Earlier this week, it grew to become attainable 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 reside gave the impression to be restricted to inside a couple of days of departure and to business-class awards, it now appears to be like like there’s widespread availability of first-class awards and, to a lesser extent, business-class seats utilizing JetBlue TrueBlue factors over the subsequent a number of months.
As first reported by Roame, it seems that Japan Airways has opened up heaps of award area on its flights to JetBlue TrueBlue members. The catch is that a lot of this area is in premium cabins – principally top notch at this level – requiring a number of TrueBlue factors.
Some people may also be cautious of transferring factors from a associate program like American Categorical Membership Rewards or Chase Final Rewards on the off likelihood that this can be a mistake fare. We have been.
Nevertheless, we tried to guide a first-class award ourselves and had no challenge doing so on a flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Worldwide Airport (HND) to Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) in June and it processed accurately. We have been even capable of log into the confirmed reservation on Japan Airways’ web site and choose our seat, so this seems to be reputable. That mentioned, take into account your personal danger tolerance earlier than making any transfers or reserving any tickets.
This is what it is advisable know in the event you’re contemplating benefiting from this chance your self.
Deal fundamentals
Airline: Japan Airways
Routes: Between Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) and varied U.S. airports together with:
- Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Value 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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Learn how to guide: By way of JetBlue.com. Whereas JAL is a Oneworld associate of each American Airways and Alaska Airways, these awards don’t appear to be bookable through both of these packages.
E-book by: ASAP
Journey dates: Now by means of March 2026
Price:
- 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 costs are about $15 outbound from the U.S. and as much as $280 when departing Japan, relying in your class of service.
Greatest flights to guide
Though there was widespread business-class availability from varied cities earlier right now, the overwhelming majority of premium award area now appears to be in top notch. That is most likely thrilling to the aviation geeks and luxurious lovers on the market, however it additionally means you may want round 3 times the variety of TrueBlue factors as you’d for a business-class award.
Should 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 couple of different concerns 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 varieties of seats aboard, together with Boeing 787-9s with simply enterprise class, and 777-300ERs with each enterprise and top notch.
So, in the event you’re capable of place to New York or Dallas, it’s totally price it to get to expertise the airline’s latest fixtures. JAL’s A350-1000 top notch even gained the 2024 TPG Award for finest new top notch due to 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, in case you are simply in search of a good way to journey between the U.S. and Asia, you actually cannot beat JAL for glorious service and comfy seats.
Greatest methods to get JetBlue TrueBlue factors
JetBlue TrueBlue is a switch associate of the next bank card rewards packages on the listed ratios:
If you wish to switch factors from a associate 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. As an example, in the event you 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 make sure 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 area has been exceptionally arduous to return by recently when redeeming miles from associate 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, obtainable. However this stage of each enterprise and first-class award availability on lots 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 imagine this can be a mistake fare and we have been capable of make a confirmed reserving in top notch ourselves with a purpose to present the most effective recommendation for you. Nevertheless, we’re speaking a number of factors, particularly for these coveted first-class tickets, so earlier than you make any bank card factors transfers, ensure you’ve got a selected, bookable award in thoughts. And in the event you do find yourself flying JAL top notch, it’s positive to be an unforgettable expertise price all these factors.
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