FirstClassFlyer

Japan is open for Business (and First), so let’s get there without paying the usual sumo-sized prices, with—or without—miles or points

You probably heard: Starting October 11, Japan is reopening its borders to tourism with fewer restrictions. Ironically, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made this announcement in New York where he was attending a UN General Assembly meeting.

All returnees and entrants to Japan are required to provide either a valid vaccination certificate (three doses), or a certificate of a negative test within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin.

While this is great news, it’s tempered a little by the fact that fares to Tokyo are sumo-sized right now. First Class nonstop flights range from $19,400 to $24,400 and Business Class nonstops range between $7,200 and $12,900. But that’s nothing new for this destination.

So, while enjoying a teriyaki chicken takeaway feast, our intrepid team got to work surveying nonstop availability using miles and points and found free award availability in First Class on All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, and in Business Class on All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. United has free award availability and upgrades to Business Class.

And of course, we went straight to the top and looked at First Class availability. October dates are in 2022 while September are 2023. In other words, you can go now or in a year.

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No miles? No problem.

Simply buy them (ideally when they are on sale) and you’ll save a fortune compared to using those same dollars to buy normal fares. Buy American miles when on sale to get Japan Airlines First Class (more on how to save up to $21,520 below), and United miles when on sale for All Nippon. For those of you who love the Virgin / All Nippon deal, we didn’t find any availability using Virgin miles.

The chart below shows how you can take a samurai sword to the cost of a normal First Class fare, with an Amex points partner, for flights on All Nippon and Japan Airlines.

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And similarly, you can buy American or United miles to karate kick those regular fares to the curb. Can you believe a savings of $16,520 to $21,520 for one trip?!

Partner Savings Opportunities
Using American or United Miles

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Business Class to Japan

Along with First Class, we also drilled down on Business Class. First up, our bento box of availability on All Nippon, Japan, Singapore, and United.

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The chart below shows huge savings when you buy points instead of fares. Look at that All Nippon San Francisco-Tokyo opportunity as one example. You could fork out $11,252 for a Business Class fare on All Nippon, or run that bad idea over with a bullet train and instead pay just $1,875 by buying the miles required, through Amex. Arigato!

Partner Savings Opportunities Using Amex Points

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As with First Class, you can buy American or United miles and save big on Business Class trips. It’s a great way to beat high fares, which I do all the time.

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United Upgrade Availability

Here are five routes to Asia with United mileage upgrade availability from economy to Business Class (60,000 round-trip, valid with most fares, plus a $900 co-pay).

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While We’re on the Subject…

Sick of negative stories about poor First Class availability to Asia? AND are you single or, er, flying solo? Then this read is for you.
And this is a report we wrote when Tokyo was closed, however you might like the strategy of using Tokyo as a gateway to other Asian destinations.

[["Airline<\/p>","To Tokyo From<\/p>","Round-trip Mileage Cost<\/p>","Outbound","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month"],["All Nippon","Chicago","150,000","Sept.","","",""],["Japan Airlines<\/p>","Chicago","140,000<\/p>","","Sept.","Oct.<\/span>","Sept."],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","Sept.","","Oct.<\/span>","Oct., Sept."],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","","Sept.","","Sept."],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","Oct.<\/span>","","Oct.","Oct., <\/span>Sept."]]

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats; in green at least four seats. Remember to use the data as a guide since availability can be volatile...

[["Operating Carrier","To Tokyo From","Lowest Cost Amex Partner","Amex Partner Cost","Cost To Buy Points \/ Miles at 2.5\u00a2","Normal Published Fare","\nSavings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","All Nippon","150,000","$3,750","$22,300","$18,550","83%"],["Japan<\/p>","Chicago","Cathay Pacific","240,000","$6,000","$23,800","$17,800","75%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","British Airways","206,000","$5,150","$19,400","$14,250","73%"],["#rowspan#","New York","Cathay Pacific","240,000","$6,000","$24,400","$18,400","75%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","British Airways","206,000","$5,150","$21,700","$16,550","76%"]]

[["Operating Carrier","To Tokyo From","Buy Miles From","Mileage Cost","Typical Cost To Buy Miles When on Sale at about 1.8\u00a2","Normal Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon","Chicago","United","220,000","$3,960","$22,300","$18,340","82%"],["Japan<\/p>","Chicago","American<\/p>","160,000<\/p>","$2,880<\/p>","$23,800","$20,920","88%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$19,400","$16,520","85%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$24,400","$21,520","88%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$21,700","$18,820","87%"]]

