You likely know my take on this by now, but I’ll give it to you again right upfront.
I don’t think anyone ought to be keeping large amounts of miles in one mileage account. For more than 21 years, FCF pioneered—and maintains—the idea of building a war chest of transferable points in as many different programs as possible, because they insulate you against mileage-program devaluations like JAL's, just announced.
I'm not mincing words: This is a disappointing devaluation for a program that has been one of FCF's favorites because of its otherwise-hidden deep discounts with partner airlines, such as American, Qantas, British Airways, and Emirates.
Could Be (Much) Worse
It’s not as bad as most mileage-currency devaluations go. The average increase on long-haul flights from the U.S. is 17,000 to 30,000 miles—or 21% to 23% increases—depending on route and class of service.Silver Lining
I don’t want to say the JAL mileage program is now useless—it’s far from that!—and that FCF’s seemingly proprietary JAL ticketing strategies are gone. They will just cost a bit more.Moreover, it doesn’t start until November 20, meaning you have almost five months to reap FCF’s best booking strategies at current rates.
How Do I Get Japan Airlines’ Lucrative Mileage Currency?
Let me count the few ways:- Transferring Starwood points to miles
- Transferring Marriott points to miles, or via Marriott Hotel & Air Packages
- Earning miles with new Barclays Arrival Premier World Elite Mastercard
Plus…
You can make a booking between now and November 20—for a specific route—and change the travel dates later to lock-in the current pricing for travel up to another 11 months beyond November.Only date changes can be made for no change in pricing, to be sure; no routing changes, in other words.
What’s Increasing?
JAL’s own mileage award rates remain the same: Business Class award rates to Japan still start at 85,000 miles round-trip and First Class at 120,000.The Ultimate oneworld Business Class Mileage Award with JAL for an around-the-world mileage ticket also remains unchanged, starting at an almost unbelievably low 120,000 JAL miles in Business Class and 170,000 in First Class, for trips up to 20,000 flight miles.
For perspective, Delta charges more for Business Class travel on simple long-haul round-trips.
The Math
Based on JAL’s rates until November 19, and the new rates starting November 20, here are some examples, all round-trip...Flying American using JAL miles
To Europe: New York-Madrid in Business Class using American miles costs 115,000 miles; book the same flights using JAL miles, at the current rate, and you’ll pay 63,000, while the November rate is 80,000—an increase of 17,000. That said, the increased rate is still a deal, at 35,000 fewer miles than American will charge you. Details here.To South America: American’s lowest Business Class award goes for 115,000 miles, while JAL currently charges 65,000. JAL’s November rate jumps to 85,000, but it will still cost 30,000 fewer miles than AA requires.
To Asia: American’s lowest Business Class award goes for 120,000 miles, while JAL currently only charges 80,000. The November rate jumps to 100,000 miles, still less than AA.
To South America in First Class: For New York-São Paulo, American’s lowest First Class award costs 170,000 miles, whereas JAL currently charges 105,000 miles. The November rate is 135,000, an increase of 30,000 miles. Still a deal.
FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy in Business Class: Currently 100,000 JAL miles; starting November 20 the rate is 130,000. Still a deal when compared to what AA charges (230,000 miles). Details here.
FCF’s Leg Stretch Strategy in First Class: Currently 155,000 JAL miles; starting November 20 the rate is 190,000. Still a deal when compared to what AA charges (340,000 miles). Details here.
Flying Qantas using JAL miles
To the South Pacific: San Francisco-Sydney, Qantas’ lowest Business Class award, costs 192,000 miles, while with JAL miles the ticket currently costs 100,000. The November 20 rate is 130,000 miles, an increase of 30,000 miles, but still 62,000 fewer miles.Flying British Airways using JAL miles
To Europe in First Class: Seattle-London, British Airways’ lowest award costs 170,000 miles, while JAL currently charges 115,000. The November rate is 145,000, but that's still 25,000 fewer miles than BA requires.Flying Emirates using JAL miles
To Dubai from New York in First Class: Emirates’ lowest award costs 217,500 miles, while the JAL ticket currently costs just 135,000 miles. The November rate jumps to 165,000 miles, an increase of 30,000 miles, but still 52,500 fewer miles than the Emirates rate.To Dubai from Los Angeles in Business Class: Emirates’ lowest round-trip award costs 165,000 miles versus the JAL ticket (currently 100,000 miles). On November 20 the rate increases to 130,000 miles, but that's still 35,000 fewer miles than Emirates requires.
Flying Air France using JAL miles
To Paris from New York: Air France’s lowest Business Class award costs 125,000 miles, while JAL currently charges 63,000 miles. The November rate is 80,000 JAL miles. Do the math; it's still a deal.As you can see, I’m not happy with the JAL devaluation, but I can live with it.
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