What is was like flying Japan Airlines first class and how I booked it for just 80K American Airlines AAdvantage miles
Editor's Note
It's one of the best sweet spots in the world of points and miles: You can book Japan Airlines business or first class using miles from the frequent flyer programs of its U.S. partners, like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
It's a redemption that has plenty of nostalgia for me, too.
Japan Airlines was my first major mileage redemption back in 2016. I booked a one-way ticket to Tokyo in first class for just 80,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles. I'll never forget the sense of victory I felt when I scored that trip.
Remarkably, after tons of loyalty shake-ups and devaluations across the global airline industry, that same deal remains in place nearly a decade later. In fact, I recently recreated it to return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" — and you can, too.
Here's how to book Japan Airlines first class using miles and what it's like to fly.
How to book Japan Airlines first class with American Airlines AAdvantage miles (or Atmos Rewards points)
I flew from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) for just 80,000 AAdvantage miles one-way. You can also redeem Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards for JAL flights, though the same first-class ticket would have required 110,000 Atmos Rewards points.
Tips for finding JAL first-class awards
While JAL first-class awards are quite rare, here are a few of my top tricks to land these redemptions:
- Be flexible: Your best bet to score one of these redemptions is to be able to travel whenever seats happen to be available — including at the last minute.
- Search the calendar as soon as the schedule opens: JAL opens up seats to its partners about 11 months in advance, and that's when you'll likely find the best availability.
- Use award search tools: Options like Seats.aero and ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG parent company Red Ventures) tend to be my go-to picks for finding award availability.
- Use American Airlines' search calendar function: I used this function to snag this particular seat.
- Check multiple departure cities: I usually search for flights from New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, even if I'll need to book an inexpensive positioning flight to get there.
Searching for JAL first-class awards
To put those trips into practice, let's take a look at a couple of examples. My trip took place in September, but to demonstrate how to find more JAL first-class awards, I conducted a couple of recent searches on other dates from various cities to see what I could turn up.
I tend to start by searching flights from three of JAL's U.S. destinations: New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. A recent calendar search for January 2026 revealed connecting itineraries from San Francisco to Chicago and then onto Tokyo for 80,000 AAdvantage miles (compared to the 100,000 AAdvantage miles American would have charged me for a business-class seat on its own flights).
That was a close-in example. But when searching for more award inventory, I found a ticket from New York City to San Francisco and then onto Tokyo for 80,000 miles next September.
I might even be lucky enough to fly American's new Airbus A321XLR if those aircraft are in service from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) by then.
Right now, the flgiht to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) in Japan Airlines' first class is on the 777-300, but there's always the possibility that the flgiht will get switched to the A350. Either way, it's another great redemption.
While I found my flights by searching for awards directly on the American Airlines website, I recommend using an award search tool like PointsYeah or Seats.aero to see if you can find space at the lowest award levels.
Related: Travel to Japan with points and miles: Best ways to redeem your rewards for flights and hotels
You can simply enter your city pairs and then set some filters to search for specific airlines, such as Japan Airlines, to generate results that show which miles you can use to book the route.
A quick search of Seats.aero didn't turn up any dates for me, but I set an alert. You can see the alert confirmation below. I'll get an email when inventory becomes available.
I also searched PointsYeah, another up-and-coming award search tool. I've set an alert for a return trip to New York from Japan in early October next year. If the past is any guide, I expect to receive several alerts in the coming months sent right to my inbox.
Related: These 12 apps and websites make award redemptions easier to find
There are plenty of ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, including opening one of Citi's American Airlines-branded cards with a high welcome offer.
Right now, for example, Citi and American Airlines just launched the new Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees). The Citi / AAdvantage Globe has a limited-time welcome bonus of 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first four months from account opening. That's enough miles to book this redemption.
Remember, Citi also recently announced the launch of transfers from its Citi ThankYou Rewards program to American's AAdvantage loyalty program for those with particular Citi cards, so that's another potential way to pad your AAdvantage account.
What it was like flying Japan Airlines first class on the Boeing 777-300
Japan Airlines offers older first-class seats aboard its Boeing 777-300ERs and much newer suites aboard its Airbus A350-1000s. I flew the former, which has been in service for a number of years, but is still quite spacious and comfortable.
Once I booked my flight, I was able to choose my seat on the Japan Airlines website using the JL record locator number (shown on my American Airlines account). I chose seat 1K for the ride to Tokyo. As you can see, there are only eight first-class seats on the 777-300ER arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Before my flight, I used the Flagship First check-in area at Chicago, but only because the Japan Airlines check-in counters were not open yet (and the friendly agents there took pity on me). Flagship First is usually reserved for those flying on American Airlines-operated flights. This allowed me to jump ahead to the front of the TSA PreCheck line, too.
Once inside, I was able to visit the American Airlines Flagship First lounge at ORD. It's always a bit crowded, but there are a ton of great seating areas, good food and magnificent views of the American Airlines jets parked at nearby gates.
My Japan Airlines jet, ship number JA743J, was 16 years old.
The first-class cabin has just eight seats arranged in two rows of four seats each.
Each seat is very roomy, and though some passengers might dislike the lack of sliding privacy doors, which are becoming more prevalent these days, it didn't bother me. There were large privacy shields to make each seat feel more secluded anyway.
