JAL Mileage Bank: 244 questions answered
Everything members ask about JAL Mileage Bank, answered from Japan Airlines' own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; every answer comes from an official page.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join JAL Mileage Bank?
Enrol online through JMB Online Enrollment on jal.co.jp, which accepts applications 24 hours a day; once you are logged in, your JMB membership number is filled in automatically whenever you make a JAL reservation.
Source: JAL: JAL Mileage Bank overview
Does it cost anything to join JAL Mileage Bank?
No. JAL charges no registration fee and no annual fee for a JAL Mileage Bank membership; only the optional JAL Card credit cards and the JAL Global Club carry annual fees.
Source: JAL: JAL Mileage Bank overview
Is there a minimum age to join JAL Mileage Bank, and can children have their own account?
The JMB rules set no minimum enrolment age. Children aged 2 to 11 on international flights (3 to 11 on domestic) accrue the same mileage as adults, apart from promotional bonus miles, while infants travelling without a seat (under 2 international, under 3 domestic) earn nothing, although a parent can redeem miles for them.
Where do I find my JAL Mileage Bank membership number?
It is the 7- or 9-digit number printed on your JMB card, and the JAL app shows your name, JMB membership number, FLY ON status and oneworld tier on its home screen once you log in. If you have neither, use the "forgot membership number" link or contact the JAL Mileage Bank Center.
Does JAL Mileage Bank issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
You can apply for a plastic JMB CARD from the JAL website after joining, but you do not need one: your number is auto-filled on bookings when logged in and the JAL app shows a digital membership card with your status. FLY ON status cards are being phased out, with digital cards the primary option after January 2027.
Source: JAL: FLY ON status card requests
Does Japan Airlines have an app for managing JAL Mileage Bank, and what can it do?
The JAL app doubles as your membership card: after logging in it displays your name, JMB number, current FLY ON status and oneworld tier, which you show to staff at JAL Group, oneworld and codeshare airports (screenshots are not accepted). The separate JAL Mileage Bank app is Japanese-only and can only be downloaded in Japan, and Google ID login may not work in the app.
How do I change the name on my JAL Mileage Bank account after marriage or a legal name change?
A name change cannot be done online: contact the JAL Mileage Bank Center, or JALCARD if your membership is through a JAL Card, and they will update the registered name.
Source: JAL: JMB guide and procedures
I accidentally created two JAL Mileage Bank accounts. Can they be merged?
A member may hold only one JMB account. If JAL finds you have several membership numbers it consolidates them into a single number, and any excess mileage that resulted from multiple registrations is withdrawn.
How do I close my JAL Mileage Bank account, and what happens to my miles?
You withdraw by notifying JAL Mileage Bank in writing, and all the mileage in the account expires at that moment, so spend it first. JAL also cancels accounts on its own if you accrue no mileage for 36 months or the balance sits at zero for 36 consecutive months, unless you hold a JAL Card or belong to the JAL Family Club.
Can I join JAL Mileage Bank if I live outside the airline's home country?
Yes. You register either a home or work address in your country of residence, and the rules provide for members worldwide: disputes are arbitrated in Los Angeles for North American members, Singapore for Asia and Oceania, London for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Tokyo for Japan.
How do I update my email, address or phone number with JAL Mileage Bank?
Email address changes are done online in your JMB account. Changes of address or phone number go through the JAL Mileage Bank Center (or JALCARD if you hold a JAL Card), and the rules make you responsible for keeping registered details current, since JAL is not liable for mail that fails to arrive.
Source: JAL: JMB guide and procedures
What do I do if I am locked out of my JAL Mileage Bank account?
Use the online password reset on the JMB login page, or the "forgot membership number" link if you cannot recall the number. You can also link a Google, Yahoo! Japan or LINE ID to sign in, and some account procedures require a one-time password sent to your registered contact.
Source: JAL: JMB guide and procedures
If I join JAL Mileage Bank after a flight, can I still claim miles for it?
Yes. Post-flight credit requests are accepted for flights flown before you enrolled in JMB, as long as you submit them within six months of the flight date; only promotional bonus miles are excluded.
Source: JAL: post-flight mileage credit
Does Japan Airlines have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Not a points programme: JAL Business on WEB is a free corporate scheme for companies registered outside Japan that gives a Company ID and Customer Number for buying discounted JAL fares through its own portal. It is a fare discount rather than a second currency, and the page says nothing about it interfering with employees' own JMB accrual.
Source: JAL: JAL Business on WEB
Earning on Japan Airlines flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are miles calculated on Japan Airlines flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
By distance and booking class. JAL credits the sector mileage multiplied by an accrual percentage tied to the fare: internationally 150% in First (F, A), 125% in Business (J, C, D, I), 100% in Premium Economy (W, R) and full-fare Economy (Y, B), down to 30% for O, Z, G, Q and N. Domestic fares run from 150% (First Class Flex) to 50% (promotion and tour fares).
How many miles do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on Japan Airlines?
JAL does not earn per dollar; it earns per mile flown. You get 100% of sector distance in Y, B, W and R classes, 70% in H, K, M, X and E, 50% in L, V and S, 30% in O, Z, G, Q and N, and 125% or 150% in Business and First. See our earning guide.
Do basic economy or light fares on Japan Airlines earn miles?
Yes, at a reduced rate. The cheapest international economy classes (O, Z, G, Q, N) earn 30% of distance and L, V and S earn 50%, while domestic Promotion, Sky Mate, Senior Citizen and inclusive tour fares earn 50%. Only award and non-revenue tickets earn nothing.
What elite bonus do status members earn on Japan Airlines flights?
FLY ON members earn a Mile-Up Bonus on top of flight miles: 130% for JMB Diamond, 105% for JGC Premier and JMB Sapphire, 55% for JMB Crystal, and 35% for JAL Global Club members holding a JALCARD CLUB-A or higher. The bonus applies on JAL Group flights and on American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines (Japan-Malaysia) and Garuda Indonesia (Japan-Indonesia).
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
How long after a flight do miles post to my JAL Mileage Bank account?
JAL domestic flights post in 2 to 3 days, JAL international flights in 4 to 5 days and partner airline flights in 1 to 4 weeks. Keep your boarding passes until the miles appear, and file a post-flight credit request within six months if they do not.
Do award tickets earn miles or status credit on Japan Airlines?
No. Award tickets and non-revenue tickets earn no flight miles on JAL Group flights, and the FLY ON program lists award tickets among ineligible fares, so they earn no FLY ON Points or qualifying flights either.
Which Japan Airlines tickets earn no miles at all?
Award tickets, non-revenue tickets, tickets in a name other than the member's, flights not actually boarded, JAL-coded flights operated by other airlines (only JAL-operated JAL flight numbers qualify under the JAL Group table) and any flight operated by Spring Airlines earn nothing.
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on an Japan Airlines ticket earn miles?
Not applicable: JAL flight miles are a percentage of sector distance set by booking class, not a function of what you paid, so taxes, fuel surcharges and fees neither add to nor reduce your credit.
If I upgrade a ticket on Japan Airlines, do I earn miles on the original fare or the upgraded cabin?
On the original fare. JAL states that after a paid airport upgrade to Premium Economy, mileage is based on the fare of the purchased Economy ticket, not the upgraded cabin, and lounge access follows the original ticket too; the same applies to mileage upgrade awards.
Source: JAL: international upgrades
Do infant or child tickets on Japan Airlines earn miles?
Infants without their own seat (under 2 on international flights, under 3 on domestic) earn no miles. Children aged 2 to 11 (3 to 11 domestic) travelling on a child ticket accrue the same mileage as adults, except for bonus miles from special promotions.
Do group bookings, tour packages or charter flights on Japan Airlines earn miles?
They earn at a reduced rate. On JAL international flights, individual inclusive tour fares (package tours), group inclusive tour fares and group bookings accrue 70% of flight mileage in Business Class and 50% in Premium Economy and Economy.
Do employee, industry or heavily discounted fares on Japan Airlines earn miles?
No. Non-revenue tickets earn no miles, and heavily discounted tour and group fares earn only 50% (Economy and Premium Economy) or 70% (Business) on international flights.
How do I add my JAL Mileage Bank number to an existing Japan Airlines booking?
Give the number at check-in if it was not on the booking: JAL credits flights automatically when the JMB number is provided at reservation or check-in, and on domestic flights you can register it at the self-service kiosks (once per sector). Bookings made while logged in carry it automatically, and anything missed can be claimed as post-flight credit within six months.
Does Japan Airlines have a calculator to estimate miles for a flight?
Yes. JAL publishes a domestic flight calculator and an international flight calculator that show the flight miles and FLY ON Points for a route and fare, with the caveat that the actual amount can differ depending on the conditions that apply to your ticket.
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to JAL Mileage Bank?
JAL Group flights (JAL, JTA, RAC), the oneworld carriers, and JMB partner airlines. JAL's own pages name American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines and Garuda Indonesia among carriers that also pay FLY ON bonus miles, and its award partners include Air France, Korean Air, Emirates, Alaska, Hawaiian and Jetstar Japan; each partner has its own page under "earn miles by flight".
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
How are miles calculated on partner airline flights credited to JAL Mileage Bank?
Sector mileage (IATA TPM distance, updated each January and July) multiplied by an accrual rate set per partner and booking class. Qantas is typical: 150% in First (F, A), 125% in Business (J, C, D, I), 100% in Y and W, 70% in R, T, B and H and 50% in K, M, V and L, with award, non-revenue and unlisted fare classes earning nothing.
Source: JAL: Earning JMB miles on Qantas
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn miles in JAL Mileage Bank, and which earn nothing?
Each partner page on jal.co.jp carries its own table and any booking class not listed on it earns nothing. On Qantas, for example, F and A earn 150%, J, C, D and I 125%, Y and W 100%, R, T, B and H 70%, and K, M, V and L 50%; award tickets, non-revenue tickets, special discounted fares and flights already credited elsewhere are excluded, and QF-coded Jetstar flights earn only in L class on oneworld fares.
