What is the cheapest way to fly Japan Airlines’ First Class?

The Japan Airlines (JAL) First Class is one of the best ways to travel to Japan, but unfortunately, it’s available on only a limited number of routes, serving a handful of European, American, and Asian cities. You can book Japan Airlines First Class award flights at discounted rates using miles from programs like Avios, AAdvantage, Asia Miles, or Alaska Mileage Plan. Three of these programs frequently sell miles, and with the right offer, you could fly JAL First Class from Europe to Japan for around $635.

About the Japan Airlines First Class

For a long time, the JAL First Class cabin was available only on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. While this product has aged somewhat, it still ranks among the world’s top First Class offerings, particularly excelling in service and dining.

Recently, JAL introduced a new First Class suite on its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, featuring six suites in a 1-1-1 configuration. These suites include closing doors for privacy, a 62-inch wide seat that can be converted into a 203 cm (about 80 inches) long bed, a wardrobe, a minibar, a tablet to control the inflight entertainment system, and 24-inch screens.

JAL First Class Routes

Japan Airlines, headquartered in Tokyo with hubs at both Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) airports, operates First Class on select international routes. Here are the current routes served by First Class:

Boeing 777-300ER:

First Class routes on the B777-300ER (Source: GCMap.com)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – London (LHR)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Paris (CDG)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – San Francisco (SFO) (until early November 2024)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Los Angeles (LAX)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – New York (JFK)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Chicago (ORD)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Honolulu (HNL) (occasionally)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Sydney (SYD) (until the end of March 2025)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Singapore (SIN)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Bangkok (BKK)

Airbus A350-1000:

First Class routes on the A350-1000 (Source: GCMap.com)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – New York (JFK)

• Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Dallas (DFW)

Note that some of these routes may use aircraft without a First Class cabin, so be sure to check the aircraft type when booking.

Booking JAL First Class with Different Frequent Flyer Programs

JAL is a member of the Oneworld alliance, meaning you can book JAL First Class through many different frequent flyer programs, not just JAL’s Mileage Bank. Here’s a breakdown of how to book using a few popular programs:

1. British Airways Avios

Avios uses a distance-based award chart:

• Tokyo Haneda – Bangkok: 61,800 Avios

• Tokyo Haneda – Singapore: 82,500 Avios

• Tokyo Haneda – Sydney: 103,000 Avios

• Tokyo Haneda – New York: 144,250 Avios

Fuel surcharges vary, but from London to Tokyo, you’ll pay approximately 123,750 Avios and around $520 in taxes and fees.

2. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Using a distance-based award chart, these are the prices for one-way flights:

• Tokyo Haneda – Bangkok: 100,000 miles

• Tokyo Haneda – New York: 135,000 miles

Fuel surcharges are also added, for example, a flight from Tokyo to San Francisco would cost 135,000 miles plus around $300.

3. American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

AAdvantage offers one of the best deals:

• Tokyo Haneda – Bangkok: 40,000 miles

• Tokyo Haneda – New York: 80,000 miles

• Tokyo Haneda – London: 90,000 miles

Taxes and fees are minimal, with a flight from Tokyo to Bangkok costing only $29 in additional charges.

4. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles

Mileage Plan allows you to book JAL First Class as follows:

• Tokyo Haneda – Bangkok: 75,000 miles

• Tokyo Haneda – New York: 110,000 miles

Fuel surcharges are not passed on, making the total cost significantly lower.

Finding JAL First Class Award Availability

Flexibility is key when searching for JAL First Class award availability, as options can be limited. Typically, the best availability is for flights either very close to the departure date (within two weeks) or far in advance (more than 11 months). You can search availability through the American Airlines AAdvantage website, which offers a convenient calendar view.

Conclusion

The JAL First Class is one of the finest ways to travel from Europe or the U.S. to Japan, despite being available on relatively few routes. With miles from programs like Avios, Asia Miles, American Airlines AAdvantage, or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, you can book at a fraction of the regular price—making luxury travel more accessible.