[["Airline<\/p>","To Tokyo From<\/p>","Round-trip Mileage Cost<\/p>","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["All Nippon<\/p>","Chicago","75,000<\/p>","","Sept.","","Oct., Aug., Sept.","",""],["#rowspan#","Houston","#rowspan#","July, Aug.","Sept.","","Sept.","",""],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","Aug., Sept.","","","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Oct.<\/span>","Sept."],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","Oct.,<\/span> Aug., Sept.","","","Oct.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","","Oct.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","Oct.<\/span>","Oct.","","Oct.<\/span>","Oct.",""],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","Aug.","","","Sept.","",""],["Japan<\/p>","Boston","100,000<\/p>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Aug.","Sept.<\/span>","June, Aug., Sept.<\/span>","","Sept.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Chicago","#rowspan#","July, Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Aug.","Sept.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Sept.<\/span>","Sept.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Dallas","#rowspan#","Oct., Nov.,<\/span> July,<\/span> Aug.<\/span>","July, Aug.<\/span>","Nov.,<\/span> Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Nov., Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Aug.","Sept.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","Nov.,<\/span> July, Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Aug.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.","Aug.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept.","","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","","Sept.<\/span>","Sept."],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","","Sept.<\/span>","","Oct.<\/span>","Sept.<\/span>",""],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","Aug.<\/span>","July, Aug.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>","Oct., Aug.<\/span>","Aug.,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","Aug., Sept.<\/span>"],["\n\nSingapore","\n\nLos Angeles","\n\n207,000","Oct.,<\/span> Nov.,<\/span> Dec.,<\/span> Jan.,<\/span> March,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> June<\/span>","Nov., Jan.,<\/span> Feb.,<\/span> April, May,<\/span> Sept.<\/span>","Nov., Feb.,<\/span> May, July, Aug.<\/span>","Nov., Jan., Feb.,<\/span> March, May, June, July to Sept.<\/span>","Oct.,<\/span> July","Oct., Aug.<\/span>"],["United<\/p>","Chicago","144,800-145,600","","","","Oct.,<\/span> June, July, Aug.","",""],["#rowspan#","Denver","140,000","April, May","","June, July, Aug.<\/span>","","","Aug."],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","140,000","June<\/span>","June","July, Aug.<\/span>","","Aug.",""],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","140,000-145,600","May","","June to Aug.","Oct.,<\/span> Aug.","",""]]

[["Operating Airline","To Tokyo From","Lowest Cost Amex Miles Partner","Amex Partner Cost \/ Miles","Cost To Buy Points \/ Miles at 2.5\u00a2","Normal Published Fare","Buying Amex Points Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon<\/p>","Chicago","All Nippon<\/p>","75,000<\/p>","$1,875<\/p>","$10,300","$8,425","82%"],["#rowspan#","Houston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,252","$9,377","83%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,001","$5,126","73%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,252","$9,377","83%"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,589","$6,714","78%"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,500","$9,625","84%"],["Japan<\/p>","Boston","Cathay Pacific<\/p>","150,000<\/p>","$3,750<\/p>","$9,863","$6,113","62%"],["#rowspan#","Chicago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,976","$6,226","62%"],["#rowspan#","Dallas","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,446","$5,696","60%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$6,198","$2,448","39%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$10,024","$6,274","63%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,785","$6,035","62%"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","122,000","$3,050","$7,243","$4,193","58%"],["Singapore","Los Angeles","Singapore","184,000","$4,600","$7,711","$3,111","40%"],["United<\/p>","Chicago","All Nippon<\/p>","85,000<\/p>","$2,125<\/p>","$11,452","$9,327","81%"],["#rowspan#","Denver","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$12,400","$10,275","83%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,815","$6,690","76%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$12,985","$10,860","84%"]]

[["Operating Carrier","To Tokyo From","Buy Miles From","Mileage Cost","Typical Cost To Buy Miles When on Sale at about 1.8\u00a2","Normal Published Fare","Savings","#colspan#"],["All Nippon<\/p>","Chicago","United<\/p>","160,000<\/p>","$2,880<\/p>","$10,300","$7,420","72%"],["#rowspan#","Houston","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,252","$8,372","74%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,001","$4,121","59%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,252","$8,372","74%"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,589","$5,709","66%"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$11,500","$8,620","75%"],["Japan<\/p>","Boston","American<\/p>","120,000<\/p>","$2,160<\/p>","$9,863","$7,703","78%"],["#rowspan#","Chicago","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,976","$7,816","78%"],["#rowspan#","Dallas","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,446","$7,286","77%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$6,198","$4,038","65%"],["#rowspan#","New York","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$10,024","$7,864","78%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$9,785","$7,625","78%"],["#rowspan#","Seattle","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$7,243","$5,083","70%"],["United<\/p>","Chicago","United<\/p>","160,000<\/p>","$2,880<\/p>","$11,452","$8,572","75%"],["#rowspan#","Denver","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$12,400","$9,520","77%"],["#rowspan#","Los Angeles","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$8,815","$5,935","67%"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$12,985","$10,105","78%"]]

[["To Tokyo From<\/p>","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Chicago","April, May","Feb.,<\/span> April to June","Feb., March, July, Aug.<\/span>","Oct.,<\/span> June, Aug.","",""],["Denver","","","June., July, Aug.<\/span>","Aug.","",""],["Los Angeles","Feb., April, June, Sept.","Feb., July<\/span>","May, July, Aug.<\/span>","Aug.","Oct., Sept.",""],["New York","Feb., March<\/span>","Feb., April to Aug.","","","",""],["San Francisco","May","","June to Aug.","Oct.<\/span>","",""]]

Take Off Your Shoes: Japan Reopens its Doors and FCF Opens Up 88% First Class Savings