Questions and Answers

Lucky,

Trying to book JAL Award flights on EK for myself and my fiance. JAL reps are demanding to see a marriage certificate, which I won’t have for another 6 months. Obviously, that won’t work for my travel plans.

Question – if I referred to my fiance as my sister, would JAL ask for a birth certificate? JAL has been unbelievably difficult to deal with, can’t believe I’m having to play these games in 2017.

Thanks for any input.

Hi Andrew that’s certainly frustrating but JAL, Korean etc are pretty clear who they will let you redeem for. Any chance you can share your SPG points with your fiancee and she can transfer them directly to her own JAL account to book?

Wasn’t aware that this was a requirement for JAL. It’s pretty well know for KE though.

[USER=29]@David W[/USER], they are relatively liberal but still restrict: [URL]http://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/use/ticket.html[/URL]

It’s really unfortunate for people planning a honeymoon although I’m not sure how they provide a workaround without people trying to game the system. Maybe require a marriage certificate at check in…

[QUOTE=”Gaurav, post: 28189, member: 79″][USER=29]@David W[/USER], they are relatively liberal but still restrict: [URL]http://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/use/ticket.html[/URL]

It’s really unfortunate for people planning a honeymoon although I’m not sure how they provide a workaround without people trying to game the system. Maybe require a marriage certificate at check in…[/QUOTE]

I’m in a tough spot – it is my honeymoon. I was well aware of Korean Air’s rules in this space, but I didn’t realize JAL was equally tough. I should have divided up the SPG miles and transferred to the fiancee before moving them to JAL, but too late now.

Just utterly ridiculous that JAL won’t allow me to book award tickets to my honeymoon for a live in fiancee.

I know it’s probably not what you want to do but you could go to city hall and get married for the piece of paper but still have your big celebration as planned. Only other option I can think of…

[QUOTE=”Gaurav, post: 28216, member: 79″]I know it’s probably not what you want to do but you could go to city hall and get married for the piece of paper but still have your big celebration as planned. Only other option I can think of…[/QUOTE]

It’s been suggested I try the following approach: ticket my fiancee’s award reservation in her married name (i.e., my last name). I’ve been told JAL reps generally will not ask for proof of relationship if the last names are the same.

Then when we are married in 6 months, she will change her passport to that name and it will match her ticket.

Thoughts?

You may try to game it but rules are rules, especially in Japan. You cannot book for some unrelated person and end of talk.

You will risk with a life-time ban on JAL. Your JAL membership will also be terminated, with miles lost. Probability around 35-40% perhaps?

Will you have enough time between your wedding and honeymoon to get a new passport? I suppose you can try calling and see if they ask for proof before booking.

[QUOTE=”Gaurav, post: 29016, member: 79″]Will you have enough time between your wedding and honeymoon to get a new passport? I suppose you can try calling and see if they ask for proof before booking.[/QUOTE]

Precisely. I’ve been told it takes at most a month to change the name on a passport., which easily works in our timeframe.

In MA you need to get a license to get married. Not sure how it works where you are. Could you try to get one of those and present it as proof of relationship? Only other option I can think of other than the city hall marriage.