Both All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have long issued co-branded credit cards, which are almost noteworthy for how uncompetitive their value proposition is. We’ve just seen Japan Airlines launch a pair of new cards in the United States, and there’s not much to get excited about, with one exception, as flagged by Doctor of Credit.
In this post:
Details of the JAL USA Cards (Basic & Premium)
The JAL USA Credit Card has both a Basic Rewards and Premium Rewards version, issued by First National Bank of Omaha (that’s an interesting partnership). Let’s cover the details:
- The basic card has a $35 annual fee, the premium card has an $85 annual fee, and in both cases, the fees are waived for the first year
- Both cards have a sign-up bonus of 5,000 miles after spending $5,000, while the premium version offers an extra 5,000 miles if you spend $7,000 within the first three months
- Both cards offer 2x miles on Japan Airlines purchases, the basic card offers 0.5x miles on all other purchases, and the premium card offers 1x miles on all other purchases, all with no foreign transaction fees
- Both cards offer 5% discounts at duty free at Tokyo airports (HND & NRT), and a 10% discount on Japan Airlines inflight purchases, including for Wi-Fi
- Both cards offer 10% bonus miles for each Japan Airlines flight, plus 5,000 bonus miles after your first international flight
- Both cards offer five Japan Airlines Life Status Points for every $1,500 spent; we’ll talk more about this in a bit
It’s kind of hilarious how the credit card space in the United States is so competitive, with massive bonuses, and rewards structures that constantly one-up one another. But then you have the cards issued by both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, which are anything but rewarding. Clearly they’re targeted at ex-pats, or those who are especially loyal to Japanese carriers.
Now, it’s worth noting that Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles can be valuable, and are otherwise hard to earn with transferable points currencies. But still, that’s not a reason to put spending on the card, given the alternatives out there.
Japan Airlines’ intriguing Life Status Points program
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the card is that you can seemingly earn five Life Status Points for every $1,500 spent on the card (at least I assume that’s what’s meant by “shopping miles.”
I’ll be honest, I’m not intimately familiar with the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank program when it comes to earning elite status. However, it appears the program offers the “JAL Global Club” program, whereby you can receive (sort of) lifetime elite status for earning a certain number of Life Status Points.
For example, to become a JGC Three Star member, you’d need to earn at least 1,500 Life Status Points over the course of your membership. If you earn five Life Status Points for every $1,500 spent, that means you’d need to spend $450,000 to unlock this.
You’d then receive that status on an ongoing basis. However, per the terms, if you live outside of Japan, you must pay 2,000 miles at renewal annually, in addition to paying the annual fee on your JAL USA Card.
So, why would you want to earn this status? Well, this unlocks oneworld Sapphire status, meaning you’d get lounge access on all oneworld itineraries, and you’d even get Flagship Lounge access on domestic American itineraries.
Of course this is quite a bit of money to spend, but it’s the only opportunity I really know of in the United States to spend your way to lifetime oneworld Sapphire status, so it’s at least worth noting. Now, if somewhere were interested in pursuing this, I’d say the major consideration is that you need to redeem 2,000 miles per year to maintain this status, and also have to keep your credit card. What happens if the card is discontinued in the future? That’s a risk that’s at least worth factoring in.
Anyway, it’s possible I’m misunderstanding aspects of the program, but I’m certainly intrigued. If anyone is more familiar with the program than I am, please chime in!
Bottom line
The new JAL USA Card has launched, with both a Basic Rewards and Premium Rewards version. As has long been the case for Japanese airline credit cards in the United States, the value proposition isn’t great.
The one thing that potentially makes this interesting is that you can earn Life Status Points, which is sort of like Japan Airlines’ lifetime elite status program. I’m not sure that’s necessarily worth pursuing given the amount of spending required, the opportunity cost, and the risks, but I think it’s at least worth mentioning.
What’s your take on the new JAL USA Card?
First time commenting on this website.
JAL Milage Bank is really only useful if you live in Japan as residents there can earn elite miles and status lot quicker. Read through lot of Japanese travel sites and most have achieved status by flying between Tokyo and Okinawa very frequently.
For many of us living outside Japan, simply put investing in JAL Milage Bank or ANA mileage club simply makes zero sense at all....
First time commenting on this website.
JAL Milage Bank is really only useful if you live in Japan as residents there can earn elite miles and status lot quicker. Read through lot of Japanese travel sites and most have achieved status by flying between Tokyo and Okinawa very frequently.