Source: JAL: Earning JMB miles on Qantas
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in JAL Mileage Bank?
Only oneworld ones. FLY ON Points and qualifying flights are earned on JAL Group and oneworld member airlines; flights on non-oneworld partners earn miles but do not count toward FLY ON status, and every tier requires a minimum on JAL Group flights.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
Does it matter whether a partner flight is ticketed by Japan Airlines or by the partner for JAL Mileage Bank earning?
It matters less than the fare: JAL credits any ticket issued in the member's own name on an eligible fare and booking class, whoever issued it, but codeshare flights are generally not eligible on the oneworld earning page, and the same flight cannot be registered with another programme as well as JMB.
Which non-alliance airlines partner with JAL Mileage Bank for earning?
Emirates is the biggest: JMB members earn 15% to 150% of sector mileage by booking class on Emirates-operated flights (though its deep-discount economy classes earn nothing between Japan and Dubai, and the flights never count toward FLY ON status). Korean Air and Garuda Indonesia (Japan-Indonesia flights, which also pay FLY ON Mile-Up bonuses) are the other main non-alliance earning partners alongside the oneworld carriers.
How long do partner airline flights take to post to JAL Mileage Bank?
One to four weeks, against 2 to 3 days for JAL domestic and 4 to 5 days for JAL international flights. If a partner flight has not shown up after that, submit a post-flight credit request online within six months of the flight date.
Can I credit different flights on the same ticket to different programs, or must the whole ticket go to JAL Mileage Bank?
You can, flight by flight, as long as each flight goes to only one programme: JAL prohibits duplicate registration of the same flight with JMB and another scheme, so a mixed ticket can have some sectors credited to JMB and others elsewhere, but never the same sector twice.
Do JAL Mileage Bank elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
Only on a short list of partners. The FLY ON Mile-Up Bonus (130% Diamond, 105% JGC Premier and Sapphire, 55% Crystal) is paid on JAL Group flights plus American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines flights between Japan and Malaysia and Garuda Indonesia flights between Japan and Indonesia, not on other oneworld or partner carriers.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Where does Japan Airlines publish the partner earning charts for JAL Mileage Bank?
On the "Accumulating mileage" section of jal.co.jp, which links a JAL Group airlines page and a page per JMB partner airline under earn miles by flight, plus domestic and international flight calculators.
Source: JAL: accumulating mileage
Can I earn miles on trains, buses or ferries through JAL Mileage Bank?
Only the Tokyo Monorail, which JAL lists among the before-and-during-travel partners that earn miles alongside car rentals, airport coat storage and baggage delivery; there are no general rail, bus or ferry earning partners.
Missing miles and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing miles from JAL Mileage Bank?
Six months. The JMB rules require you to claim any missing or incorrect mileage within six months of the boarding date, so file the retroactive credit request well inside that window. See our guide to claiming missing miles.
How do I file a missing miles claim with JAL Mileage Bank?
Submit a post-flight credit request on the JAL website while logged in; domestic requests are accepted from three days after boarding and everything must be filed within six months of the flight date. JAL may email you to verify details before crediting.
Source: JAL: post-flight mileage credit
What information does JAL Mileage Bank need for a missing miles claim?
Your e-ticket itinerary/receipt and boarding pass, from which you enter the flight date, flight number, cabin and booking class, the sector, and the 13-digit ticket number (for a codeshare, the number on your receipt, not the operating carrier's). The name on the boarding pass must match your JMB registration, otherwise you have to go through the JAL Mileage Bank Center instead of the online form.
Source: JAL: How to request post-flight credit for partner airlines
How do I claim missing miles for a partner airline flight in JAL Mileage Bank?
Use the same online post-flight credit request within six months of the flight date; JAL may contact you by email to confirm the partner flight details before crediting.
Source: JAL: post-flight mileage credit
How long does JAL Mileage Bank take to process a retroactive claim?
One to four weeks. A message icon on your JMB account page shows while the post-flight credit request is being processed and disappears once the miles are posted.
Source: JAL: How to request post-flight credit for partner airlines
Can I claim miles for flights taken before I joined JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes, within six months of the flight date. Flights taken before enrolment qualify for post-flight credit apart from promotional bonus miles.
Source: JAL: post-flight mileage credit
My flight was credited to the wrong program. Can JAL Mileage Bank move the miles?
No. JAL states that transferring or combining mileage credits between JMB and other mileage programs is not permitted, so miles credited to another airline's program cannot be moved into JMB.
Source: JAL: post-flight mileage credit
Will JAL Mileage Bank credit a flight if the name on the ticket does not exactly match my account?
No. Travel under a name different from the one registered on the JMB account is listed among the cases that earn no mileage, so update your registered name through the JAL Mileage Bank Center before flying.
What can I do if JAL Mileage Bank rejects a missing miles claim?
First check that the booking class (the fare letter on your receipt, not the F, C or Y cabin letter on the boarding pass) and the operating airline are eligible for JMB accrual. If they are, JAL emails a dedicated application form on which you upload the receipt and boarding pass so it can confirm the flight with the partner airline; name mismatches go to the JAL Mileage Bank Center. See our missing miles guide.
Source: JAL: How to request post-flight credit for partner airlines
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue JAL Mileage Bank credit cards, and in which countries?
JAL Card is a Japan-issued family of co-branded cards: CLUB-A, CLUB-A Gold, Platinum and Platinum Pro, plus JAL American Express and JAL Diners versions, along with the no-fee JMB WAON and JMB G.G WAON cards (age 55+) and the JAL Pay prepaid Mastercard. Applications go through each issuing company's website.
Source: JAL: JMB membership cards
How many miles per dollar do JAL Mileage Bank credit cards earn?
JAL Card holders earn 2 miles per JPY200 at designated JAL contract retailers (double the normal rate), and JMB WAON e-money earns 1 mile per JPY200 at participating stores.
Source: JAL: accumulating mileage
What sign-up bonus do JAL Mileage Bank credit cards typically offer?
Bonuses are modest by US standards: the student JAL Card Navi gives 2,000 miles on enrolment plus half-price award tickets, and JAL CLUB EST for members in their twenties adds 2,500 miles a year and lounge access. Watch the JMB campaigns page for time-limited enrolment offers.
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in JAL Mileage Bank?
Not FLY ON status, which comes only from JAL Group and oneworld flights (shopping and promotional miles are excluded). Life Status Points, which unlock JAL Global Club at 1,500 and JMB elite benefits at 250, are earned from both JAL Group flights and "lifestyle services activity".
Which bank points transfer to JAL Mileage Bank, and at what ratio?
JAL's partner pages list hotel programs rather than bank programs: Accor ALL converts 4,000 Reward points into 2,000 miles (credited within 24 hours), and Marriott Bonvoy members can earn JAL miles directly on stays by choosing JAL as their earning preference. See transfer partners.
How long do bank point transfers to JAL Mileage Bank take?
Accor ALL to JAL exchanges credit within 24 hours; miles sent out to partner programs can take longer around Japanese long holidays, and WAON e-money awards take about a week.
Can I transfer miles back out of JAL Mileage Bank to a bank program?
Only into hotel and retail programs, at poor rates: 4,000 miles become 3,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, 10,000 miles become 4,000 Accor ALL points (5,000 miles for 1,000), 5,000 One Harmony points, or 10,000 d POINT, BIC Point or TOKYU POINT.
Source: JAL: partner awards
Does JAL Mileage Bank run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
Yes, for bank partners in Asia: JAL runs points-to-miles conversion bonuses on its own site. The 2025 round paid 50% bonus miles (up to double on one offer) for converting points from CIMB, HSBC Malaysia, HSBC Vietnam TravelOne, American Express by Hyundai Card, Krungsri, China CITIC Bank, CTBC Bank, HSBC Taiwan, Ping An, Cathay United Bank, Hua Nan Bank and BCA, in windows between 1 February and 30 June 2025, with the bonus credited within about two weeks of the conversion (around two months for Hua Nan Bank). A JMB account is required to convert.
Must the bank account and JAL Mileage Bank account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes. The name registered with JAL Mileage Bank must match the name on the partner account (Accor ALL, for example) or the exchange fails.
Do JAL Mileage Bank credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes. The JAL Global Club versions of the JAL Card cost JPY11,000 a year for CLUB-A, JPY20,900 for CLUB-A Gold, JPY34,100 for JAL American Express and JAL Diners, and up to JPY77,000 for Platinum, with family cards from JPY11,000 to JPY27,500. Offsetting perks include the JGC status itself, shopping miles and bonus miles on JAL Group flights.
Do any JAL Mileage Bank credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
Not the JAL USA Card: its benefit list has no companion fare or free-flight certificate. Instead it gives a 10,000-mile welcome bonus, 5,000 bonus miles after your first international JAL flight, a 10% bonus on sector miles for JAL flights, and discounts of 10% on JAL in-flight duty free, 5% at Haneda and Narita airport duty free and about 10% on in-flight Wi-Fi, for a USD35 annual fee (plus USD50 a year for the Premium Reward option).
Is there a business credit card for JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes, in Japan. JAL Card offers corporate cards for small and medium businesses in two versions, the Regular card (JPY2,200 a year per cardholder, 1,000-mile entry and annual bonuses, 10% flight bonus) and CLUB-A (JPY11,000, 5,000-mile entry bonus, 2,000-mile annual bonus, 25% flight bonus), for Japanese companies, non-profits and sole proprietors with five or more years of profitable operation. Flight miles go to each individual cardholder, but corporate cards earn no shopping miles on spend, and up to eight cardholders can be added.
Source: JAL Card: corporate cards for small and medium businesses
Can I get a JAL Mileage Bank credit card if I live outside the United States?
