Until last year, Japan Airlines' JAL Mileage Bank program was the best way to redeem miles for Emirates first class. That's because they didn't impose fuel surcharges for award redemptions on Emirates, and had an extremely lucrative distance based award chart. For example, a roundtrip first class award between New York and Dubai would cost…
Continue reading: Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank One-Way Awards
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Was looking for HKG-USM on Thai Airways, so this is great news. Unfortunately, wasn't able to find any award availability for all of Dec 2014 when I called into JAL. Any idea if they just haven't released award space yet?
@ Tony -- Thai Airways is unfortunately really stingy with releasing award space to Koh Samui. There's a chance they'll release more, though I wouldn't count on it since they don't have much service there and December is a fairly busy time.
Do they allow mixed OW/non-OW routings and do they have any rules other than 8 segments? Can you combine multiple trips within a one year timeframe into one award so long as it's 8 segments or fewer?
@ Justin -- You can't combine oneworld with non-oneworld carriers. You can mix oneworld carriers, though if you do a partner award you can't mix airlines.
Looks like it, http://www.jal.co.jp/121campaign/pg_discount/index_en.html .
Do you know how to search for award space Lucky?
What about one way awards using JL miles on JL metal? Did that rule change as well or is this only for partners?
@ italdesign -- If the carriers impose fuel surcharges on revenue tickets then JAL passes them on for awards.
In looking at the JAL website, JAL metal-only redemptions remain subject to the old rule of round-trip redemptions only (or, more specifically, one-way redemptions are permitted but at the same price as round-trip.
@Kane - Thanks for the clarification and just to satisfy my own curiosity, I called JMB and they did confirm that the new policy does not apply to JL metal.
Lucky, does JL charge YQ surcharges on their own metal award flights to the US using AA miles? For ex, NRT->JFK using AA miles?
Lucky, their yq charge in j/f is obscene about $1500 to asia/africa/me... also what number do you use to call JAL to redeem please? thanks
@ CDO -- The phone number is 1-800-JAL-FONE, though Mileage Bank only has standard business hours.
Lucky, since SPG points don't transfer immediately to JMB will they hold your reservation on emirates metal award or is it a gamble? Thx
Actually the YQ is not that brutal down in the far east and down under. Only bad YQ I spotted was SIN-MLE at $432.20. How difficult is it to find JAL Emirates FC HKG-BKK-SYD-AKL? And what is the difference in redemption FC vs Suites?
But another diamond in the rough post............
@ JustSaying -- Shouldn't be too tough to find space for one person with a bit of flexibility. Emirates only has first class, which are fully enclosed suites. There's not a separate "suites" cabin.
Lucky, I can see award space for a JAL flight on JAL and also for the same flight on British Airways, then I go to AA to book and the flight doesn't show up. I even checked all award levels just to make sure? any ideas, Do I have to call AA to request the JAL flight?