When exactly does JAL join OneWorld this year?
 

thanks if you can trip me. I searched the website, but could not pin it down.

It hasn't been confirmed yet. But most people say either April or Mid Year (June?).

No one knows.

And neither JL nor Oneworld are saying; probably because JL cannot join until all the systems work and a lot remains to be done. The earliest possible date is April 1 -- we know this to be true as EI is leaving Oneworld on March 31st because EI refused to spend the money to update its IT systems to be compatible with JL.

Has JL at least recognized oneworld elites; allowing them to check in first or business class counters and granting lounge access? I remember when SWISS was in the process of joining oneworld, they granted access to oneworld elite members.

I know as far as earning miles on the soon to be oneworld carriers, that won't happen until they're actually in.

Unless of course JAL is already a partner. They're partners with AAdvantage at least.

Don't think so.

According to Unimatrix One's post today on the JAL board (here), it's April 1.

It's April 1st
 

Today, 1st Feb, JAL finally announced its Joining to Oneworld on 1st April.
JAL's web site states:

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


About Elite Status:

Emerald =
JMB Diamond (100,000+ FOP, or 120+ flights) or
JGC Premier (JGC member with 70,000+ FOP, or 80+ flights)

Sapphire =
JMB Sapphire (50,000 FOP, or 15,000 FOP with 50+ flights) or
JGC Sapphire (JGC member with JMB Sapphire status)
JGC member with 20,000 FOP in previous year.

Ruby =
JMB Crystal (30,000 FOP, or 10,000 FOP with 30+ flights) or
JGC member

FOP = Fly On Point = 1 points for international flight/2 points for Japan Domestic flight.
JGC = JAL Global Club, Annual fee based credit card.

JGC Premier is one of easiest OW emeralds to get, isn't it ?

Interesting that the JL joining announcement describes Emerald lounge access as just "lounge access" and not "F lounge access".

Also interesting are the Malev and Royal Jordanian logos on the page. (Unless I have missed a previous announcement that they were to join on April 1st too.)

So now that JAL is in OneWorld can I get my 9K miles in the JMB program into something a little more useful? I'm typically a NW flyer.

Is this the most confusing programme ever created? Or are they in a transition process where they are not wanting to alienate customers and therefore allowing some lower tier members enhanced benefits just for the first year?

Not quite sure what you mean, but if your question is whether you can transfer them to another program, the answer is no. I don't know anything about JL redemption levels, but 9K is probably too low to do anything useful with. And if you fly NW, then you won't be able to add to your mileage either.

Does anyone know about the EQM and EQP for JAL and AA if I take JAL but I want to have the mileage to AA?
On AA.com, I only see mileage accrual, but no EQM and EQP info.