It depends where you live: the JAL Card family is issued only in Japan, while the United States has the JAL USA Card, a USD35 Mastercard from First National Bank of Omaha that earns 2 miles per dollar on JAL and 1 elsewhere on the Premium tier (or 1 mile per USD2 on Basic), with a 10,000-mile welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees and a 10% sector bonus on JAL flights; applicants without a Social Security Number may still apply. Elsewhere JAL relies on bank partners that transfer points into JMB.
Source: JAL USA Card: home page
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying miles.
Does JAL Mileage Bank have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes, JAL Mileage Park (partner.jal.co.jp) is the online portal where bookings and purchases with partner merchants earn miles; for example, FHG HOTELS stays booked through it earn 1 mile per JPY100 from 27 August 2026.
Source: JAL press release: fav hospitality group partnership
Does JAL Mileage Bank have a dining rewards program?
Not a card-linked dining network like the US programmes, only a handful of JMB dining partners by region: in Hong Kong, for example, Nadaman at the Kowloon Shangri-La and The Hongkong Japanese Club pay 1 mile per HK$20 when you quote your JMB number (double with a JAL Card), excluding discounted meals, with credit taking two to three months and no retroactive claims.
Source: JAL: JMB partner mileage, dining
Which hotel chains earn miles in JAL Mileage Bank, and can hotel points be converted?
JAL lists more than 15,000 partner hotels and onsen ryokans where stays earn JMB miles, alongside car rentals and baggage services; the redemption side runs through JMB World Marketplace with over 550,000 hotels.
Source: JAL: accumulating mileage
Which car rental companies earn miles in JAL Mileage Bank?
JAL lists car rental in Japan and internationally among its travel partners that earn miles, alongside the Tokyo Monorail, airport coat storage, baggage delivery and mobile phone rental; the redemption side covers 30,000+ car rental locations via JMB World Marketplace.
Can I gift miles to another JAL Mileage Bank member?
No. Transferring or pooling miles between members is not permitted under rule 14, so you cannot gift miles; you can, however, redeem your own miles for award tickets for a spouse or relative within the second degree of kinship.
Are there phone, internet, energy or subscription partners that earn miles in JAL Mileage Bank?
One telecom partner is listed: DOCOMO mobile phone rental pays 2 miles per JPY100 of rental and call charges (excluding consumption tax), or a flat 200 miles per contract on DOCOMO contractor rentals overseas and partner-operator rentals in Japan, provided you give your JMB number when applying. Credit takes one to two months and cannot be claimed retroactively. No energy or subscription partners appear on the English site.
Can I earn miles on fuel or groceries with JAL Mileage Bank?
In Japan, yes: paying with a JMB WAON e-money card earns 1 mile per JPY200 at participating stores such as Aeon, and JAL Card holders earn 2 miles per JPY200 at designated JAL contract retailers.
Source: JAL: accumulating mileage
Does in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases earn miles on Japan Airlines?
In-flight sales do: on JAL-operated flights you earn 1 mile per JPY100 spent on duty-free and onboard purchases by showing your JMB card, JAL Card, JAL Pay screen or any credit card to the crew at purchase (cash, coupons and mail or online pre-orders earn nothing, and no retroactive claims are accepted). JAL Card holders also get 10% off and double JAL Card shopping miles; credit takes several days to a month. Wi-Fi is not listed as an earning purchase.
Source: JAL: In-flight sales miles
Where does JAL Mileage Bank list its current earning promotions?
JAL keeps a JMB campaigns page listing current mileage promotions, and the JAL Card and FLY ON pages carry their own offers such as the 2,000-mile JAL Card Navi enrolment bonus.
Source: JAL: accumulating mileage
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in JAL Mileage Bank?
FLY ON status has four annual tiers: JMB Crystal, JMB Sapphire, JGC Premier and JMB Diamond, earned from FLY ON Points or qualifying flights in a calendar year. Alongside them sits the JAL Global Club (JGC), a long-term membership reached through Life Status Points and held with a JAL Card.
How do I qualify for elite status in JAL Mileage Bank: by spending, segments, distance or points?
By FLY ON Points or by number of flights. FLY ON Points are flight miles multiplied by a route factor (x2 domestic Japan, x1.5 JAL flights to Asia, Oceania and Vladivostok, x1 elsewhere) plus a fare-class bonus of up to 400 points per flight; each tier can also be reached on a qualifying-flight count with a JAL Group minimum. JAL Global Club uses a separate Life Status Points tally.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
What are the qualification thresholds for each JAL Mileage Bank tier?
In a calendar year: JMB Crystal needs 30,000 FLY ON Points (15,000 on JAL Group) or 30 flights (15 JAL Group) plus 10,000 FOP; Sapphire 50,000 FOP (25,000 JAL Group) or 50 flights plus 15,000 FOP; JGC Premier (JAL Global Club members only) 80,000 FOP (40,000 JAL Group) or 80 flights plus 25,000 FOP; Diamond 100,000 FOP (50,000 JAL Group) or 120 flights (60 JAL Group) plus 35,000 FOP. Diamond Metal adds a top level at 150,000 JAL Group FOP or 180 JAL Group flights plus 50,000 FOP.
Source: JAL: FLY ON membership levels
When does the JAL Mileage Bank qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
Qualification runs on the calendar year, January to December, and FLY ON Points reset to zero each year. Status arrives in stages (booking benefits about a week after qualifying, airport benefits once the card or app updates, and some Diamond and JGC Premier extras from 1 April) and lasts until 31 March of the second year after the qualification year.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
Do partner airline flights count toward JAL Mileage Bank status?
Only oneworld flights count. FLY ON Points and qualifying flights accrue on JAL Group airlines and oneworld member carriers; miles from non-oneworld partner airlines, promotional bonuses and hotel or shopping miles do not count toward FLY ON status, and each tier has a JAL Group minimum.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer a status match or status challenge?
Not from another airline. JAL's only published match is with Marriott Bonvoy (launched 14 July 2026): Sapphire gets complimentary Marriott Silver, JGC Premier and Diamond get Gold with fast tracks to Platinum, and in return Marriott Silver to Ambassador members receive 5,000 to 40,000 FLY ON Points a year toward JMB status.
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Yes, through the JAL Global Club (JGC). You qualify with 1,500 Life Status Points under the JAL Life Status Program and keep JGC for as long as you hold a qualifying JAL Card (CLUB-A from JPY11,000 a year, CLUB-A Gold JPY20,900, JAL American Express or Diners JPY34,100, Platinum up to JPY77,000); if you drop out, re-enrolment is meant to require another 100 Life Status Points, a rule JAL says is not yet being enforced.
If I fall short of requalifying, does JAL Mileage Bank drop me one tier or all the way?
Neither as such: JAL sets each FLY ON level from the FLY ON Points or qualifying flights collected in one calendar year, and that level lasts until 31 March of the second year after it; if the next year's total falls short, you hold whatever tier it reaches, or none, once the old status expires. JAL Global Club is the cushion: JAL's oneworld tier page shows JGC members with no FLY ON status still ranking as oneworld Sapphire.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
What baggage benefits do JAL Mileage Bank elite members get?
JMB Diamond, JGC Premier, JMB Sapphire and JAL Global Club members get an extra 20 kg on domestic flights and one extra piece on international flights, honoured on oneworld partners too. JMB Crystal gets an extra 10 kg domestic or one extra piece international, and Crystal and JGC members get priority baggage on Class J domestic flights.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Which JAL Mileage Bank tiers get lounge access, and where?
JMB Diamond and JGC Premier use the JAL First Class Lounge and Diamond Premier Lounge; JMB Sapphire and JAL Global Club use the Sakura Lounge and its oneworld equivalents. Each brings one companion free and can bring up to two more with mile-purchased lounge coupons (four people in total). JMB Crystal has no free lounge access but can enter alone by presenting status plus one lounge coupon.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Do JAL Mileage Bank elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
No. The FLY ON service list contains no complimentary upgrades at any tier; upgrades on JAL international flights are bought with miles through International Upgrade Awards, and the Diamond Metal extras apply to Class J domestic flights.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Do JAL Mileage Bank elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
All FLY ON tiers get advance assignment of front-row seats: Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JGC on both domestic and international flights, Crystal on international only. Diamond members are seated on a priority basis up to 48 hours before domestic departures and 72 hours before international ones.
Source: JAL: JMB Diamond
Which fees does JAL Mileage Bank waive for elite members?
Baggage rather than booking fees: every FLY ON tier from Crystal up gets one extra free checked piece on international flights and an extra 10 kg (Crystal) or 20 kg (Sapphire and above) domestically, and Diamond and JGC Premier members have mileage expiry suspended. JAL does not waive award refund charges, Ticket Service Fees or surcharges for status holders.
What do JAL Mileage Bank tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
JMB Diamond and JGC Premier are oneworld Emerald; JMB Sapphire, JGC Sapphire, JGC Crystal and JAL Global Club members with no FLY ON status are oneworld Sapphire; JMB Crystal without JGC is oneworld Ruby. Emerald brings First Class check-in and lounges plus the fast security lane; Sapphire brings Business Class check-in and lounges, priority standby and waitlisting and extra baggage in Economy; Ruby gives Business Class check-in, priority standby and waitlisting and preferred seating on international flights.
Can elite benefits in JAL Mileage Bank be shared with family or a companion?
Not as a transfer of status, but most airport benefits cover one companion: priority check-in for every tier, and lounge access for Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JGC members with one companion free (up to four people using lounge coupons). The companion must fly a JAL Group flight the same day, though not necessarily the same flight.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in JAL Mileage Bank?
No. FLY ON Points are reset to zero at the start of every calendar year, so surplus points from one year do not carry into the next; only Life Status Points, which drive JAL Global Club, accumulate over time.
Source: JAL: FLY ON program guide
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in JAL Mileage Bank?
Only at the top. The JMB Diamond and JGC Premier Service Selection 2026 menu includes a "Partner Status" option that extends FLY ON status services to one designated partner from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 (the member must hold JGC membership as of 31 January 2026); the alternatives are e JAL Points, gifts, HoteLux Elite Plus, JAL Shopping Points or JAL Pay Points. Lower tiers have no way to gift status.
