead enjoying gormay polenta and kale for most of a day after a longhaul flight. If OP buys an AA flight they even get acces to AA/OW F lounges per OW lounge policy (not true for AS flights).
You are right, kale & polenta are gourmet. I eat everything on my plate and the garnishes too whether that be raw kale, lemon or lime wedges including the peel or orchids.

The OP was under the impression that he could not fly AS metal if he redeemed a partner award. I was pointing out that he could. What works for the OP is not for me or you to decide but allowing the OP to make an informed decision on options is always better.

As far as lounge access, the Admirals Club membership with the Citi AAdvantage Executive Credit Card grants me access to the AA Flagship First lounge at LAX when arriving in F on a OW award even when connecting to AS and grants access to the SFO Admirals Club when arriving or departing on AS. SFO is not particularly friendly with getting airside access to all the terminals.

My flight SFO-PHX tonight was fully booked.

James in Phoenix.
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 8:45 am
  #737  
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Really? You flash the Admirals Club credit card (Flagship Lounge access isn’t included with that membership; access is entirely status and class of service based) plus a boarding pass, and you get into the dining lounge? Thet’s rather surprising given that doesn’t seem to agree with the OW lounge access rules for arrival access preceding flights (depends on class of service for preceding flights, onward flight must be on OW, AS isn’t Oneworld).
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 9:27 am
  #738  
 
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
Really? You flash the Admirals Club credit card (Flagship Lounge access isn’t included with that membership; access is entirely status and class of service based) plus a boarding pass, and you get into the dining lounge? Thet’s rather surprising given that doesn’t seem to agree with the OW lounge access rules for arrival access preceding flights (depends on class of service for preceding flights, onward flight must be on OW, AS isn’t Oneworld).
I wasn't expecting access but while checking in with the CC I mentioned that I had just arrived from HKG in CX F, showed her my boarding pass and was granted access to Flagship First. I wasn't asked about onward travel.

We also accessed the Flagship First Lounge when Flying CX J LAX-HKG last month.

James in Phoenix
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 9:33 am
  #739  
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This is good to know. Always worth a shot.

The strange thing is, whem dealing with AA lounges in the past, they have always just scanned my boarding pass and the computer told them what to do. In one case (SFO) they actually thought I didn't get access, but they scanned the BP and the computer said yes, so they let me in. But I've never tried for Flagship F, just Admiral's club in SFO and DFW (my AA experience is... somewhat limited)
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 12:06 pm
  #740  
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Originally Posted by Flying for Fun
I wasn't expecting access but while checking in with the CC I mentioned that I had just arrived from HKG in CX F, showed her my boarding pass and was granted access to Flagship First. I wasn't asked about onward travel.
OK, there's the Flagship Lounge, and Flagship First Dining. Just to be clear, two lounges (FFD is a room inside the FL at LAX, you actually get a separate invitation for that). It's a sit-down restaurant where you order comparable to CX's Pier F restaurant at HKG.

I would expect that CX/JL J would get you into the Flagship Lounge on an XXX-LAX-HKG itinerary. Them's the rules (it's your outbound segment, you get any OW J lounge based on class of service by flying longhaul OW J, the FL is a OW J lounge just like the one QF runs in TBIT).

The part about CX F (and maybe JL F?) allowing you into LAX's Flagship Lounge or Flagship First Dining without an onward OW flight on HKG-LAX(CX)-XXX(AS) (was it FFD or the FL?) is interesting and noteworthy. I would sure go to the FL or FFD after a CX F flight, instead of the Alaska Lounge with salad, soup and cheese cubes. I rather enjoyed FFD on my AA F redemption on AS miles (pre last devaluation). The shower room for the Flagship Lounge is also just the ticket after a long flight.

I actually don't think the FFD+ FL shower rooms at LAX are THAT much behind CX Pier F, though I rather like the decor CX offers a bit more, and the fact you have private rooms (the Retreat).

Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 14, 2019 at 12:19 pm
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 2:39 pm
  #741  
 
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
OK, there's the Flagship Lounge, and Flagship First Dining. Just to be clear, two lounges (FFD is a room inside the FL at LAX, you actually get a separate invitation for that). It's a sit-down restaurant where you order comparable to CX's Pier F restaurant at HKG.

I would expect that CX/JL J would get you into the Flagship Lounge on an XXX-LAX-HKG itinerary. Them's the rules (it's your outbound segment, you get any OW J lounge based on class of service by flying longhaul OW J, the FL is a OW J lounge just like the one QF runs in TBIT).

