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Home  >  Award Bookings • JAL  >  Japan Air Lines Appears To Be Limiting First Class Awards Via Partners
Award BookingsJAL

Japan Air Lines Appears To Be Limiting First Class Awards Via Partners

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 15, 2020June 15, 2020 9 Comments
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JAL First Class Awards

Japan Air Lines is one of my favorite first class products in the world. The service and food are over the top. Thus, it is with sadness that I share that JAL now seems to be restricting first class award space issued via partner programs.

JAL has been a long-term source for business and first class award space booked well in advance. Although not totally predictable, JAL often opened a pair of first class seats 330 days in advance. That not only helps in advance planning, but represents one of the best redemption sweet spots in many programs, including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, American Airlines AAdvantage and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. These JAL awards are what makes the collection of miles and points so valuable.

But Point Me To The Plane noticed that beyond March 31, 2021, the award space is gone via partner sources. It would be one thing if it was not bookable anywhere. But the space is still readily available via JAL Mileage Bank program.

“Phantom” space still shows up via Asia Miles…but it is unbookable. Space booked prior to April 1, 2021 does not error out. The space does not show up after April 1st on Alaska or British Airways. It does show up on American Airlines, but like Asia Miles, errors out.

A Disturbing New Trend Beyond JAL: First Class Awards For Program Members Only

If the circumstantial evidence is true, JAL joins a long list of airlines that are increasingly restricting partner access to first class award space.

The logic is simple: with seats limited, space is reserved for an airline’s own loyalty members.

We’ve seen Lufthansa restrict partner first class awards to 14 days prior to travel, Korean Air prohibit partner first class award redemptions, SWISS prohibit first class redemptions to Senators or HON members from Miles & More, and more recently Cathay Pacific eliminate close-in first class award redemptions for partners.

Expect this trend to continue…

CONCLUSION

With Malaysia having eliminated first class, Cathay Pacific only releasing one seat in advance, Qantas and American rarely releasing space, British Airways remains the only source for multiple first class award seats. That’s a sad turn for oneworld mileage holders and for the future of partner redemptions. On a happier note, you can still book JAL first class awards via partner programs through March 31, 2021.

Note this all may be a glitch or just a seasonal issue. We may see partner award space open up closer to travel. Mark this story as developing.


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> Read More: Japan Airlines 777-300ER First Class Review
> Read More: Why JAL First Class Was The Best Flight Of My Life

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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9 Comments

  1. Leo Guam Reply
    June 15, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Try checking flights in April SYD-HND. Space avail and was able to hold

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 15, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      Good find. Maybe it is US space only?

  2. Gene Reply
    June 15, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Qsuites to the rescue!

  3. Stuart Reply
    June 15, 2020 at 5:17 pm

    Is it possible they are going to do a new product to compete with ANA updates? And so limiting it for now with partners as they see the potential for future paid demand? ANA was certainly secretive about their updated products, so perhaps?

    It could also be that they are considering removing First and don’t want the hassles of partner awards to deal with in rebooking and downgrading?

    Is it the same with Business Class?

  4. Christian Reply
    June 15, 2020 at 5:56 pm

    Have you or any other bloggers reached out to the airlines involved to find out more?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      June 15, 2020 at 6:34 pm

      Yes, waiting to hear back.

  5. emercycrite Reply
    June 15, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    Was able to book CDG-HND-SYD on 8 April using Qantas points just fine.

  6. Der Fliegende Amerikaner Reply
    June 16, 2020 at 2:58 am

    “SWISS prohibit first class redemptions to Senators or HON members from Miles & More”. I interpret this sentence as suggesting that Senators and HON Circle members are not allowed to redeem for SWISS first class awards.

    Do you mean “SWISS restricts first class redemptions to Senators or HON members from Miles & More”?

    • emercycrite Reply
      June 16, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      Yes I think the wrong operative word was used here.

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