Table of Contents
The famous 45,000-mile economy award between North America and Japan on Japan Airlines (JAL) is no longer the standard price.
After Alaska Airlines moved to a distance-based partner award chart, many nonstop JAL flights actually became cheaper. Depending on the route, economy awards now start at 30,000 to 37,500 Alaska Mileage Plan miles one way. However, connecting itineraries can cost more because Alaska now prices many partner awards on a segment-by-segment basis.
For travelers flying directly between North America and Japan, Mileage Plan remains one of the best ways to book JAL award flights.
What Happened to the 45,000-Mile JAL Economy Award?
For years, frequent flyers knew one number by heart: 45,000 miles. That was the typical cost of a one-way economy flight on Japan Airlines between North America and Japan when booked through Alaska Mileage Plan.
In 2024, Alaska replaced its old partner-specific award charts with a new distance-based pricing system. The change created a lot of confusion because many travelers assumed awards had become more expensive.
In reality, some of the most popular JAL routes became cheaper.
Today, the price depends largely on the distance of the flight rather than a fixed regional chart.
How Alaska’s JAL Award Chart Works Today
Alaska now uses a distance-based framework for partner awards in the Asia-Pacific region.
For economy class, the starting rates are:
| Flight Distance | Economy Award Starts At |
|---|---|
| Under 1,501 miles | 7,500 miles |
| 1,501–3,500 miles | 25,000 miles |
| 3,501–5,000 miles | 30,000 miles |
| 5,001–7,000 miles | 37,500 miles |
| 7,001–10,000 miles | 42,500 miles |
| 10,000+ miles | 65,000 miles |
This means the mileage cost depends on how far you fly rather than simply which regions you’re traveling between.
Popular JAL Routes and Their Current Mileage Costs
The biggest winner from Alaska’s new pricing model is nonstop travel between North America and Japan.
Here’s how some common routes compare:
| Route | Previous Cost | Current Economy Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle – Tokyo | 45,000 miles | 30,000–35,000 miles |
| Los Angeles – Tokyo | 45,000 miles | 37,500 miles |
| Chicago – Tokyo | 45,000 miles | 37,500 miles |
| New York – Tokyo | 45,000 miles | 37,500 miles |
For many travelers, that’s a significant improvement.
Instead of paying 45,000 miles, you may be able to reach Tokyo for as little as 30,000 miles one way.
Why JAL Awards Remain One of the Best Uses of Alaska Miles
Despite the pricing changes, Japan Airlines remains one of the strongest partners in the Alaska Mileage Plan program.
Some reasons include:
- Competitive economy pricing
- Excellent onboard service
- No fuel surcharges on JAL awards booked through Alaska
- Access to premium economy, business class, and first class
- Ability to add stopovers on eligible international awards
For travelers planning a trip to Japan, JAL awards continue to deliver strong value compared to many competing loyalty programs.
Take Advantage of Alaska’s Stopover Policy
One feature that makes Mileage Plan particularly attractive is its stopover flexibility. Alaska allows travelers to add a stopover on eligible international awards.
In practical terms, this means you can spend time in Tokyo before continuing your journey.
For example:
- Seattle → Tokyo (stopover)
- Tokyo → Bangkok
Instead of treating Tokyo as just a connection point, you can turn it into part of the trip.
For travelers visiting Asia, this is one of the easiest ways to see two destinations on a single award booking.
Finding JAL Award Availability
The biggest challenge isn’t usually earning Alaska miles.
It’s finding available award seats.
JAL releases a limited amount of partner award space, and popular routes can disappear quickly. Searching manually through airline websites can be time-consuming, especially if you’re flexible on dates or departure cities.
That’s where tools like Flightpoints can help.
Using Flightpoints to Find JAL Awards
Flightpoints helps travelers search award availability across multiple airline loyalty programs in one place.
Instead of checking routes individually, you can:
- Compare award prices across programs
- Search for available JAL seats
- Set alerts for specific routes
- Compare economy, premium economy, business, and first-class pricing
- Evaluate whether an award offers good value
This becomes particularly useful when trying to find JAL award seats during peak travel seasons.
The platform can also help travelers identify whether Alaska Mileage Plan or another partner program offers the better redemption rate for a specific route.
Important Alaska Mileage Plan Rules to Know
Before booking, keep these rules in mind:
- Partner Booking Fee : Alaska charges a partner award booking fee of $12.50 per person each way.
- Mixed Cabin Pricing : If an itinerary includes multiple cabins, pricing may be based on the highest cabin used.
- Segment-by-Segment Pricing : Connecting flights can cost significantly more than nonstop routes because each segment may be priced separately.
- Partner Restrictions : Alaska generally allows one international partner airline per one-way award ticket. Understanding these rules can help you avoid surprises during booking.
Is the 45,000-Mile Award Still Relevant?
Yes, but mostly as a historical benchmark. The famous 45,000-mile JAL economy award helped define Alaska Mileage Plan for years.
Today, many nonstop flights to Japan cost less than that amount. For travelers heading directly to Tokyo, the current chart often represents an improvement.
The real challenge comes with connecting itineraries, where segment-by-segment pricing can increase the total mileage required.
Conclusion
The Alaska Mileage Plan JAL award chart has changed significantly, but not necessarily for the worse. The old 45,000-mile economy redemption is no longer the standard price, and many nonstop flights between North America and Japan now cost just 30,000 to 37,500 miles one way.
For travelers focused on reaching Japan, these awards remain one of the best values in the Mileage Plan program. By understanding Alaska’s distance-based pricing, avoiding costly connections when possible, and using tools like Flightpoints to monitor award availability, travelers can continue to extract excellent value from their miles.
Discover the True Value of Your Points
Ready to see what your points are really worth? Get Flightpoints Pro and find the cheapest award seat across every program in seconds.
Get Flightpoints ProFAQs
Q: Does Alaska still charge 45,000 miles for JAL economy flights?
A: Not usually. Most nonstop JAL flights between North America and Japan now price at 30,000 to 37,500 miles under Alaska’s distance-based award chart.
Q: What is the cheapest JAL award using Alaska miles?
A: Some West Coast routes to Japan can start at around 30,000 miles one way in economy class.
Q: Does Alaska charge fuel surcharges on JAL awards?
A: No. JAL awards booked through Alaska Mileage Plan generally do not include fuel surcharges.
Q: Why are connecting flights more expensive?
A: Many partner awards are priced segment by segment, which means each flight can add to the total mileage cost.
Q: How can I find JAL award seats?
A: You can search directly through Alaska Mileage Plan or use Flightpoints to compare award availability across multiple loyalty programs and set alerts when seats become available.