The part about CX F (and maybe JL F?) allowing you into LAX's Flagship Lounge or Flagship First Dining without an onward OW flight on HKG-LAX(CX)-XXX(AS) (was it FFD or the FL?) is interesting and noteworthy. I would sure go to the FL or FFD after a CX F flight, instead of the Alaska Lounge with salad, soup and cheese cubes. I rather enjoyed FFD on my AA F redemption on AS miles (pre last devaluation). The shower room for the Flagship Lounge is also just the ticket after a long flight.

I actually don't think the FFD+ FL shower rooms at LAX are THAT much behind CX Pier F, though I rather like the decor CX offers a bit more, and the fact you have private rooms (the Retreat).
Thank you. OK. This is bit too much to parse through but... I have an outbound LAX-HKG(F)-BOM(J) in Jan 2020 and was not able to find PHX-SEA-LAX or PHX-PDX-LAX in F/J to connect to LAX, so in the interest of time and hassle I am resigned to buying a Y on either PHX-LAX (AA) or PHX-LAX (WN since I might have one check in this time). I have no status with anyone What are the chances that I will find a PHX-LAX (AS seasonal) at saver level F/J if I am ready to pay the $125 change fee closer to flying date? And.. in any of the previous three option which lounge access can I expect in LAX without a credit card privilege?
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 2:43 pm
  #742  
 
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Originally Posted by Flying for Fun
Alaska awards include AS flights to/from the US gateway. You awards cannot mix partners so AS LAX/SFO to PHX on AS metal is possible with a JL award redemption. I am in the JL F lounge in Haneda now for my JL F award HND-SFO-PHX.

James in Tokyo
Thanks. Your SFO-PHX is AS? I was not able to see any saver options when I was looking. Is there just SFO-PHX (AS) or there is also LAX-PHX (AS)? I will look too. I think I will end up paying a change fee inbound/outbound. Either that or I will need to buy the feeder flights PHX-LAX and inbound (SFO/PHX or LAX/PHX) when I book the main part DEL-NRT... NRT-HND/SFO/LAX.
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 4:27 pm
  #743  
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Originally Posted by FT-hss
What are the chances that I will find a PHX-LAX (AS seasonal) at saver level F/J if I am ready to pay the $125 change fee closer to flying date?
Zero chance. AS only flies SFO-LAX seasonally, during baseball spring training (so March). No PHX-LAX. The route has five carriers on it: AA, DL, WN and UA, a ton of frequencies, so it's unlikely AS is going to voluntarily put itself in front of a buzzsaw.

IMO it's nuts to go PHX-SFO-LAX and spend 3-6 hours connecting (and through an airport like SFO where shorthaul flights regularly get whacked by ATC holds) on one ticket to save $100, even if it IS available (it is most certainly not guaranteed to be). Buy the positioning flight and be done with it. If you buy it on WN and by some miracle AS starts flying LAX-PHX and you get a saver segment on your award, you can even cancel the WN ticket and have a year to use the funds on another flight. Just be sure to add some padding for the connection.

Originally Posted by FT-hss
And.. in any of the previous three option which lounge access can I expect in LAX without a credit card privilege?
The AA Flagship Lounge in T4 or the Qantas First Lounge in Tom Bradley International Terminal are the best lounges you would have access to. Your entry privileges are based on your JL F longhaul flight from LAX. I don't know if your get Flagship First Dining (I believe it's AA F only). Might as well ask?

Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 14, 2019 at 5:20 pm
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 4:47 pm
  #744  
 
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
The AA Flagship Lounge in T4 or the Qantas First Lounge in Tom Bradley International Terminal are the best lounges you would have access to. Your entry privileges are based on your CX F longhaul flight from LAX. I don't know if your get Flagship First Dining (I believe it's AA F only). Might as well ask?
Correct, no CX access to Flagship Dining at LAX (CX does get Flagship Dining at JFK only). Of course it never hurts to ask if you're already there.
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 5:21 pm
  #745  
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Originally Posted by rustykettel
Correct, no CX access to Flagship Dining at LAX (CX does get Flagship Dining at JFK only). Of course it never hurts to ask if you're already there.
And I forgot this is the JL thread so Ż\_(ツ)_/Ż if you can use a JL F BP to get into FFD (my post is corrected). But QF F lounge should be fine.
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 6:35 pm
  #746  
 
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
And I forgot this is the JL thread so Ż\_(ツ)_/Ż if you can use a JL F BP to get into FFD (my post is corrected). But QF F lounge should be fine.
OK I confused myself.. I think I should ask this on the CX board. My outbound is CX. I think I will have access to CX-F but are you saying I could alternatively use QF-F? I have already experienced the CX-F lounge previously (I forget if it was SFO or LAX)..

