JAL Business Class Awards Wide Open Between Dallas And Tokyo

JAL Business Class Awards Wide Open Between Dallas And Tokyo

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In late August I wrote about how Japan Airlines will be launching 4x weekly nonstop flights between Dallas and Tokyo Narita as of November 30, 2015. The flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-8, featuring business class, premium economy, and economy.

JAL-787

American and JAL have a transpacific joint venture, so this complements American’s existing 2x daily flights between Dallas and Tokyo Narita.

Anyway, this new flight has been bookable for a couple of weeks now, though I haven’t been seeing any award space on it based on searching the British Airways award search tool. However, dantheman pointed out in the “Ask Lucky” forum that award space is actually wide open on this flight… it just doesn’t show on the British Airways website.

Japan Airlines has two business class award seats available virtually every day between Dallas and Tokyo between November 30, 2015, and the end of the schedule. If you do want to search space just to verify, you’ll want to use the Japan Airlines award search tool, which I’ve written a primer about in the past.

When you search for space, click the “Award Reservation Calendar” button so that you can see a week of award availability at a time.

JAL-Space-1

As you’ll see, there’s availability virtually every day the flight operates (which is Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays in both directions).

JAL-Space-2

Perhaps the most exciting news is that the flight is scheduled to be operated by the “SS8” configuration of the 787, which features JAL’s newest business class product.

JAL-Space-3

It’s fully flat, so along with Japan Airlines’ excellent onboard service, is a great way to get to Asia.

JAL-Business-Class

JAL-Business-Class-3

American charges just 50,000 AAdvantage miles for one-way business class between the US and “Asia 1” (which includes Japan and Korea), or if you want to connect to “Asia 2” (which includes most of the rest of Asia), that’s a total of 55,000 miles one-way. There are no fuel surcharges for travel on JAL, and you shouldn’t have to pay a phone ticketing fee, given that this award can’t be booked online.

JAL-Business-Class-2

Bottom line

I love JAL’s onboard product, so I’m excited to see them expand their service to the US even further. Business class award space is wide open and American’s award rates to Japan and beyond are exceptionally good, so this is a fantastic option for redeeming miles. And that’s especially true since this route is operated by one of JAL’s reconfigured 787s, featuring their super-private new business class product.

Will you be redeeming miles on JAL between Dallas and Tokyo Narita?

Conversations (25)
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  1. DG New Member

    On JAL, under "Seat Availability," what does the triangle/delta mean? It's not on the key.

    1. Ken Guest

      The diamond/rhombus means waitlisted. Basically unavailable for non mileage bank users.

    2. DG New Member

      Thanks Ken, but I'm talking about the triangle/delta (not diamond) as shown in Step Two, under "Seat Availability."

    3. Ken Guest

      The first Google result is a FT thread which indicates that it probably means few seats available, but it doesn't specify a number. Sorry, I don't know why I thought you said triangle/rhombus. Still drinking my coffee ;) Try calling AA to see if they can give you a number of seats for that flight.

  2. Jason Guest

    Thanks for the heads up! Had a bunch of AA miles burning a hole in my pocket and booked a nice week in Tokyo in early December. Not to get approved for an AMEX Platinum so I can hit up the Centurion Lounge in DFW.

  3. Ken Guest

    Can you do DFW-HKG via Tokyo on one of these J awards?

  4. Andre Member

    @ Lucky - I currently have an AA biz class redemption from NRT to DEN via ORD in March '16. JAL currently flies there B773 with the new biz product on that route. Is it worth it switching to the B787 via Dallas or because the products are the same, the same service should be expected?

  5. emf Guest

    can you hold these? any risks to holding rather than buying?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ emf -- Yep, can hold for up to five days, and no risks associated with it, really.

  6. Stephan Guest

    @Sean - No stopovers if using AA miles for this trip. Doesn't matter what JAL allows in this case, it's the mileage program's rules you must follow.

  7. Sean Gold

    Thanks for the heads up. Does JAL allow stopovers?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Sean -- If booking through JAL stopovers are allowed, while if booking using American miles, stopovers of more than 24 hours aren't allowed.

  8. jg New Member

    the ask lucky section is blank
    can you fix it?
    (pointed out in the “Ask Lucky” forum)

  9. Sheldon Copper Enthusiast New Member

    unrelated....but united unveiled a new domestic first seat:
    http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2015/09/10/united-unveils-new-first-class-domestic-seats/72001902/

  10. Spgbus Guest

    Nice to know. Checked with AA that there are days with 4+ Biz seats available. Booked one for my family next summer back from Asia. The only issue is that we have to stopover at NRT the night before since the return flight is too early to be connected from other Asian regions.

  11. dantheman Member

    When i booked my award, i didn't even use BA.com to confirm availability. I just looked at JAL search tool and called AA with flight numbers and dates, and they could see the space fine. I'd just go for it and call.

  12. Pan Guest

    Not all seat showing up on JAL website are available for partner (AA award)right?

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Pan -- American should have access to all that space, in my experience.

  13. Sam Guest

    Hi Lucky, as the award is only available on JAL website, is this open for JAL members only or bookable with AA miles? Thanks.

    1. lucky OMAAT

      @ Sam -- Also open to AAdvantage members. :)

  14. Chuck Guest

    Which would you rather do: Fly F NRT - ORD on JAL 777 or NRT - DFW on I on the 787?

  15. Nathan Guest

    Is there any trick to book four passengers on the same flight? Maybe if I reserve two with AA then two more might open up?

  16. eddy Guest

    Quick (OT) question: For LAX to PVG in F, JAL (via NRT) or Cathay (via KHG)? Thanks!

  17. Pan Guest

    Is the way back from Tokyo wide open also?

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Ken Guest

The first Google result is a FT thread which indicates that it probably means few seats available, but it doesn't specify a number. Sorry, I don't know why I thought you said triangle/rhombus. Still drinking my coffee ;) Try calling AA to see if they can give you a number of seats for that flight.

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DG New Member

Thanks Ken, but I'm talking about the triangle/delta (not diamond) as shown in Step Two, under "Seat Availability."

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Ken Guest

The diamond/rhombus means waitlisted. Basically unavailable for non mileage bank users.

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