After years of strict COVID-19 measures, Japan has finally reopened tourism.
The country is home to two of our favorite airlines (All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines), both of which operate extensive domestic and international networks. So, if you’re planning a tour to Japan, chances are you’ll be flying with one of these airlines him when flying around the country.
Today we will take a look at one of the best ways to book domestic flights on Japan Airlines at a fraction of the cost.
The airline is part of the Oneworld alliance, which also includes US airline American Airlines. This means that American Airlines’ AAdvantage members can use their miles on flights to, from, and around Japan. These tickets start at 7,500 miles and often have no associated taxes or fees, making them great value.
Here’s how to earn and use miles with this AAdvantage sweet spot when booking travel to Japan:
special reason
American Airlines charges 7,500 miles for most domestic flights within Japan, regardless of peak day, distance, or distance booked.
This can be a big savings when domestic flights in Japan are expensive. For example, if you want to travel from Tokyo to Sapporo next month, the cheapest one-way ticket on Japan Airlines from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) is $161 for the dates in this example.
Book the same route with Japan Airlines and earn 7,500 AAdvantage miles plus $0 in taxes and fees. The result is a value of just over 2.1 cents per mile. That’s higher than TPG’s AAdvantage rating of 1.77 cents per mile.
This rate is the same for short-haul bookings and long-haul routes such as HND to Okinawa’s Naha Airport (OKA), about 3 hours and 1,000 miles away. This makes using 7,500 miles (at no additional charge) a solid redemption option.
Unlike some programs, American does not charge a fee for last minute bookings or the use of miles with partners. Conversely, American Airlines does not charge redeposit fees for Japan Airlines awards. The flexibility this redemption offers is useful when your travel schedule is fluid.
RELATED: The Best Ways to Use Points and Miles to Travel to Japan
How to book this offer
You can use your AAdvantage miles to book flights on Japan Airlines at AA.com. You can log into your account immediately during the booking process or later.
Enter your date and route on the American Airlines website,[マイルを交換]Check the box and the blue[検索]Click the button.
You will see all the reward seats available to our partners and can sort by departure or arrival time if desired. Once you find the flight you want to book, click on its price and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your booking.
Or if your plan is flexible and you want to check availability for the entire month,[カレンダー]Click on the tabs to see daily prices.
Related: How to Plan a Ski Trip to Niseko, Japan with Points and Miles (and Why)
How to earn points for this benefit
Luckily, earning American AAdvantage miles isn’t that difficult. Big banks like American Express and Chase don’t offer money transfers to American, but Bilt Rewards points are transferred to the carrier on his 1:1 basis. Also, Marriott Bonvoy points are transferred 3:1 to American, and transferring 60,000 points gives him a bonus of 5,000 miles.
Thankfully, American has a wide variety of credit cards with great signup bonuses. Below are some of the most popular airline credit cards and their respective signup bonuses.
Information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card was independently collected by The Points Guy. Card details on this page are not verified or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Free Admirals Club Membership: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard Review
Conclusion
This sweet spot is the perfect way to fly around Japan. Excellent availability on most routes and no taxes or fees associated with tickets.
Aviation fans should also keep this sweet spot in mind. Japan Airlines’ domestic flights are often operated with a variety of widebody aircraft, giving you the opportunity to try different aircraft when traveling in Japan. And if you want to check out ANA’s fleet, you can book domestic flights around Japan for just 5,500 United miles.