Source: JAL: JMB Diamond and JGC Premier Service Selection 2026
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in JAL Mileage Bank?
Not for cash, but Marriott Bonvoy status now tops up your tally: after linking accounts, Silver Elite members receive 5,000 FLY ON Points a year, Gold 10,000, Platinum 20,000, Titanium 30,000 and Ambassador 40,000, enough for Ambassadors to reach Crystal or higher.
Will JAL Mileage Bank elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes on oneworld carriers: priority check-in, extra baggage and (for Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JGC) lounge access are listed as "oneworld included", with Diamond recognised as oneworld Emerald and JGC as oneworld Sapphire. Lounge coupons bought with miles are not accepted at partner lounges.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
Yes, at the top tiers. JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members choose from the JMB Diamond/JGC Premier Service Selection and get extras such as the Airline Pilot Experience, JAL Totteoki-no-Ippin limited items and suspension of mileage expiry; Sapphire members get the limited items only.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Redeeming on Japan Airlines
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does JAL Mileage Bank use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Japan Airlines flights?
A fixed chart with a variable top-up. Each route has base miles (for example 27,000 one-way in Economy or 55,000 in Business from Japan to North America); when base seats are sold out you can book at Award Ticket PLUS levels that rise with the estimated seats remaining, up to 206,000 to 230,000 miles in Economy. First Class is seasonal and excluded from PLUS. See the award chart.
Source: JAL: international award chart
What is the cheapest award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank?
A JAL domestic award from 4,500 miles one-way; JAL international awards start at 7,500 miles one-way. See the award chart.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Can I book one-way awards in JAL Mileage Bank, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes. JAL international awards start at 7,500 miles one-way and 15,000 round-trip, and domestic awards at 4,500 one-way and 9,000 round-trip, so a one-way is exactly half.
Source: JAL: international award tickets
How do I search for award seats on Japan Airlines?
Log in at jal.co.jp and choose "Book JAL Domestic Award Tickets" or the international award booking, or open the Domestic Award Ticket Seat Availability Check Calendar to scan dates; partner-airline distance awards use the Distance Scheme Award Sector Mileage Calculator to price the trip.
Source: JAL: domestic award chart
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in JAL Mileage Bank?
JAL calls them base miles and Award Ticket PLUS. Base miles are the lowest price (27,000 Economy to North America); if no base seats are left you can still book at a PLUS level that varies with the estimated remaining seats, and the published PLUS figure is the maximum. PLUS does not apply to First Class.
Source: JAL: international award chart
Does JAL Mileage Bank allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
Not on JAL's own awards: stopovers of more than 24 hours in Japan are banned, and each direction is limited to one international plus one domestic sector, though one open jaw (surface sector) per round trip is allowed, so you can fly into one city and home from another. Partner airline awards are more generous, with up to 3 stopovers (7 on a oneworld award).
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in JAL Mileage Bank, and how is it priced?
In a limited way: on an international Business or First award, connecting JAL domestic sectors can be booked in Class J, and on a domestic First Class award any segment without First is booked in Class J or Economy.
Source: JAL: international award tickets
Can I pay part in miles and part in cash with JAL Mileage Bank?
No. You must hold the full mileage for the award in your account when you reserve, and the miles are deducted in full when the ticket is issued; cash covers only the taxes, fuel surcharge and insurance surcharge. JAL likewise refuses to split a single excess-baggage charge between miles and cash.
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank?
A child with a seat costs the same miles as an adult. An infant sharing an adult's seat pays 10% of the adult mileage on JAL awards when travelling on the same award type; on JMB partner airline awards infants without a seat cannot be carried on the award at all.
Source: JAL: award redemption rules
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
Yes, via the oneworld Award Ticket: it is priced on the total flown distance across up to 8 sectors with up to 7 stopovers and one surface sector, so a multi-continent loop is possible. The top band, 34,001 to 50,000 miles flown, costs 160,000 miles in Economy, 220,000 in Business and 330,000 in First; a 14,001 to 20,000-mile trip is 90,000/120,000/170,000. Fuel surcharges and taxes are added, and First is not available on Malaysia Airlines.
What is the minimum number of miles needed to book an award in JAL Mileage Bank?
Awards start at 1,000 miles, the smallest being 1,000 miles for 1,000 e JAL Points (JPY1,000 toward JAL fares). The cheapest flight awards are 4,500 miles one-way on JAL domestic routes and 7,500 miles one-way on JAL international routes. Note that new members cannot redeem for up to 60 days after enrolling.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
What are the best-value redemptions in JAL Mileage Bank?
Business Class from Japan to North America or Europe at 55,000 to 57,000 miles one-way and Hawaii at 43,000 are the standouts, with First Class from 110,000 in low season. Short hops to Seoul or Taipei from 7,500 miles and JAL domestic flights from 4,500 are the cheapest uses. See the award chart.
Source: JAL: international award chart
Does flying on an award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank earn status or miles?
No. Award tickets earn no flight miles and are listed as ineligible fares for FLY ON Points, so they contribute nothing toward status.
Can I select seats on an award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank, and is there a charge?
Yes, free. JAL lists award ticket holders alongside normal and discount fare passengers as eligible for complimentary advance seat selection on international flights, though only a limited range of seats is pre-selectable and the range depends on the award type. Paid seats on partner-operated codeshares cannot be pre-selected on jal.co.jp, and partner airline awards allow no advance seat selection at all.
What baggage allowance do I get on an award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank?
JAL spells it out for Jetstar Japan award tickets booked with JAL miles: domestic awards include 20 kg of free checked baggage and international awards one piece of up to 23 kg, and the international awards also include an in-flight meal and complimentary drinks.
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with miles from JAL Mileage Bank?
All oneworld carriers through oneworld Award Tickets, plus JMB partner awards on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Air France, Korean Air, Emirates and Jetstar Japan. See our partner booking guide.
Which partner awards can be booked online with JAL Mileage Bank, and which need a phone call?
Almost all JMB partner airline and oneworld awards book on jal.co.jp; the exceptions that need a call to the JMB Award Reservations Desk are Jetstar Japan international flights, unaccompanied minors under 15, and passengers aged 15 or over departing from the UK.
How are partner awards priced in JAL Mileage Bank?
By total trip distance and cabin. The JMB partner chart runs from 12,000 miles (Economy) to 330,000 (First) across trips of 1 to 50,000 miles, with Premium Economy from 17,000 and Business from 24,000; surface sectors are not counted. Multi-carrier oneworld Award Tickets use a separate chart from 25,000 (Economy), 48,000 (Business) and 72,000 (First).
Does JAL Mileage Bank charge a fee for partner awards?
No separate award booking fee is listed on the partner charts, but fuel surcharges and other taxes are collected on top of the miles for every partner award.
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to JAL Mileage Bank awards?
JAL states that fuel surcharges and other taxes are collected in addition to the miles on both JMB partner airline awards and oneworld Award Tickets, so expect the operating carrier's surcharge where it levies one.
Source: JAL: oneworld award chart
Can I combine Japan Airlines and partner flights on one award in JAL Mileage Bank?
Partly. A JMB partner airline award is priced per partner on up to 6 sectors (with connections on that airline), while the oneworld Award Ticket is the instrument for combining several oneworld carriers on one ticket across up to 8 sectors; Jetstar Japan awards cannot be combined with any other airline at all. JAL's own international awards, by contrast, allow just one international and one JAL domestic sector each way.
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with JAL Mileage Bank miles?
Air France, Korean Air, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines and Jetstar Japan (GK-coded domestic flights from 4,500 miles one-way, Economy only) can all be booked with JAL miles alongside the oneworld carriers.
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. JMB partner airline awards allow up to 3 stopovers within a maximum of 6 flight sectors (4 sectors on Fiji Airways, Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc and China Eastern, 2 on Korean Air), and oneworld awards allow 7 stopovers across up to 8 sectors, with one surface sector per itinerary and no backtracking to the origin.
Can I use miles to upgrade a partner airline flight through JAL Mileage Bank?
No. International Upgrade Awards apply only to JAL-operated international flights; codeshare and partner-operated flights and JAL domestic sectors are ineligible.
Can partner awards booked through JAL Mileage Bank be changed or cancelled online?
Yes. Date and flight-number changes on partner airline awards are made online up to 48 hours before departure (and by phone until departure), and cancellations online up to 3 hours before departure for the JPY3,100 reinstatement charge; Jetstar Japan international awards are the exception and must be handled by phone.
Source: JAL: Partner airline award tickets, changes and refunds
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with JAL Mileage Bank miles?
Look for cabins priced below their label: on select American Airlines and Alaska/Hawaiian flights, First Class is charged at the Business Class rate. First Class is not bookable at all on Malaysia Airlines, Air France, Korean Air or Emirates with JAL miles.
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the miles, and which fees can be avoided.
Does JAL Mileage Bank add fuel surcharges to award tickets on Japan Airlines?
Yes. JAL states that its fuel surcharge applies to JAL Mileage Bank award tickets. For September to October 2026 it is JPY50,000 per person each way to North America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania, JPY30,900 to Hawaii, JPY26,000 to Southeast Asia and JPY5,900 to Korea, revised every two months.
Does JAL Mileage Bank charge a booking fee for award tickets?
Not online. Booking an award on jal.co.jp carries no award fee beyond taxes and surcharges; a Ticket Service Fee applies only when you reserve through the JMB Award Reservations Desk by phone, which is also the only channel open between 48 and 24 hours before departure.
Does JAL Mileage Bank charge extra to book an award by phone?
JAL's Americas fee schedule makes online booking free and charges USD/CAD 50 for a new reservation or a reissue made by phone or at a counter, so book awards online where the site allows it.
Does JAL Mileage Bank charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No close-in fee, but a hard cut-off: online award booking closes 48 hours before the first flight and phone booking 24 hours before, with phone bookings paying the usual Ticket Service Fee rather than any last-minute surcharge.
