Aug 4, 2015, 1:37 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: Prospero

GUIDE to redeeming AA miles for Japan Air Lines awards:

JL awards are now shown show and can be booked on aa.com
AwardNexus (free to FlyerTalk members for basic searches) will also reveal, and (for a fee) alert, on JL award seats
AA awards on JL must be MileSAAver (AAnytime awards are only available on AA marketed and AA operated flights)
There are no onerous fuel or carrier-imposed surcharges using AAdvantage miles for awards using JL
JL initially releases awards to AAvantage members 330 days out at 10:00 am JST time (18:00 PDT, 17:00 PST). Note, JL award inventory is released to members of other FFPs 360 day out and updates award and revenue seat award availability once daily ~09:30-12:00 Pacific time
JL may release 0-2 F and 0-4 J award seats initially; until taken they remain available up to three months from release
No further seats are likely to be released until shortly (~14 days) prior to scheduled departure - but the last F seat will be retained for sale, not released into award inventory
No stopovers are allowed on AA awards. Connections may be as long as 23:59.
Only JAL Mileage Bank members can waitlist awards
All awards for domestic Japan will default to Economy (including international F or J award with domestic segments); these can often be upgraded at reasonable cost at the ticket counter in the Japan connecting airport
If JL & QF are showing availability, but AA can't see it, try calling the Australia AA center as it may be a point-of-sale issue

For 2012-2015 posts, please see
ARCHIVE: AA Award on JL / JAL / Japan Airlines (master thd)

For further information, see:
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on

AAdvantage Award on JL / JAL / Japan Airlines (2016-2023)

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Dec 14, 2023, 2:45 pm

#2926

moondog

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Dec 2000

Location: Shanghai

Posts: 42,041

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJeffrey

Not much you can do other than keep checking. You probably won't see much movement until about 2 weeks before departure. It goes without saying but check just the gateways to TYO (i.e. DFW-HND, LAX-HND, etc.) and go from there if you find something.

Far out inventory can be hard to come by, but IME they reliably release a lot more close in. You just need to be a little flexible with dates and specific routes. Another thing to consider is that you might need AA sever inventory to get to/from the JL gateway...or buy a separate ticket.

I've now completed my flights this week and, my assumption about being able to find food at HND the night before, was my only major screw up. Lesson learned for next time.

Dec 14, 2023, 2:58 pm

#2927

WannaTheater

Join Date: Sep 2009

Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Platinum

Posts: 1,450

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondog

Three of my 4 flight I need to get repositioned to/from for next year have no T or U inventory. Perhaps they will open up later. To be safe, I purchased 1 ticket (JFK-CLT-TPA), used Delta points for another (TPA-BOS), and will be rental-car-one-way driving home for the third (MIA-TPA).
Point being- you need to be flexible... even for far out bookings, as saver space (for me) has been hard to come by.

Last edited by WannaTheater; Dec 14, 2023 at 5:05 pm

Dec 14, 2023, 5:00 pm

#2928

joejones

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: TYO / WAS / NYC

Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me

Posts: 4,597

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondog

I've now completed my flights this week and, my assumption about being able to find food at HND the night before, was my only major screw up. Lesson learned for next time.

Airport Garden next time.

moondog likes this.

Dec 14, 2023, 6:18 pm

#2929

percysmith

Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau

Join Date: May 2009

Location: HKG

Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member

Posts: 19,803

Quote:

Originally Posted by joejones

Airport Garden next time.

Close at 9pm/10pm?

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/han...t-garden/69831

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/restau...an-loves-curry

Dec 14, 2023, 6:33 pm

#2930

joejones

Join Date: Mar 2007

Location: TYO / WAS / NYC

Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me

Posts: 4,597

At least the Villa Fontaine's restaurant and lounge are open all night and there's also a 24 hour convenience store with the usual array of food items. Possibly a few other late night options as well.

Dec 14, 2023, 6:57 pm

#2931

CMTinPHL

Join Date: Jul 2008

Location: PHL

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 538

Quote:

Originally Posted by joejones

+1

I had a good experience using the Villa Fontaine as a base when I had a 20 hour layover at HND. Also used the Lawson’s as well.

moondog likes this.

Jan 13, 2024, 11:20 pm

#2932

JY1024

Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz

Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: BOS

Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 10,418

Archiving the older posts in this thread. For more recent discussion, please refer to the active thread here: AAdvantage Award on JL / JAL / Japan Airlines (master thread)

Thanks! /Moderator

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