Soaring to Japan in Style: Your Guide to Booking Japan Airlines Business with Points

Japan remains a dream destination for many, and for good reason! From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene temples of Kyoto, the allure is undeniable. But with high demand comes the challenge of finding award flights, especially if you’re aiming for the ultimate comfort of Business or First Class.

Fear not, points and miles enthusiasts! While it might seem like a quest, securing a premium seat on Japan Airlines (JAL) is absolutely achievable with the right strategy. JAL offers a fantastic experience, known for its comfortable cabins,exquisite dining, and top-notch service.

Let’s dive into how you can make that dream flight a reality.

Japan Airlines Business Class Routes

Cracking the Code: Booking JAL Business & First Class with Points

Booking JAL premium cabins primarily involves leveraging their Oneworld alliance partners, as earning JAL Mileage Bank miles directly can be challenging for Canadians. The sweet spot often comes down to a few key programs:

1. British Airways Avios: The Most Straightforward Option

British Airways Avios is often cited as the easiest program for Canadians to use for JAL Business Class redemptions.

• Availability: Seats are released to British Airways at 355 days out, giving you an early advantage in snagging coveted seats.
• Pricing (North America to Japan):
  • West Coast (e.g., Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles): 77,250 Avios per person
  • East Coast (e.g., Chicago, New York): 92,750 Avios per person

• Taxes and Fees: Expect around $360 CAD per person. While higher than some alternatives, it’s a small price for a fantastic redemption.
• Earning Avios:
  • RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card: Avion points transfer 1:1 to British Airways Avios. Look out for frequent transfer bonuses (20-30% extra points) to maximize your Avios.
  • RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card: Directly earns Avios.
  • American Express Membership Rewards (Canada & US): Transfers 1:1 to British Airways Avios.

2. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: The Earliest Bird Gets the Seat

For those absolutely determined to secure JAL premium seats as early as possible, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is worth considering.

• Availability: Asia Miles releases seats 360 days out, making it the earliest access point outside of JAL’s own program.
• Pricing (North America to Japan): 63,000 Cathay Asia Miles per person, regardless of your North American departure city.

• Taxes and Fees: Similar to Avios, expect around ~$280 CAD per person.
• Cancellation Policy: You can cancel for a fee of $120 USD or 12,000 Asia Miles.
• How to Book: Log into your Asia Miles account, navigate to “Redeem Flights,” and search for your desired award flight.
• Earning Asia Miles:
  • RBC Avion points: Transfer 1:1 to Cathay Asia Miles. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card is again a strong contender.
  • American Express Membership Rewards (Canada): Transfers at a 4:3 ratio (not as strong as other options).

3. American Airlines AAdvantage: Great Value, Hardest to Earn

If you can accumulate AAdvantage miles, this program offers the best redemption rates and lowest fees for JAL premium cabins.

• Availability: Bookable from 331 days out, lagging slightly behind other programs.
• Pricing (North America to Japan): A fantastic 60,000 AAdvantage Miles per person for Business Class,regardless of departure coast.

• Taxes and Fees: Incredibly cheap, around ~$61.30 CAD per ticket.
• How to Book: Log into your AAdvantage account, select “Redeem Miles,” and search for your flight.
• Earning AAdvantage Miles (Challenging for Canadians):
  • Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard (US): The primary way to earn AAdvantage miles for Canadians with access to US credit cards and an ITIN.
  • RBC Avion (Canada): Transfers at a less favourable 10:7 ratio.

How to Find Those Elusive Award Flights

It can indeed be challenging to find premium cabin award flights, especially to a high-demand destination like Japan. However, armed with the right tools and a bit of patience, you can significantly increase your chances!

While you can try searching directly on each airline’s website (e.g., British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Alaska, American), this can be tedious and time-consuming. Their native search engines might not always show all available partner award space.

Here’s where specialized award search tools become your best friend:

• Seats.aero (Advanced): This is a powerful tool for serious award travelers. Seats.aero allows you to search across multiple airline programs and dates simultaneously. You can filter by airline, cabin class, and even specific routes. They offer an “Explore” feature that can show you availability at a glance, and for First Class specifically, they have a dedicated “JAL First Class Finder.” While some features require a paid subscription, the free version can still be very helpful.
• AwardTool: This is another excellent resource that searches many loyalty programs at once, making it easier to compare redemption options. It’s often praised for its user-friendly interface.
• Roame.travel: Roame is gaining popularity for its ability to search across various programs and its focus on helping users find “sweet spots” for redemptions. It can be particularly useful for identifying uncommon routes or connections to get you to Japan.

Top Tips for Your JAL Premium Redemption Journey:

• Be Proactive: Award space, especially for premium cabins on popular routes like Japan, is highly sought after. Start searching as soon as the booking window opens for your preferred program.
• Consider Flexibility: If your dates are flexible, you’ll have a much higher chance of finding award space.
• Look for 1-2 Seats: While rare, you might occasionally see 4+ Business Class seats available. However, your best bet is typically searching for a maximum of two business class seats per flight.
• Positioning Flights: Don’t forget to factor in the cost and time of any positioning flights you might need to get to a JAL gateway city in North America.

Happy searching, and even happier travels!