Which award fees does JAL Mileage Bank waive for elite members?
None of the award fees. JAL's FLY ON benefit chart contains no waiver of the JPY3,100 award refund charge, the Ticket Service Fee for phone bookings, or fuel surcharges at any tier; the money-saving status perks are instead an extra checked bag on international flights (plus 10 to 20 kg domestically), Mile-Up bonuses of 55% to 130%, and, for Diamond and JGC Premier, no mileage expiry.
How much are the typical taxes and fees on a JAL Mileage Bank award ticket?
The fuel surcharge dominates: as of September 2026 it is JPY50,000 each way from Japan to North America or Europe, JPY30,900 to Hawaii, JPY26,000 to Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore, JPY12,400 to most of East Asia and JPY5,900 to Korea, plus airport taxes and the insurance surcharge.
How does JAL Mileage Bank handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
It is passed straight through. JAL's award rules say airport taxes, fuel surcharges, insurance surcharges and other surcharges must be borne by the member and paid by credit card, and the upgrade award rules flag that air passenger duties on UK, France and Malaysia routes vary by cabin, so an upgrade can raise the duty. There is no waiver or mileage option for them.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international upgrade awards
Can I pay the taxes and fees on a JAL Mileage Bank award with miles?
No. The award rules state that airport taxes, fuel surcharges, insurance surcharges and other surcharges must be borne by the member and paid by credit card, and the PLUS FAQ confirms that neither cash nor e JAL Points can top up a mileage shortfall in the other direction either.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
Are taxes and fees refunded if I cancel a JAL Mileage Bank award?
Yes. Airport taxes, fuel surcharges and insurance surcharges are refunded to the credit card you paid with, even on a partially used award where the miles themselves are lost; only Ticket Service Fees are non-refundable, and partner award tax refunds take one to two months.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
How can I reduce the cash cost of a JAL Mileage Bank award?
Pick the route and timing: the surcharge is JPY5,900 to Korea and JPY12,400 within East Asia against JPY50,000 to North America or Europe, and it is re-set every two months, so ticket when the bimonthly rate drops. Booking at base miles rather than PLUS keeps the mileage side down too.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does JAL Mileage Bank charge to change an award ticket?
JAL international award tickets cannot be changed at all, not even the cabin: you cancel (JPY3,100 refund charge per ticket) and rebook. JMB partner airline awards are friendlier: date and flight-number changes are free online up to 48 hours before departure, while a change made by phone incurs a Ticket Service Fee. See our change and cancellation guide.
Source: JAL: International award tickets, changes and refunds
What does JAL Mileage Bank charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles?
The Mileage Reinstatement Service charges JPY1,000 per domestic award ticket and JPY3,100 (or local currency equivalent) per international or partner airline award ticket, charged per passenger and per ticket; upgrade awards are reinstated free. Only completely unused awards within one year of issue qualify, and the miles go back to the original account with their original expiry.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
How close to departure can I cancel a JAL Mileage Bank award?
Online, up to 3 hours before departure for JAL international and partner airline awards (Jetstar Japan international awards: 23:59 the day before) and 20 minutes before the first flight for domestic awards. Nothing can be refunded once the first flight has departed, and international upgrade awards must be cancelled by phone.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
What happens to my miles if I no-show a JAL Mileage Bank award?
You lose them. JAL states that a no-show renders the award ticket null and void and the mileage is forfeited, so cancel online at least 3 hours before departure if you cannot travel.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
How long does JAL Mileage Bank take to redeposit miles after a cancellation?
JAL does not publish a timeline for the miles themselves, but says the taxes and surcharges from a refunded partner airline award take one to two months to come back to the card you paid with.
Can I change or cancel a JAL Mileage Bank award online, or must I call?
Online for most cases: JAL and partner airline awards can be cancelled on the website up to 3 hours before departure (20 minutes for domestic), and partner award date changes are done online up to 48 hours out. You must phone the JMB Award Reservations Desk for international upgrade awards, itineraries touching India, unaccompanied minors, passengers already checked in, and bookings the airline itself has altered.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
What are my rights if Japan Airlines changes the schedule of my award flight?
When JAL reschedules or cancels your flight you can confirm the new timing, switch to an alternative flight or cancel for a refund, and JAL states that no additional fees are charged for changes it causes. Award bookings altered by the airline cannot be handled online, so call the JMB Award Reservations Desk to rebook or refund.
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip JAL Mileage Bank award?
You can drop the return, but you get no miles back: JAL does not reinstate mileage for partially used award tickets, only the unused taxes and surcharges are refunded. Reinstatement requires the whole award to be unused, so weigh that before flying the outbound.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
Can I change the passenger name on a JAL Mileage Bank award?
No. JAL international awards allow no changes of any kind, and the partner airline award rules list the traveller's name (along with the carrier, sector, class and routing) among the items that cannot be changed. Cancel, pay the JPY3,100 reinstatement charge and rebook for the right person.
Source: JAL: Partner airline award tickets, changes and refunds
Are change and cancellation fees waived for JAL Mileage Bank elite members?
No. The FLY ON services chart lists no waiver of award change or refund charges for any tier, and the award refund rules apply the JPY3,100 (international and partner) or JPY1,000 (domestic) reinstatement charge to every member. What Diamond and JGC Premier do get is priority waitlisting, a dedicated desk, and suspension of mileage expiry.
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
No 24-hour grace period is offered: the refund charge (JPY3,100 international and partner, JPY1,000 domestic) applies to any reinstatement of an unused award from the moment it is issued. The only free cancellations are of international upgrade awards.
Source: JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. JMB partner airline awards permit flight-number and date changes (online up to 48 hours before departure, by phone until departure, even after travel begins) within one year of issue, whereas JAL's own award tickets cannot be changed at all. Refunds cost the same JPY3,100 either way, and Jetstar Japan international awards must be cancelled by 23:59 the day before.
Source: JAL: Partner airline award tickets, changes and refunds
If I cancel a JAL Mileage Bank award booked with miles that have since expired, do I get them back?
No. JAL's rules say mileage that has expired by the time of cancellation cannot be reinstated; only miles still within their original validity go back into the account, and they keep that original expiry date.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
What does Japan Airlines do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
JAL lets you confirm the revised flight, move to an alternative flight or cancel for a refund with no fees when it cancels or reschedules a flight, and says it will try to arrange new seats and services for you. Award bookings the airline has altered cannot be changed online, so call the JMB Award Reservations Desk; the disruption page does not promise rebooking onto partner airlines, and for flights operated by other carriers it sends you to the JAL Contact Center.
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
How far in advance can I book award tickets in JAL Mileage Bank?
360 days before departure. JAL international award reservations open at 0:00 Japan time 360 days before the flight (for a round trip, 360 days before the return), and online booking closes 48 hours before the first sector departs. Partner airline awards use the same 360-day window, with a few partners accepting bookings later.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
When does Japan Airlines release award seats, and are more added closer to departure?
JAL international award seats open at 0:00 Japan time 360 days before departure, and online booking stays open until 48 hours before the first flight. Once the base-mileage seats are gone, JAL's Award Ticket PLUS FAQ says Economy, Premium Economy and Business can still be booked, seats permitting, at higher PLUS mileage instead of being waitlisted, while First Class requests can be waitlisted for a seat to open.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
Can I put a JAL Mileage Bank award on hold before paying?
No. You must already hold the full mileage when you make the reservation, and the award is issued and the miles deducted as soon as the booking is confirmed; the only exception is a First Class waitlist, where the miles come out when the seat clears. Partner awards cannot be issued for open itineraries either.
Does JAL Mileage Bank have an award waitlist?
Only in First Class for JAL international awards. Since Award Ticket PLUS began in December 2018, Economy, Premium Economy and Business requests that would once have gone on a waitlist are offered at higher PLUS mileage instead, and only First Class can still be waitlisted. JMB partner airline awards cannot be waitlisted at all, per JAL's partner award booking page, while JAL's mileage validity page adds that the miles for a waitlisted award are deducted only once the seat is confirmed.
Do JAL Mileage Bank elite members get extra award availability?
Yes at the top. JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members get an Award Ticket Advance Booking service that opens award seats before the general start date, along with advance booking of JAL domestic flights and a dedicated reservation desk. Sapphire and Crystal get priority waitlisting but no early award access.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Can I redeem miles for any seat on Japan Airlines, or only for designated award seats?
Effectively any Economy, Premium Economy or Business seat: when base-mileage award seats are gone, Award Ticket PLUS lets you book remaining seats for additional miles that scale with how few are left. First Class is limited to designated seats since PLUS does not apply to it.
Source: JAL: international award chart
What tools show JAL Mileage Bank award availability across dates?
JAL's own Domestic Award Ticket Seat Availability Check Calendar shows domestic award space by date, and the Distance Scheme Award Sector Mileage Calculator prices partner itineraries; international JAL awards are searched date by date in the logged-in booking flow. See our availability guide.
Source: JAL: domestic award chart
When is the best time to book a JAL Mileage Bank award?
As early as you can, ideally when bookings open at 0:00 Japan time 360 days before departure. JAL's Award Ticket PLUS FAQ says international award mileage varies with the route, the time of year and the reservation date, and once base-mileage seats are gone Economy, Premium Economy and Business cost more PLUS miles rather than going on a waitlist. Online booking closes 48 hours before the first flight.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
How do I find award seats for a family of four in JAL Mileage Bank?
Search for all four at once: a single JAL award booking can hold up to nine passengers, subject to seats being available, and family members within the second degree of kinship can travel on your miles. If the flight only has fewer award seats, split the party across flights or waitlist the extra seats.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
Upgrades
Using miles to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade an Japan Airlines flight with miles?
Log in to your JMB account, open the JAL Mileage Bank page and choose International Upgrade Awards under "Redeem your miles" (members in Japan use the JAL website flow), or call the JAL Contact Center. Upgrades cover JAL-operated international flights only.
