E-book these Japan Airways first-class awards utilizing JetBlue factors whereas they final

Earlier this week, it turned potential 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 stay gave the impression to be restricted to inside a couple of days of departure and to business-class awards, it now appears like there’s widespread availability of first-class awards and, to a lesser extent, business-class seats utilizing JetBlue TrueBlue factors over the subsequent 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 first-class at this level – requiring plenty of TrueBlue factors.
Some people may additionally be cautious of transferring factors from a associate program like American Categorical Membership Rewards or Chase Final Rewards on the off likelihood that this can be a mistake fare. We have been.
Nonetheless, we tried to guide a first-class award ourselves and had no subject doing so on a flight from Tokyo’s Haneda Worldwide Airport (HND) to Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW) in June and it processed appropriately. We have been even capable of log into the confirmed reservation on Japan Airways’ web site and choose our seat, so this seems to be respectable. That stated, take into account your personal danger tolerance earlier than making any transfers or reserving any tickets.
Here is what you want to know when you’re contemplating benefiting from this chance your self.
Deal fundamentals
Airline: Japan Airways
Routes: Between Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) and numerous 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 one can guide: Through 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
Price:
- 59,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every manner between Japan and the U.S. in enterprise class
- 165,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every manner between Japan and Los Angeles and San Francisco
- 185,000 JetBlue TrueBlue factors every manner 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 guide
Though there was widespread business-class availability from numerous cities earlier right now, the overwhelming majority of premium award area now appears to be in first-class. That is in all probability thrilling to the aviation geeks and luxurious lovers on the market, however it additionally means you will want round 3 times the variety of TrueBlue factors as you’d for a business-class award.
In case you do need enterprise class (and who would not, for simply 59,000 factors every manner!), your greatest bets are to fly out of both Los Angeles or San Francisco now by way of the summer time.
There are a couple of different concerns as properly. Japan Airways presents stellar business- and first-class cabins, however there are some main variations to pay attention to relying on the route and plane you guide. 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 first-class.
So, when you’re capable of place to New York or Dallas, it’s totally price it to get to expertise the airline’s latest fixtures. JAL’s A350-1000 first-class even gained the 2024 TPG Award for greatest new first-class because of the suites’ huge footprints, trendy 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 searching for an effective way to journey between the U.S. and Asia, you actually cannot beat JAL for glorious service and cozy 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 significantly better than that of Amex. For example, when you wished to guide a one-way first-class award from New York to Tokyo, you would wish 185,000 Chase or Citi factors, however 231,250 Amex factors. So take that into consideration.
Additionally ensure that the award flight you need is on the market 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 onerous to come back by these days 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 thus far, it has been thrilling to see affordably priced saver awards, even in enterprise class, obtainable. However this degree of each enterprise and first-class award availability on lots 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 this can be a mistake fare and we have been capable of make a confirmed reserving in first-class ourselves with the intention to present one of the best recommendation for you. Nonetheless, 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 when you do find yourself flying JAL first-class, it’s positive to be an unforgettable expertise price all these factors.
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