JAL Mileage Bank

Use it for

• JAL business between North America and Japan: 55,000 miles one-way at base price all year (London or Paris 57,000), plus JAL fuel surcharges
• British Airways or American business US East Coast to London or Europe: 42,000 miles one-way (2,001 to 4,000 mile band), plus about USD 210 in taxes and surcharges (one observation)
• Emirates business New York JFK to Milan round trip, no Dubai stop: 85,000 miles total (8,001 to 10,000 mile band), plus about USD 300 in taxes and charges (one observation)
• JAL First North America to Japan: 110,000 miles one-way in low season, 125,000 regular, 140,000 high, plus surcharges

Do not use it for

• Award Ticket PLUS prices: when base seats are gone the price climbs with demand, up to 421,500 miles one-way from Los Angeles in business
• Booking friends: awards are limited to you, your spouse or partner and relatives within the second degree
• Opening an account just before you need it: new members cannot redeem for up to 60 days after enrolling

Where to search

Search JAL flights on jal.co.jp under international award tickets; business at 55,000 to North America is the base price, and anything higher is Award Ticket PLUS. JAL members see more JAL space than partners, and seats open 360 days out. For partner awards, find space on ba.com, aa.com or emirates.com first, then book in JAL's online partner award tool (all partners except China Eastern), which prices the whole itinerary by total distance.

How to book, step by step

1. Open a JAL Mileage Bank account at least 60 days before you plan to redeem; transferring points in may allow earlier access (reported, not confirmed).
2. Make sure everyone flying qualifies: you, your spouse (including a same-sex partner) and relatives within the second degree; proof may be needed when surnames differ.
3. For JAL flights, search international award tickets and check the result shows the base price (business 55,000 to North America), not a PLUS price.
4. For partners, confirm the space on the partner's own site, then build the itinerary in the partner award tool: one partner airline per ticket, up to 6 sectors, 3 stopovers and an open jaw, priced on total distance.
5. Check fuel surcharges on the payment page before moving points.
6. Transfer: Bilt 1:1 and Capital One 4:3 post almost instantly, Citi 1:1 (30 percent bonus to 24 October 2026), Marriott about 3 days.
7. Book online at least 48 hours before departure (24 hours by phone); miles are deducted and ticketing starts immediately, with no hold or partner waitlist.
8. If plans change, date and flight changes are allowed online until 48 hours before departure; refunds cost JPY 3,100 per passenger before the first flight.

When you need to phone

Not needed for most bookings. China Eastern partner awards are phone-only, and phone changes carry a ticket service fee (reported as USD 50 for North American members, not confirmed). JAL's US number is reported as 1-800-525-3663 (1-800-JAL-FONE) by AwardWallet, not confirmed on jal.co.jp.

Fees

No online booking fee. Refund JPY 3,100 per passenger per ticket for international and partner awards, only if fully unused and before the first departure. Date and flight changes allowed on partner awards; name, airline, sectors, class and routing cannot change. Phone service fee reported as USD 50 in North America.

Surcharges

JAL adds fuel surcharges on its own flights (Frequent Miler cites about USD 200 one-way in economy). Some partners pass on surcharges: British Airways US to London ran about USD 210 in taxes and surcharges one-way, far below what Avios bookings charge.

Getting points in

US: Bilt 1:1 (instant), Capital One 4:3 (instant; 30 percent bonus ran in September 2026), Citi ThankYou 1:1 (added 2026; 30 percent bonus to 24 October 2026). Marriott 3:1 plus 5,000 bonus per 60,000 points (about 3 days). Taiwan: HSBC 1:1. India: Axis EDGE 1:2 per earlier research, not confirmed for 2026. Japan: JAL co-brand cards and Marriott Bonvoy Amex (Amex Japan Membership Rewards does not transfer to JAL). IHG 5:1 and Accor 2:1 also transfer.

Booking for other people

Awards can be issued to the member, spouse (including a same-sex partner), relatives within the second degree and spouses of brothers- and sisters-in-law; the member must make the request. No pooling outside Japan (JAL Family Club is for Japan residents). Miles expire 36 months after they are earned or transferred, at month end.