Which fares are eligible for a miles upgrade on Japan Airlines?
Business to First needs J, C, D or I; Economy or Premium Economy to Business needs W, R, Y, B, H or K; Economy to Premium Economy needs Y, B, H or K. Inclusive tour and group fares, special discounted fares, JMB award tickets and codeshare flights are ineligible.
How many miles does an upgrade cost in JAL Mileage Bank, and is there a cash copay?
One-way from Japan: Economy to Premium Economy costs 20,000 miles to North America or Europe, 15,000 to Southeast Asia and 9,000 to East Asia; Economy to Business is 30,000 to North America, 33,000 to Europe, 20,000 to Southeast Asia and 12,000 to East Asia; Economy to First runs 45,000 to North America and 48,000 to Europe. No cash copay is listed.
Can I use miles to upgrade partner airline flights through JAL Mileage Bank?
No. Mileage upgrade awards are limited to JAL-operated international flights; codeshare and partner-operated flights are excluded.
Can I waitlist for a miles upgrade in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. International upgrade awards can be waitlisted online up to 25 hours before departure, the miles are deducted only when the seat is confirmed, and the waitlist is held until 24 hours before departure (departure city time), after which it cancels automatically. If it does not clear you can still ask about an upgrade at the airport on the day.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international upgrade awards
Can I upgrade with miles at check-in or at the gate on Japan Airlines?
At the airport JAL sells cash upgrades to Premium Economy when seats are open (JPY50,000 to North America, Europe or Australia, JPY25,000 to Southeast Asia, JPY10,000 to 20,000 within East Asia), while mileage upgrade awards are requested in advance online or through the JAL Contact Center.
Source: JAL: international upgrades
Does JAL Mileage Bank give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
No upgrade certificates. What Diamond members get instead is a rebate: when they redeem International Upgrade Awards on eligible routes a designated number of miles is returned toward the end of the following month, alongside free international Wi-Fi codes and the annual Service Selection menu of e JAL Points, gifts and partner status.
Source: JAL: Other exclusive member services for JMB Diamond
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more miles in JAL Mileage Bank?
No. JMB award tickets are listed among the tickets ineligible for International Upgrade Awards, so book the higher cabin outright instead.
Are upgrade miles refunded if the upgrade does not clear in JAL Mileage Bank?
Cancelling an international upgrade award costs nothing: the miles for a completely unused upgrade go back to the original account without a cancellation charge, provided you call the JMB International Award Reservations Desk at least 24 hours before departure. You can drop the upgrade and keep the underlying ticket if a seat is still available in your original booking class.
Source: JAL: International upgrade awards, changes and refunds
Does Japan Airlines sell cash upgrades or run upgrade auctions, and do they earn miles?
JAL sells fixed-price airport upgrades to Premium Economy (JPY50,000 from Japan to North America, Europe or Australia, JPY25,000 to Southeast Asia, JPY35,000 to South Asia, JPY10,000 to 20,000 within East Asia; USD350 same-day in the Americas) rather than running an auction, and miles still accrue on the original Economy fare.
Source: JAL: international upgrades
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend miles.
Can I redeem miles for hotels through JAL Mileage Bank, and what is the value?
Yes, through JMB World Marketplace, which offers more than 550,000 hotels for miles alongside e JAL Points; the flight awards give more value, since 1,000 miles buys only JPY1,000 of e JAL Points.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Can I redeem miles for car rentals through JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. JMB World Marketplace lets you redeem miles at more than 30,000 car rental locations worldwide.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Can I redeem miles for merchandise or gift cards in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. Miles convert to JAL Coupons (10,000 miles for JPY12,000 of coupons), WAON e-money usable at FamilyMart, McDonald's and Aeon, Suica and BIC Camera points, and merchandise such as watches, shoes, accessories and electronics in the JAL Mileage Bank World Marketplace.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Can I pay for seat selection with miles on Japan Airlines?
Not for JAL's paid Extra Legroom Seats on international flights: credit card is the only payment method listed, and the fee earns no miles or FLY ON Points. The seat costs JPY10,000 (US$100) per segment between Japan and Europe, North America, Australia or India, JPY6,000 (US$60) to Southeast Asia and JPY4,000 (US$40) to East Asia, Guam, Manila and Vladivostok, bought on the JAL website with the ticket or later through Manage Booking. JMB Crystal and higher, JAL Global Club and oneworld status members choose these seats free.
Source: JAL: Paid advance seat selection for Extra Legroom Seats
Can I pay for checked bags with miles on Japan Airlines?
Excess baggage, yes: at the airport on JAL-operated international flights (not codeshares) you can pay each excess charge in miles instead of cash. From Japan to Asia and Oceania an extra piece is 10,000 miles, a 24 to 32 kg bag 6,000 and an oversize piece 10,000; to Europe, Hawaii and North America it is 20,000, 10,000 and 20,000 miles. It cannot be arranged in advance and miles cannot be mixed with cash on one charge.
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with miles on Japan Airlines?
Yes for Wi-Fi: JAL lists In-Flight Wi-Fi Coupon Awards among its redemption options for members in Europe, alongside JAL Coupons that can be spent on in-flight purchases. International Wi-Fi otherwise costs US$10.15 to US$18.80 per plan.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Can I redeem miles for lounge access or a lounge membership in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. Lounge coupons can be issued in exchange for miles and used at JAL Group domestic lounges, or to bring up to two extra companions into the lounge with a status member. They are not valid for the Diamond Premier Lounge, JAL First Class Lounges or oneworld partner lounges.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Can I donate miles to charity through JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. The JAL Charity Miles program lets you donate miles to JAL's selected causes.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer experiences, events or auctions for miles?
Yes. Partner awards include 65,000 miles for a 2-Day Park Hopper ticket and Tallink Silja cruise redemptions, and JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members can choose an Airline Pilot Experience and JAL Totteoki-no-Ippin limited items.
Source: JAL: partner awards
Can I convert miles to cash or statement credit in JAL Mileage Bank?
Not to cash, but close to it: 1,000 miles become 1,000 e JAL Points worth JPY1,000 toward JAL tickets, or WAON e-money spendable at convenience stores and Aeon, and 10,000 miles buy JPY12,000 in JAL Coupons.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Which non-flight redemptions in JAL Mileage Bank give the best value per miles?
Among the cash-like awards, JAL Coupons pay best at 10,000 miles for JPY12,000 (1.2 yen per mile), ahead of e JAL Points at 1,000 miles for JPY1,000 and WAON e-money. Flight awards from 4,500 miles domestic still beat all of them.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Can I use miles to extend status or buy tier credit in JAL Mileage Bank?
No. Life Status Points are credited separately from miles and FLY ON Points, and every LSP source JAL lists is earning activity, not a way to spend miles: 5 LSP per JAL domestic flight or per 1,000 international sector miles, 5 per 2,000 miles earned with a JALCARD, 1 per 100 miles earned at JAL Mall, in-flight shopping or JAL Mileage Park shops, 10 per JALPAK international tour (3 domestic) from 1 July 2025, plus JAL Pay, JAL NEOBANK, JAL Denki and a 20-LSP JAL Home Loan. LSP never expire while you remain a JMB member.
Source: JAL: earning Life Status Points
Expiry and reactivation
Whether miles expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do JAL Mileage Bank miles expire?
Yes. Each batch of miles is valid until the last day (Japan time) of the 36th month after the month it was earned, then expires automatically, and account activity does not extend it. Only JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members get expiry suspended. See our guide to mileage expiry.
What counts as activity to keep JAL Mileage Bank miles from expiring?
Nothing does. JAL miles have a hard 36-month life from the month of earning regardless of later activity; each transaction has its own expiry date rather than the balance being extended.
Can expired JAL Mileage Bank miles be reinstated, and at what cost?
JAL publishes no way to buy back expired miles: the validity page simply says miles not redeemed within the 36-month period expire, and the only Mileage Reinstatement Service in the rules concerns miles from unused awards.
Source: JAL: mileage validity
Are JAL Mileage Bank elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
Only the top two tiers: "suspension of mileage expiration" is listed as a benefit for JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members. Sapphire, Crystal, JAL Global Club and JAL Card holders keep the standard 36-month expiry (a JAL Card only protects you from account closure for inactivity).
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
How do I check when my JAL Mileage Bank miles expire?
Log in to your JMB account, where the validity of each batch of miles is shown; miles earned in a given month expire on the last day of the same month three years later, timed to Japan for Japan members, Pacific Time for the Americas, UK time for Europe and Hong Kong time for Asia and Oceania.
Source: JAL: mileage validity
What is the cheapest way to keep JAL Mileage Bank miles active?
There is no way to reset JAL's expiry clock, since every mile lapses 36 months after the month it was earned regardless of activity. The practical route is to spend miles before they lapse, and the smallest award is 1,000 miles for 1,000 e JAL Points.
Source: JAL: redeeming mileage
Does JAL Mileage Bank close inactive accounts?
Yes. Membership is cancelled if you accrue no mileage for 36 months or your balance stays at zero for 36 consecutive months, except for JAL Card holders and JAL Family Club members.
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of miles reset the JAL Mileage Bank expiry clock?
No. Miles are valid for 36 months from the month of the transaction that earned them, and new credits do not extend older ones, so a transfer or purchase creates a fresh batch with its own expiry rather than resetting the account.
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on Japan Airlines, and how does status change it?
On flights from the Americas JAL allows two free checked pieces in Economy and three in Business or First, with extra pieces USD200 each. FLY ON and oneworld status adds one more piece internationally (or 20 kg domestically, 10 kg for Crystal).
Which lounges can JAL Mileage Bank members access, and how?
JAL First Class Lounges and Diamond Premier Lounges for JMB Diamond and JGC Premier, Sakura Lounges for JMB Sapphire and JAL Global Club, plus around 600 oneworld partner lounges for oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalents. Members without status can use mile-purchased lounge coupons at JAL Group domestic lounges.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Can I buy lounge access on Japan Airlines without status?