For many of us living outside Japan, simply put investing in JAL Milage Bank or ANA mileage club simply makes zero sense at all. Best to invest in either other Star Alliance or Oneworld frequent flyer mile and redeem them on JAL or ANA flights.
I did one round trip from JFK to CGK in business class last year to qualify for JGC with double FOP promotion. It cost less than 2K and I was/am very happy with it.
Sadly, last year was the last year when people could do that. You can no longer earn JGC with FOP, only through lifetime points. I also earned JGC with FOP, so I was grandfathered in with 1500 lifetime points this year, but that only applies to people who were already JGC before 2024.
While JAL Life Status Point is accumulated over the years, it is not possible to re-qualify to be a member of JGC if you canceled the card. You need to earn additional 100 LSP to be recognized as JGC after re-issue the card. I think it is pretty low bar as 2 return flight from US west coast to Japan would be enough to earn 100 LSP.
So basically earning 1 instead of 2 points for spend on $450,000... So $4,500 for oneworld sapphire lifetime status. I wouldn't say a good deal, but also... not horrible for lifetime status.
The 1500 shopping miles = 5 Lifetime Points deal isn't necessarily limited to 5 points per 1500 spent; rather you can spend $750 on JAL flight purchases and obtain the same 1500 shopping miles, and thus the 5 Lifetime Points. So, $225,000 spent on JAL flights would meet the threshold just the same.
Guys, Virgin Atlantic flight VIR129R from London to Tampa turned around and declared an emergency. It just landed in London? anyone know what happened
Bumping this - also does anyone know why SQ24 returned to SIN 2 days back? Posters on reddit suspecting fugitive onboard?
I was at LHR as it landed earlier. Met with fire engines and then tug to taxi it. Then sat with tug for ages. Based on flight data looks like pressure loss due to very quick prediction in altitude over 2-3 minutes but then no further rapid and immediate descent and instead a more leisurely and fuel burning return to LHR
This isn’t nearly as good as what’s offered in Japan, where you can earn JGC gold status which translates to one world sapphire by booking on jal with their jal credit card. This is a thing in Japan where people take like dozen HND OKA domestic round trips to earn status and it’s good as long as you hold the card so you can get lifetime status after several thousand dollars, not $450k
It is no longer possible to earn JGC with a dozen trips to Okinawa. This new system replaces the old system. Members who earned JGC through the old system got keep their lifetime status with the new system.
Ben, according to the qualification and renewal terms that you yourself linked, overseas residents who do not hold JALCARDs are exempt from the requirement to hold any card. They just need to pay the 2000 miles to renew every year.
Only overseas residents with JALCARDs are required to keep them, and they would be treated as domestic residents for the purposes of JGC.
Ben is the new Virgin Red credit card worth it? I dont think you have reviewed it so sorry if its already been discussed.
https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/us/en/flying-club/credit-card/card-member-offers.html
The main benefit of this card is that Expats can open an account without any or a limited credit history, even without a SSN. For this, you have to submit documents (pay slips etc) to the bank for review. This is a unique feature and clearly attractive for Japanese customers who work in the U.S. on a temporary basis and want a local credit card. The bank must see JP customers as a very low risk for default.
JGC Three Star means lifetime OneWorld Sapphire status, and that’s what I have. The cards have lot more benefits for users in Japan, including a 25% bonus on miles earned flying JAL and certain select partners, as well as 5,000 miles on your first flight after signing up and 2,000 (rising to 5,000 with JGC) miles and 5,000 FOP status points for your first flight each year.
I have lifetime Sapphire status without having to...
JGC Three Star means lifetime OneWorld Sapphire status, and that’s what I have. The cards have lot more benefits for users in Japan, including a 25% bonus on miles earned flying JAL and certain select partners, as well as 5,000 miles on your first flight after signing up and 2,000 (rising to 5,000 with JGC) miles and 5,000 FOP status points for your first flight each year.
I have lifetime Sapphire status without having to take any flights to maintain it, but I think that cardholders outside Japan need status maintenance flights.
ETA: Credit card spending is just one way of earning lifetime status points. You also get 5 points for each domestic flight and 5 points for every 1,000 miles of international travel (cash tickets only). Members in Japan can also get status points through a home loan from JAL Bank or using JAL as your ISP and even by using JAL's official health app.
Hi! Just to clarify:
Are these requirements constrained to one calendar year?
Or as long as you hold the card + the program rules are in place, you can qualify whenever you hit the requirements?
They are not constrained to a calendar year, so you can spend ten years getting to 1500 points.
It is Life Status Point so it is accumulated over the years - if you earn 100 LSP a year, you would get Lifetime OW Sapphire status in 15 years.