My seat had three full windows, which was ideal for planespotting.
There was a plethora of amenities — including a bottle of water, an amenity kit, a box of skin care products, slippers and Panasonic headphones — waiting at each seat. I appreciated the fancy folio that held information like arrival documents and menus. It was a special treat to receive a "fast lane" pass to speed through customs in Tokyo.
Inside the Heralbony amenity kit, I found lots of goodies, including a dental kit, an eye mask, earplugs, a brush and comb combo, tissues, mouthwash, a USB-A cord and hand cream. The best thing, though, was the fabulous skincare kit from Shiseido Men; it included a face cleanser, a hydrating tonic and a revitalizing cream.
While some passengers complain about these dated first-class seats, I still like them, mostly because the seat itself is basically built like my father's old BarcaLounger. It measures about 23 inches across. As you can see, the suites are spacious and bigger than most seats in the front of any plane.
Each seat also features a well-padded ottoman. You could potentially offer it as a seat to a traveling companion for a (very tight) working lunch or dinner since it comes with its own seat belt. There is a large tray table that pops out from the side, which is great for working because you can slide it back and forth.
There are also plenty of nooks and crannies for storage in the suite. Two compartments open for inside storage, and there is a smaller compartment with a vanity and an inflight entertainment controller. That's also where you'll find seat controls, a headphone jack, an AC power outlet and a USB-A port.
The bed folds down to lie completely flat and measures about 79 inches in length. I found it extremely comfortable during my flight, and I appreciated that the flight attendants turned down the seat for me with a high-end Airweave pad, pillows and a duvet.
I was able to get several hours of quality rest, though there were no overhead air nozzles, and the cabin got a bit warm.
There is no overhead bin in the center, either, which makes the cabin look larger. However, this means that space for carry-ons is more limited than you might find on other aircraft.
First-class passengers can preorder their main meal in advance, and I chose the Japanese menu. Though I'm not a huge fan of seafood, I like to immerse myself in the Japanese culture even before I arrive, so I usually select that option when flying an Asian carrier.
Staff offered passengers a predeparture choice of sparkling wine, orange juice or water just before takeoff, along with a hot towel.
An hour after takeoff, I was served an amuse bouche of sturgeon on toast and prosciutto and cream cheese encased in a date. That came along with a nonalcoholic Alan Milliat sparkling pinot noir grape juice.
The appetizer course was a series of small Japanese bites. Among the offerings were sea eel with eggplant and lobster in a spicy sauce, followed by a soup course and the main I'd selected, beef with vegetables and rice.
For dessert, I had a delicious Japanese gelatin-like soup that tasted a lot better than it looked.
A few hours before we landed, I requested a bowl of ramen, which is always a treat on Japan Airlines and was my favorite meal of the whole flight.
For a prearrival meal, I chose to have a delicious asparagus soup and a cheese sandwich, plus many cappuccinos.
Service was excellent throughout the flight, especially from the purser Narumi, who even brought me a small Japan Airlines-themed toy (you know, for the children).
One other note: I also did a little nonalcoholic tasting of that sparkling juice and the airline's signature Royal Blue Tea, which were presented and poured with great fanfare. It added a nice touch to the refined service (and retails for around $35 per bottle).
Another flight attendant snapped a photo of me perusing the selection of midflight snacks.
I loved the little touches from the crew, such as this note in the bathroom.
The restrooms were kept tidy and clean throughout the journey, and they had fancy Cle de Peau amenities.
The inflight entertainment, on the 22.5-inch screen, wasn't very comprehensive, but there was enough to keep me amused when I was awake, including some 22 new-release movies. I watched an interesting documentary on ramen in Japan.
First-class passengers receive complimentary Wi-Fi via a voucher number that you enter when logging in. Otherwise, Wi-Fi costs $18.80. I was able to do some emailing and texting, but the speeds were not great. So, I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
We ended up arriving in Tokyo about 13 minutes early. I was well-rested, well-fed and relaxed.
Overall, the flight was excellent ... especially considering I redeemed just 80,000 AAdvantage miles. The same flight booked for next year was priced at $17,484 when I checked in November. For me, no first-class seat is worth that price tag, which is why I love using points and miles.
Bottom line
Although these seats are starting to show their age, they remain an excellent way to travel the world. Japan Airlines plans to replace its 777-300ER fleet with Airbus A350-1000s that feature the airline's newer first-class suites, which my colleague Eric Rosen had the pleasure of trying recently.
I hope to try them myself since Japan Airlines currently flies its A350-1000s on three U.S. routes from HND to JFK, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
I still love the 777 and its older seats, though, and I already have another award flight coming up next September. I can't wait to fly it again, though I wouldn't mind if the carrier swapped the plane for a new A350-1000 by the time the flight rolls around.
Either way, booking a first-class seat on Japan Airlines for as few as 80,000 American AAdvantage miles or 110,000 Atmos Rewards points, respectively, is one of the best currently available redemptions in the world of points and miles.
Related reading:
- Japan Airlines' A350-1000 inaugural from New York to Tokyo: Same great service, fabulous new seats
- Is booking Japan Airlines award flights via JetBlue TrueBlue the best new sweet spot?
- Best airline credit cards
- Premium economy vs. business class: Are the differences worth an upgrade?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- What are airline alliances, and who's in them?
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.