Questions and Answers

Have a travel related question? Post it here, and I’ll do my best to answer it as quickly as possible.

While anyone can comment on regular blog post, registration is required in order to post a question in this space. Creating your account is free, and you'll be able to see when your question is answered, as well as like comments from other users. And of course, you'll earn status points for offering helpful answers!

This space is intended to be more of a community as well, so please jump in and share tips!

Filter by:

QR Lite Fare – Lounge Access

Can you help?
0

Trans Atlantic

Can you help?
0

Arkia in Beirut?!

Can you help?
0

Ticket Expiration Policy

Can you help?
0

Air France

Can you help?
0

Global Entry Application Question

Can you help?
0

Emirates miles

Can you help?
0

Canceled flight recompensation

1

EK DXB – JED

Can you help?
0

BA status

1

Ask a Question

Everyone can read and comment, but you must login to post a new comment.

Answers (11)

Award Redemption – JAL Business/First class on Alaska Air

Award Redemption – JAL Business/First class on Alaska Air

  1. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    Hi Lucky,

    Are you seeing a sharp decline in JAL Business and First class flights on Alaska Air website? There used to be tons going from NYC (JFK or EWR) to Tokyo (NRT or HND), and now there’s maybe 2 seats every couple of months. Hoping this is just their website’s issue, where if I call, they will have better availability?

    Thanks!
    Gina

  2. David W Community Ambassador

    I’ve never known JAL F to have tons of availability but I could be wrong. I usually find availability to be quite random. A call might help, though AS sometimes see less award space than JAL’s other partners. Have you tried to look for space on BA’s website?

  3. Mick Member

    When are you looking for? If it’s chrsitmas or way in the future can be hard. Prior to December i saw a lot of business and first availability out of Ord. Mostly in the next week or two.

    Qantas also good website for searching by the month. Just a date then toggle to flexible web dates. Will show availability for the month.

  4. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    [QUOTE=”David W, post: 61791, member: 29″]I’ve never known JAL F to have tons of availability but I could be wrong. I usually find availability to be quite random. A call might help, though AS sometimes see less award space than JAL’s other partners. Have you tried to look for space on BA’s website?[/QUOTE]
    Hi David – thanks for your response. BA’s site has never worked for me, sends me on an infinite loop. Up until about a month ago, I found TONS sprinkled throughout each month up (at least 15 days per month for a party of 2) to early summer. I’m guessing that must be high season? But starting a month or a little longer, I see nothing, as in barely once a month. I purchased miles in hope for early planning of a Dec 2019 trip, so this is quite disturbing…

  5. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    [QUOTE=”Mick, post: 61795, member: 2190″]When are you looking for? If it’s chrsitmas or way in the future can be hard. Prior to December i saw a lot of business and first availability out of Ord. Mostly in the next week or two.

    Qantas also good website for searching by the month. Just a date then toggle to flexible web dates. Will show availability for the month.[/QUOTE]
    Thanks for your reply Mick – My points are through Alaska, do you know if Alaska and Qantas have the same availability? Is there a way to search by calendar on Qantas like there is on Alaska? I’ve checked over 30 days already, and no luck. I’m fairly flexible with my dates, but checking one at a time is a little frustrating…

  6. Cal New Member

    In my experience, AS visibility into JAL is usually the same as visibility on JAL (or very close to it). JAL’s website hasnt been showing a lot a space either so you are not going crazy. Also, JAL recently devalued their chart so the lack of availability may be JMB memebers getting their redemptions in…

  7. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    [QUOTE=”Cal, post: 61866, member: 859″]In my experience, AS visibility into JAL is usually the same as visibility on JAL (or very close to it). JAL’s website hasnt been showing a lot a space either so you are not going crazy. Also, JAL recently devalued their chart so the lack of availability may be JMB memebers getting their redemptions in…[/QUOTE]

    Thanks Cal! It’s a pity though… I was just going to purchase points on alaska to bridge me to 2 tickets… Guess I might not be using them after all! Thanks for your insights!

  8. Cal New Member

    [QUOTE=”SushiGirl.NYC, post: 61868, member: 4827″]Thanks Cal! It’s a pity though… I was just going to purchase points on alaska to bridge me to 2 tickets… Guess I might not be using them after all! Thanks for your insights![/QUOTE]

    In my experience JAL can all of a sudden open a ton of award space at a moment’s notice so i would not lose hope and keep checking. Also make sure to look at other US ports such as BOS or ORD. You may also check close-in bookings. JAL can often be generous releasing seats within two weeks.

    Also, you stated earlier earlier that you were looking at December 2019. I believe that is too far in the future to see award availability. JALs website only goes into November 2019 (of which I see some J availability)

  9. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    [QUOTE=”Cal, post: 61878, member: 859″]In my experience JAL can all of a sudden open a ton of award space at a moment’s notice so i would not lose hope and keep checking. Also make sure to look at other US ports such as BOS or ORD. You may also check close-in bookings. JAL can often be generous releasing seats within two weeks.

    Also, you stated earlier earlier that you were looking at December 2019. I believe that is too far in the future to see award availability. JALs website only goes into November 2019 (of which I see some J availability)[/QUOTE]

    Thank you Cal – I know they only have seats released through mid nov right now, I’m just a nervous nelly… I used to see tons of availability, and now I don’t. So I don’t know if I should even be buying the add’l points I need to bridge me? Would be a waste if I buy the points, and then there’s no seats.

  10. Cal New Member

    Alaska runs several point purchase promos a year so you could always wait. It’s not as if all of a sudden there wont be any more promos. You can wait until the schedule opens to see a) are there dates that make sense and b) is there a point promo.

    Ex: for the last two years, alaska has run a points purchase promo in mid january…

  11. SushiGirl.NYC New Member

    [QUOTE=”Cal, post: 61880, member: 859″]Alaska runs several point purchase promos a year so you could always wait. It’s not as if all of a sudden there wont be any more promos. You can wait until the schedule opens to see a) are there dates that make sense and b) is there a point promo.

    Ex: for the last two years, alaska has run a points purchase promo in mid january…[/QUOTE]
    THANKS for the tip Cal!!!

Sign in to help answer questions.