Earlier this week, it grew to become doable 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 appeared to be restricted to inside just a few 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 area on its flights to JetBlue TrueBlue members. The catch is that a lot of this area is in premium cabins – principally top quality at this level – requiring plenty 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 it is a mistake fare. We have been.
Nevertheless, we tried to e-book a first-class award ourselves and had no concern 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 in a position to log into the confirmed reservation on Japan Airways’ web site and choose our seat, so this seems to be respectable. That stated, think about your personal threat tolerance earlier than making any transfers or reserving any tickets.
Here is what it’s essential to know for those who’re contemplating making the most of 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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How you can e-book: 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 by way of both of these packages.
E-book by: ASAP
Journey dates: Now by way 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 e-book
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 quality. That is in all probability thrilling to the aviation geeks and luxurious lovers on the market, nevertheless 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 greatest bets are to fly out of both Los Angeles or San Francisco now by way of the summer season.
There are just a few different concerns as properly. Japan Airways gives stellar business- and first-class cabins, however there are some main variations to pay attention to relying on the route and plane you e-book. 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, for those who’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 greatest new top quality because of the suites’ huge footprints, fashionable 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 on the lookout for an effective way to journey between the U.S. and Asia, you actually cannot beat JAL for glorious service and comfy seats.
Finest 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 greatest bets are both Chase or Citi, since their switch ratio is a lot better than that of Amex. As an illustration, for those who wished to e-book a one-way first-class award from New York to Tokyo, you would want 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 out there 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 laborious to return by currently 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 up to now, it has been thrilling to see affordably priced saver awards, even in enterprise class, out there. However this degree 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 have been in a position to make a confirmed reserving in top quality ourselves with a view to present the perfect recommendation for you. Nevertheless, we’re speaking plenty of factors, particularly for these coveted first-class tickets, so earlier than you make any bank card factors transfers, make sure you’ve a selected, bookable award in thoughts. And for those who do find yourself flying JAL top quality, it’s certain to be an unforgettable expertise value all these factors.
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