My Positive Experiences with JAL and JAL MileageBank

[dmaerz]

My wife and I are in the fortunate position of being able to travel overseas for leisure on an annual basis and do this in the comfort of flying business class. Since 2004, we have been flying to Europe and Japan on Japan Airlines (JAL) and as members of JAL's MileageBank program. Here are my (our) experiences.

Firstly, we have always been courteously and generously looked after with JAL. The flight attendants and ground staff from check in to lounges have been a pleasure to deal with and we have always had on-time arrival and departure. Whilst the almost flat seats do an acceptable job of managing my 6 foot 3 frame, there's always plenty of room for me, Mrs M and our on-board luggage. There's plenty of food, water is always on hand (and replenished even when asleep) and the refreshment bar well stocked.

Secondly, JAL's companion J fares seem very reasonable, more so now that taxes have dropped dramatically. I recently received a quote for MEL-TYO-AMS-TYO-MEL for $6270 +$330 taxes. Pretty reasonable for a J class fare.

Finally, MileageBank, their frequent flyer program seems good value based on my prior trips. Two return trips to Europe J class provides almost enough points for SYD-TYO-SYD J class for two people. On a discount business fare of $5730 including taxes, that's pretty reasonable. When this is coupled with the ability to convert Hyatt GoldPassport points to miles (at the rate of 2.5 GP points to 1 JMB mile) you can rapidly add miles without flights. I have a Family Club membership that pools points earned by members so for an extra A$35 (approx) annual fee helps with mileage accumulation.

I have already redeemed business class flights to Tokyo for my wife and I a couple of years ago and will do so again post a trip to Tokyo in October this year. Their on-line redemption system is very easy to use and provides the ability to reserve award seats 9 months in advance.

Incidentally, the value of Hyatt GoldPassport membership pays off if GP points are redeemed for miles. Over the last couple of years, 6 stays of an average of 4 nights each at various Hyatt's in Japan and Melbourne have resulted in 43,000 points. Post our October trip with 3 more Hyatt stays will allow 50,000 GP points. When redeemed for JMB miles, a Hyatt bonus is 50,000 points = 20,000 miles + 5,000 bonus miles. A fair amount of miles.

Anyhow, just my perspective on my experience. I'm not affiliated with JAL or Hyatt - just a happy customer.

[Evan]

Yes JAL in premium classes have those nice companion fares, and in J and F are good to fly, not as good in whY though.
I think Amex also used to get good deals on JAL fares in premium cabins from memory, not sure if ts still the case.

[futaris]

Finally, MileageBank, their frequent flyer program seems good value based on my prior trips. Two return trips to Europe J class provides almost enough points for SYD-TYO-SYD J class for two people.

Good value, in your particular case. The other Oneworld programs don't seem to work out any better... QF is much better for status, AA slightly better than JMB for earn/burn redemption rates (particularly if you fly BA, CX or QF).

MEL-NRT-AMS-NRT-AMS is ~22,000 mi. In J you earn at 125%, just like with QFF, so roughly 27,500 RDM per trip.

JMB Crystal is the same as Oneworld Ruby, i.e. QANTAS Silver or AAdvantage Gold. JMB Crystal require 30,000 Fly On Points to qualify. You don't seem to reach that level, so no further bonuses, or extra luggage allowances, etc...

SYD-NRT is 60,000 miles to redeem in J using JMB points. South Pacific to Asia 1 in J using AA miles is 70,000 miles return. SYD-NRT in J using QF points is 144,000 miles return.

There are much better redemption options using AAdvantage, eg. SYD-PPT, etc... I have just used your cited example as a quick comparison.

If you flew JAL and credited to AAdvantage, you'd get the 85% of the miles in discount business (which sucks), and 1.125 EQP/mile. 22,000 mi * 0.75 * 1.5 EQP/mi = 24,750 EQP. This is just under the 25,000 EQP needed for AA Gold. Getting AA Gold will give you a 25% bonus on the miles earnt, so you'd get 22,000 * 0.85 * 1.25 = 23,375 RDM per trip. If you managed to fly twice (and a bit) in a calendar year and get AA Plat, then you'd get 100% RDM bonus: 22,000 * 0.85 * 2 = 37,400 RDM a trip.

If you were flying BA, CX or QF and crediting to AAdvantage, then the earn rates (for J) would be much better, 22,000 * 1.25 * 1.25 = 34,375 RDM for AA Gold, and 22,000 * 1.25 * 2 = 55,000 RDM for AA Plat.

A return trip to Europe in J crediting to QFF should get you approx 600 SCs, or almost QFF Gold. It should be enough to renew QFF Gold though. If you had QFF gold, you'd earn 22,000 * 1.25 * 1.5 = 41,250 RDM per trip.

The only other advantage of QFF is that you can accrue QFF points easily in Australia, e.g. Shopping at Woolworths (Qantas FF and Woolworths create new loyalty alliance).

NB, only QANTAS and AAdvantage offer Lifetime status, in Oneworld.

1 million miles into AAdvantage will give you AA Plat or Oneworld Ruby, including miles transferred from Hyatt, etc... Approx 18 J trips as an AA Plat.

7000 SCs, or approx 12 return J trips credited to QFF will get you QF LTS, or Oneworld Ruby.