Yes, on international departures. Economy passengers on eligible fares can buy Sakura Lounge access up to check-in for JPY8,250 at Haneda, Narita and Chubu, JPY7,500 at Honolulu and JPY6,420 at Bangkok (USD82.50/75/60 for tickets bought outside Japan), payable by credit card only, valid from 3 hours before departure and non-refundable. Miles are not accepted and it cannot be bought at the airport counter.
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Japan Airlines?
Every FLY ON tier from JMB Crystal up gets priority check-in (with one companion, including at oneworld partners), priority waitlist and priority standby. Priority boarding on domestic flights and the priority security lane are reserved for Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JGC; Crystal gets priority boarding on international flights only.
Source: JAL: FLY ON services by status
Does Japan Airlines offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
On domestic flights, yes: passengers on Flex-type fares (Flex, JAL Card Flex, Business Flex, Shareholder's Flex and the island and route Flex fares) can register for airport standby in the JAL app from 3 hours until 20 minutes before the flight they want, with the result pushed 15 to 20 minutes before departure and any payment settled automatically for JMB members. FLY ON members from Crystal up hold priority on the standby list, but the standby itself is a fare feature rather than a free elite perk.
Source: JAL: Domestic airport standby
Does Japan Airlines offer free Wi-Fi to JAL Mileage Bank members?
Not on international flights: Wi-Fi plans cost US$10.15 to US$18.80 regardless of status, though members can redeem miles for In-Flight Wi-Fi Coupon Awards.
Do JAL Mileage Bank elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
For airport services, yes: priority check-in covers one companion for every tier, and Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JGC lounge access includes one free companion who is flying a JAL Group flight the same day (children aged 2+ international or 3+ domestic count as companions).
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Can JAL Mileage Bank elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes. JMB Diamond, JGC Premier, Sapphire and JAL Global Club members (oneworld Emerald and Sapphire equivalents) can use around 600 oneworld partner lounges when flying oneworld carriers, with one companion. JMB Crystal has no partner lounge access, and mile-purchased lounge coupons are not valid at partner lounges.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in JAL Mileage Bank?
Yes. JAL states that all fares including award tickets are eligible for FLY ON lounge access on JAL international routes, so status benefits apply whether you paid cash or miles.
Source: JAL: FLY ON lounge access
Does JAL Mileage Bank status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Yes, with Marriott Bonvoy since 14 July 2026: linking accounts gives JMB Sapphire complimentary Marriott Silver Elite, JGC Premier Gold Elite plus 10,000 points, and Diamond Gold Elite plus 15,000 points with a fast track to Platinum after 10 nights. Status is credited within six weeks and lasts at least 12 months; no car rental status is included.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is Japan Airlines in, and since when?
Japan Airlines is a oneworld member. JMB Diamond and JGC Premier are recognised as oneworld Emerald, JMB Sapphire and other JAL Global Club members as oneworld Sapphire, and JMB Crystal as oneworld Ruby, giving priority check-in and standby across the alliance and, from Sapphire up, partner lounge access. See our oneworld guide.
Which airlines are Japan Airlines's partners outside its alliance?
Outside oneworld, JAL miles can be redeemed on Air France, Korean Air, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines and Jetstar Japan, and Garuda Indonesia flights between Japan and Indonesia earn FLY ON bonus miles for status members.
Which joint ventures is Japan Airlines part of, and what do they mean for JAL Mileage Bank members?
JAL runs antitrust-immunised joint businesses with American Airlines across the Pacific (since 1 April 2011), with British Airways, Finnair and Iberia between Europe and Japan (since 18 October 2016), with Malaysia Airlines (from July 2020) and with Garuda Indonesia (from 1 April 2025). For JMB members the practical effect is codeshare-wide earning and redemption: the Garuda deal, for instance, lets you earn and redeem JMB miles on Garuda flights between Japan and Indonesia and pays FLY ON status members a Mile-Up Bonus on them.
Source: JAL press release: Garuda Indonesia and JAL commence joint business
Which partners has JAL Mileage Bank added or lost recently?
The newest tie-ups are on the ground: the JAL Mileage Bank and Marriott Bonvoy status match launched on 14 July 2026, and fav hospitality group's FHG HOTELS joined as an earn-and-redeem partner on 27 August 2026.
Source: JAL press release: fav hospitality group partnership
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with JAL Mileage Bank?
Marriott Bonvoy (2 miles per US dollar at premium brands, 1 at others, plus a status match), Okura Nikko and JAL City hotels (200 to 2,000 miles a night on J-SMART plans), and 500 miles per stay at IHG, Hyatt, Pan Pacific, Melia and Dusit; Accor ALL points convert at 4,000 to 2,000 miles.
Does JAL Mileage Bank partner with any low-cost carriers?
Yes. Jetstar Japan domestic award tickets on GK-coded flights start at 4,500 miles one-way in Economy, and JAL miles convert to ZIPAIR Points (3,000 miles minimum, up to 1.5 points per mile at 10,000 miles) with ZIPAIR Points converting back at 2 points per mile.
Source: JAL: Jetstar Japan award tickets
Does JAL Mileage Bank have rail partners?
Only the Tokyo Monorail, which JAL lists among its before-and-during-travel earning partners; there is no national rail partner.
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking Japan Airlines flights?
Any oneworld partner's programme is a route in: oneworld says your points add up whenever you book and fly a member airline, and that you redeem by booking reward flights on your own airline's frequent flyer website. Alongside JAL its members are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines. See our oneworld guide.
Source: oneworld: travel benefits
Do Japan Airlines's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in JAL Mileage Bank the same way?
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) and Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC) earn under the JAL Group table, and JTA international flights and JAL Group domestic flights are covered by JAL award tickets. ZIPAIR is handled through a points exchange (2 ZIPAIR Points per mile) rather than direct earning, and Spring Airlines-operated flights earn nothing.
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns miles, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns JAL Mileage Bank miles: the member or the airline?
The rules treat miles as a benefit JAL grants rather than the member's property: they cannot be transferred, pooled or sold, JAL can withdraw them under rule 39, and the latest version of the rules on JAL's website always prevails.
Do the JAL Mileage Bank terms prohibit selling or bartering miles?
Yes. Rule 25 of the JMB rules states that the selling, bartering or exchanging of award certificates, award tickets or any other awards is not permitted, including exchange for cash or sale at auction, and rule 14 bars transferring miles between members. Points Plug still buys JAL miles; see how selling works.
What can JAL Mileage Bank do if it finds miles were sold or awards were bought?
Under rule 39 JAL may immediately terminate membership, withdraw mileage and awards, temporarily suspend JMB services, deny future participation and claim damages, and anyone who flies on an improperly obtained award ticket is charged the applicable normal fare.
Does JAL Mileage Bank audit accounts, and what triggers a review?
JAL reserves the right to consolidate duplicate accounts, withdraw excess mileage and demand official documents proving a designated award user's relationship to the member. Rule 39 lists the triggers for sanctions: incorrect registration data, a false declaration about mileage credit, conduct the rules prohibit, or behaviour that harms mutual trust with JAL.
Is it against the JAL Mileage Bank rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
Yes. Awards can only be used by the member and designated relatives (spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, in-laws), and rule 25 forbids selling or bartering award tickets, so booking for a paying stranger breaches both rules and can cost you the account and the miles.
Can JAL Mileage Bank change its rules or devalue miles without notice?
JAL commits to three months' advance notice before ending mileage accrual, changing accrual percentages, withdrawing awards or changing award levels, and six months' notice plus a one-year run-off to use miles if JMB itself is terminated. Continuing to earn, redeem or log in after a change is announced counts as accepting it.
Are JAL Mileage Bank miles taxable?
JAL does not withhold or report anything, but rule 28 makes the member or designated user solely responsible for any taxes on JMB benefits, including income taxes, and you agree to indemnify JAL for any tax liability on awards.
Where are the full JAL Mileage Bank terms and conditions?
The full JAL Mileage Bank Rules and Conditions (41 numbered rules covering membership, accrual, awards, expiry and termination) are published in English on jal.co.jp; the latest web version takes precedence over any printed material.
Source: JAL: JMB Rules and Conditions
How does selling JAL Mileage Bank miles through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys JAL Mileage Bank miles in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 1.04¢ to 1.23¢ per mile depending on the balance. You get a quote on the JAL Mileage Bank page, our team confirms the details, the miles are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are JAL Mileage Bank miles worth?
Published valuations put JAL Mileage Bank miles at 1.30¢ to 1.30¢ each, about 1.30¢ on average, as of 2026-09-22. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact JAL Mileage Bank customer service?
Through the JAL Mileage Bank Center by phone in each region, or via the chat icon on jal.co.jp, where a chatbot or live operator is available Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 17:30 Japan time (closed Sundays, public holidays and New Year). Diamond and JGC Premier members have a dedicated reservation desk and Sapphire members their own desk.
Source: JAL: JMB help and contacts
What are the JAL Mileage Bank service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
Chat runs Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 17:30 Japan time, with JAL Family Club enquiries weekdays only. JMB Diamond and JGC Premier members use a dedicated Diamond/Premier Reservation Desk and JMB Sapphire members a Sapphire Reservation Desk.
Source: JAL: JMB help and contacts
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes. A chat icon in the lower right of the JAL website connects to a chatbot or a live operator Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 17:30 Japan time.
Source: JAL: JMB help and contacts
What do I do if my JAL Mileage Bank account is hacked or miles are stolen?
Change your JMB password immediately from the account settings on jal.co.jp, check that your email account has no unknown forwarding rules, and then contact the JAL Mileage Bank Center. JAL's Login Alert Notification Service (mail from jmb_confirmation@jal.com) warns you whenever a new device or browser signs in, so an unfamiliar alert is your cue that a third party may have misused the account.
How do I see my JAL Mileage Bank activity statement and past redemptions?
