Earlier this week, it turned potential to redeem JetBlue TrueBlue factors for award seats on Japan Airways, opening up potential candy spots for touring between the U.S. and Japan.
Whereas award availability in premium cabins for the primary day or so the brand new performance was dwell gave the impression to be restricted to inside a number of days of departure and to business-class awards, it now seems like there may be widespread availability of first-class awards and, to a lesser extent, business-class seats utilizing JetBlue TrueBlue factors over the following a number of months.
As first reported by Roame, it seems that Japan Airways has opened up heaps of award house on its flights to JetBlue TrueBlue members. The catch is that a lot of this house is in premium cabins – principally top quality at this level – requiring a whole lot of TrueBlue factors.
Some people may additionally be cautious of transferring factors from a companion program like American Categorical Membership Rewards or Chase Final Rewards on the off likelihood that it is a mistake fare. We had been.
Nevertheless, we tried to guide a first-class award ourselves and had no situation doing so on a flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Worldwide Airport (HND) to Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW) in June and it processed appropriately. We had been even in a position to log into the confirmed reservation on Japan Airways’ website and choose our seat, so this seems to be professional. That mentioned, take into account your individual threat tolerance earlier than making any transfers or reserving any tickets.
Here is what that you must know if you happen to’re contemplating profiting from this chance your self.
Deal fundamentals
Airline: Japan Airways
Routes: Between Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) and numerous U.S. airports together with:
- Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport (DFW)
- Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX)
- New York John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK)
- San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA)
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How one can guide: Through JetBlue.com. Whereas JAL is a Oneworld companion of each American Airways and Alaska Airways, these awards don’t appear to be bookable by way of both of these packages.
Guide by: ASAP
Journey dates: Now by means of March 2026
Value:
- 59,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every approach between Japan and the U.S. in enterprise class
- 165,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every approach between Japan and Los Angeles and San Francisco
- 185,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every approach between Japan and different cities, together with Chicago, Dallas and New York
- Taxes and charges are about $15 outbound from the U.S. and as much as $280 when departing Japan, relying in your class of service.
Finest flights to guide
Though there was widespread business-class availability from numerous cities earlier at this time, the overwhelming majority of premium award house now appears to be in top quality. That is most likely thrilling to the aviation geeks and luxurious lovers on the market, but it surely additionally means you may want round 3 times the variety of TrueBlue factors as you’d for a business-class award.
In case you do need enterprise class (and who would not, for simply 59,000 factors every approach!), your finest bets are to fly out of both Los Angeles or San Francisco now by means of the summer time.
There are a number of different issues as effectively. Japan Airways presents stellar business- and first-class cabins, however there are some main variations to pay attention to relying on the route and plane you guide. The airline solely flies its Airbus A350-1000s with beautiful new first- and business-class suites between Haneda and New York and Dallas. The opposite routes listed are flown with quite a lot of different plane with older forms of seats aboard, together with Boeing 787-9s with simply enterprise class, and 777-300ERs with each enterprise and top quality.
So, if you happen to’re in a position to place to New York or Dallas, it’s absolutely value it to get to expertise the airline’s latest fixtures. JAL’s A350-1000 top quality even received the 2024 TPG Award for finest new top quality because of the suites’ monumental footprints, trendy finishes, up-to-the-second tech (have you ever seen these 43-inch leisure screens?) and unparalleled facilities and meal service.
Barring that, if you’re simply searching for a good way to journey between the U.S. and Asia, you actually cannot beat JAL for glorious service and cozy seats.
Finest methods to get JetBlue TrueBlue factors
JetBlue TrueBlue is a switch companion of the next bank card rewards packages on the listed ratios:
If you wish to switch factors from a companion to your JetBlue TrueBlue account, your finest bets are both Chase or Citi, since their switch ratio is a lot better than that of Amex. For example, if you happen to needed to guide a one-way first-class award from New York to Tokyo, you would wish 185,000 Chase or Citi factors, however 231,250 Amex factors. So take that into consideration.
Additionally ensure that the award flight you need is offered on the day you need earlier than making any transfers as a result of these are irreversible.
Backside line
Japan Airways premium award house has been exceptionally laborious to return by these days when redeeming miles from companion packages. The choice to redeem JetBlue TrueBlue factors for JAL flights solely got here on-line earlier this week, and thus far, it has been thrilling to see affordably priced saver awards, even in enterprise class, out there. However this stage of each enterprise and first-class award availability on a lot of JAL’s U.S. routes over a number of months is, fairly merely, unprecedented.
It’s good to be cautious earlier than reserving — we don’t consider it is a mistake fare and we had been in a position to make a confirmed reserving in top quality ourselves so as to present one of the best recommendation for you. Nevertheless, we’re speaking a whole lot of factors, particularly for these coveted first-class tickets, so earlier than you make any bank card factors transfers, ensure you have got a selected, bookable award in thoughts. And if you happen to do find yourself flying JAL top quality, it’s certain to be an unforgettable expertise value all these factors.
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