Last edited by FT-hss; Mar 14, 2019 at 6:39 pm Reason: Confused myself...
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 7:25 pm
  #747  
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CX does not have a lounge in LAX, just SFO. The QF F lounge in LAX serves JL/CX/BA F passengers, though Oneworld emeralds and AA Flagship F passengers can also access it.
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Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 15, 2019 at 12:21 pm
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 7:56 pm
  #748  
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward
CX does not have a lounge in LAX, just SFO. The QF F lounge in LAX serves JL/CX/BA F passengers, though hybrile Oneworld emeralds and AA Flagship F passengers can also access it.
So with my JL F award ticket, can I access the QF lounge in SFO? Is the food better than at the Sakura lounge?
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Old Mar 14, 2019, 8:02 pm
  #749  
 
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Originally Posted by skimthetrees
How bad do you want to go and how many miles do you have? Alaska does this BS blocking of flights near the end of schedule, especially premium cabins. Really the AS schedule mostly looks out about 325 days for premium cabin JL one-way. I can get AS to show me coach one-way through 2/5 (330 days) by searching one-way w/miles DEL-LAX 2/3/20 and then click on 2/5 from the results but you do not want coach. If you wait a few days the February dates will come into the range of being released from the AS blocking. Of course, some of the availability may be taken by other programs by then. There is a hack you can use to get what you want now. Considering AS does not admit they are blocking (even though they are) you can use the following hack. You need to search for a round trip. If you search for a round trip where the outbound is outside the AS blocking window then you can see availability for the return inside the AS blocking window. The play here is to book a reverse round-trip then cancel the outbound within the 24 hour free change window.

How does this work? Say you are looking for DEL-LAX one-way on 2/5, search a round-trip from LAX-DEL/DEL-LAX with the outbound a couple of weeks earlier to be outside the AS blocking window so maybe LAX-DEL on 1/22 and DEL-LAX return on 3/5. Book it, call AS and tell them you no longer need the LAX-DEL and to drop it from the reservation leaving you with DEL-LAX on 3/5 in J/F. Of course you must have extra miles to book a round-trip to get this strategy to work but you will get them back almost immediately.

But wait, it gets better! You do not have to book a complete round-trip. A multi-city trip with an outbound from LAX-TYO and the return DEL-LAX is enough. This way you can play with a few less miles for the initial booking. Book LAX-TYO in Y and DEL-LAX in J/F then within the 24 hour free change window call and drop the LAX-TYO segment.
Brilliant.. thanks! I tried this and then also as I was seeing the return flight I plugged in straight (non-multi) DEL-LAX and they are available to on multiple days with the J+F combo. Now my question is can I break them up and have a > 24 (longer) stop in Tokyo? When I put in individually in multi-city Feb 1 DEL-NRT and Feb 3 NRT-LAX nothing shows up. Has anyone tried feeding the AS agent a married segment flight A-B and couple days later another married segment flight B-C to make up A-B-C and still keep the J+F since they are available as married flights on day 1 and day 3 since a stopover is allowed? If not I will just take the through J+F flight and shut up and count my blessings
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Old Mar 15, 2019, 12:26 pm
  #750  
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Originally Posted by VegasGambler
So with my JL F award ticket, can I access the QF lounge in SFO? Is the food better than at the Sakura lounge?
QF is contracting with AF for their lounge, so I doubt they'll let you in under OW access rules (contract lounges where it's a particular OW airline providing access to their pax don't have to follow OW lounge access rules).

A JL F BP should get you access to the Sakura lounge, the BA lounge, the CX lounge if going by OW lounge access rules. I've gone to the BA lounge waiting for CX flights (because the CX/JL lounge ghetto @ SFO is quite inconveniently placed for actually waiting for your flight; very far away from the gates compared to BA's lounge). BA's lounge may or may not be open though (it was open for me because they were hosting KE passengers; I waved the CX F BP and went in).

As an aside, SFO would probably be a great place for a joint OW lounge for BA/QF/CX/JL... CX's is probably nicest. If they could have a larger lounge with a nice F section, and put it where BA's lounge is...

Last edited by eponymous_coward; Mar 15, 2019 at 12:34 pm
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