Log in to the JMB site and open the mileage balance inquiry, which shows your balance and activity; JAL e-News also reminds members every two months to review their mileage statements online.
Source: JAL: JAL e-News
Does JAL Mileage Bank support two-factor authentication?
Not for login itself, but sensitive actions are protected: viewing or changing membership details and redeeming certain awards require a one-time password sent by SMS (from 03-5460-0124) or email, valid for 10 minutes and single-use.
Source: JAL: JMB one-time passwords
How do I escalate a complaint about JAL Mileage Bank?
Start with the website chat or the JMB member contact form on the Contact Us page, or write to JAL's Americas office at 300 Continental Boulevard, Suite 400, El Segundo, CA 90245 (phone 1-800-525-3663; TTY via 711). JAL warns it may not answer every message and that replies can take time; in the United States an unresolved complaint can be taken to the Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division at 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on a JAL Mileage Bank award ticket?
An infant sharing an adult's seat costs 10% of the adult mileage on JAL awards (plus taxes and surcharges), and an infant with their own seat pays full adult miles. On JMB partner airline awards, lap infants cannot travel on the award.
Source: JAL: award redemption rules
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on a JAL Mileage Bank award ticket?
Not on partner awards: since 1 August 2009 JMB refuses award travel that includes a partner airline for a child under 15 travelling without an adult aged 16 or over, and cancels the booking if it discovers this later (unused miles are reinstated free). On JAL's own award tickets an unaccompanied child under 12 can travel, but the booking must be handled by phone rather than cancelled online.
Can I pay pet fees with miles on Japan Airlines, and do pet fees earn miles?
JAL's fee schedule prices pets at USD/CAD 400 per container on flights from the Americas, payable in cash; miles are not offered as payment and ancillary fees do not appear in the flight-based earning rules.
Does JAL Mileage Bank offer student or youth benefits?
In Japan, yes. JAL Card Navi is a student credit card that gives a 2,000-mile enrolment bonus and lets students buy certain award tickets for 50% of the normal mileage, and JAL CLUB EST for people in their twenties adds 2,500 miles a year and lounge access.
Are there special award rules for medical or bereavement travel in JAL Mileage Bank?
JAL's award rules handle medical needs through procedure: on a JAL international award, a passenger who needs a stretcher, a medical device or medical oxygen must submit a Medical Information Form (MEDIF), as must a pregnant passenger within four weeks (28 days) of delivery, with an uncertain due date, a multiple pregnancy or a history of early delivery. After booking, these passengers contact the JMB International Award Reservations Desk or JMB Center, which also handles their seat selection.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on a JAL Mileage Bank award booking?
Register the assistance you need through JAL's Special Assistance pages on jal.co.jp or by phone once the award is booked; airport wheelchairs, check-in-to-gate escort, pre-boarding, onboard aisle chairs and checking your own manual or electric wheelchair are all free. The upgrade and award rules add that wheelchair users and other special-arrangement passengers should contact the JMB International Award Reservations Desk for seat assignment rather than selecting seats online.
Can I book group awards for more than nine people in JAL Mileage Bank?
Not in one booking: JAL caps an award reservation at nine passengers, subject to seat availability, and only relatives within the second degree of kinship can use a member's miles. Larger parties have to be split into separate bookings.
Source: JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to JAL Mileage Bank?
In 2026 JAL launched the Marriott Bonvoy status match (14 July), added FHG HOTELS as an earn-and-redeem partner (27 August), closed World Marketplace shopping to Japan-based members from 1 April in favour of JAL Totteoki-no-Ippin, and began phasing out physical FLY ON status cards in favour of digital cards after January 2027.
Has JAL Mileage Bank changed its name or currency recently?
Not recently. The only rebrand in the programme's history was in October 1996, when the Japanese JAL Sky Plus programme took the global JAL Mileage Bank name; the currency has been called miles throughout, and the 2026 changes (Marriott status match, digital status cards) left the name untouched.
Source: JAL press release: JAL Mileage Bank reaches 20 million members
When did JAL Mileage Bank last devalue its award prices?
The last structural change to JAL's own international awards was the December 2018 launch of JAL International Award Ticket PLUS, which kept the base mileage levels but replaced Economy, Premium Economy and Business waitlists with variable "PLUS" pricing that rises with demand, season and booking date (First Class kept its waitlist). Domestic awards followed with the Award Anytime ticket announced in September 2021. See the current levels on our award chart page.
What changes has JAL Mileage Bank announced for the coming year?
Physical FLY ON status cards can be requested only until 31 January 2027 and remain valid to 31 March 2027; after that the digital membership card in the JAL app becomes the primary way to show status.
Source: JAL: FLY ON status card requests
How does JAL Mileage Bank notify members of changes?
Changes are announced on the JAL website, with the rules promising three months' notice for accrual or award changes and six months for program termination. Continuing to earn, redeem or log in after an announcement counts as your agreement to the change.
What changed most recently in how JAL Mileage Bank elite status is earned?
The Marriott Bonvoy status match, live since 14 July 2026, is the newest route to status: linked Marriott members receive 5,000 to 40,000 FLY ON Points a year by Marriott tier, and JMB Sapphire and above get complimentary Marriott Silver or Gold with fast tracks to higher tiers.
When was JAL Mileage Bank founded?
JAL Mileage Bank debuted in the United States in November 1983, and the Japanese programme, JAL Sky Plus, launched in January 1993 for First and Business passengers before opening to Economy; the two were unified under the JAL Mileage Bank name in October 1996. JMB passed 20 million members on 28 May 2007, the year JAL became a full oneworld member.
Source: JAL press release: JAL Mileage Bank reaches 20 million members
Pages these answers were read from
- JAL: JAL Mileage Bank overview · official page
- JAL: JMB Rules and Conditions (rules 5 and 6) · official page
- JAL: forgot your membership number · official page
- JAL: FLY ON status card requests · official page
- JAL: displaying status on the JAL app · official page
- JAL: JMB guide and procedures · official page
- JAL: post-flight mileage credit · official page
- JAL: JAL Business on WEB · official page
- JAL: earning miles on JAL Group flights · official page
- JAL: FLY ON services by status · official page
- JAL: How to accumulate flight mileage · official page
- JAL: international upgrades · official page
- JAL: international flight mileage calculator · official page
- JAL: Earning JMB miles on Qantas · official page
- JAL: FLY ON program guide · official page
- JAL: Earning JMB miles on oneworld airlines · official page
- JAL: Earning JMB miles on Emirates · official page
- JAL: accumulating mileage · official page
- JAL: earning miles before and during travel · official page
- JAL: How to request post-flight credit for partner airlines · official page
- JAL: JMB membership cards · official page
- JAL: select the card that suits you · official page
- JAL: how to become a JAL Global Club member · official page
- JAL: ALL Accor reward points award · official page
- JAL: partner awards · official page
- JAL: points-to-miles conversion bonus promotion · official page
- JAL: JAL Global Club qualification · official page
- JAL USA Card: home page (Japanese) · official page
- JAL Card: corporate cards for small and medium businesses · official page
- JAL USA Card: home page · official page
- JAL press release: fav hospitality group partnership · official page
- JAL: JMB partner mileage, dining · official page
- JAL: Mobile phone rental service earns JMB miles · official page
- JAL: In-flight sales miles · official page
- JAL: for our most frequent flyers · official page
- JAL: FLY ON membership levels · official page
- JAL: JMB and Marriott Bonvoy status match · official page
- JAL: FLY ON lounge access · official page
- JAL: JMB Diamond · official page
- JAL: oneworld tier status for JMB members · official page
- JAL: JMB Diamond and JGC Premier Service Selection 2026 · official page
- JAL: international award chart · official page
- JAL: redeeming mileage · official page
- JAL: international award tickets · official page
- JAL: domestic award chart · official page
- JAL: Notes when using JAL international award tickets · official page
- JAL: How to request JAL international award tickets · official page
- JAL: award redemption rules · official page
- JAL: oneworld award tickets chart · official page
- JAL: International advance seat selection · official page
- JAL: Conditions for Jetstar Japan award tickets · official page
- JAL: JMB partner airlines award chart · official page
- JAL: Notes when using partner airline award tickets · official page
- JAL: international upgrade awards · official page
- JAL: Partner airline award tickets, changes and refunds · official page
- JAL: international fuel surcharge · official page
- JAL: optional service fees (Americas) · official page
- JAL: Notes when using JAL international upgrade awards · official page
- JAL: Cancellations and refunds when redeeming mileage · official page
- JAL: International award tickets, changes and refunds · official page
- JAL: If your flight is rescheduled or cancelled · official page
- JAL: FAQ about JAL International Award Ticket PLUS · official page
- JAL: international upgrade award chart · official page
- JAL: Other exclusive member services for JMB Diamond · official page
- JAL: International upgrade awards, changes and refunds · official page
- JAL: Paid advance seat selection for Extra Legroom Seats · official page
- JAL: Paying excess baggage charges with JMB miles · official page
- JAL: redeeming mileage (Europe, Middle East and Africa) · official page
- JAL: earning Life Status Points · official page
- JAL: JAL Family Club · official page
- JAL: JMB Kids Club · official page
- JAL: mileage validity · official page
- JAL: Paid lounge access on international flights · official page
- JAL: Domestic airport standby · official page
- JAL press release: Garuda Indonesia and JAL commence joint business · official page
- JAL: hotel partners and miles earned · official page
- JAL: Jetstar Japan award tickets · official page
- oneworld: travel benefits · official page
- JAL: JMB help and contacts · official page
- JAL: Login alert notification service · official page
- JAL: JAL e-News · official page
- JAL: JMB one-time passwords · official page
- JAL: Americas region contact form · official page
- JAL: Introduction of JAL chat support · official page
- JAL: Award rules for unaccompanied minors under 15 · official page
- JAL: Assistance for mobility and wheelchairs · official page
- JAL press release: JAL Mileage Bank reaches 20 million members · official page