Booking domestic JAL flights with classic rewards

[lumm]

Hi everyone, I've got most of my other legs of my oneworld award flight organised, but been struggling to find information on the web and after speaking to two QFF operators still haven't found a good answer. Started a new thread as I think others may find this helpful in the future.

Currently I'm trying to book two domestic flights in April 2020, from Osaka to Okinawa, and then Okinawa to Tokyo.

On the JAL Mileage Bank website, it says that reward flights become available 2 months prior, but in another resource I found on the web stated available from 330 days prior.

Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank

330-360

330 days for domestic flights; 360 days for international ones

I then tested it with a flight which had availability on the awards JAL booking site, and I quoted the 14th July flight from ITM (14:55) to OKA (16:55) - JAL2087 - which was showing up as available on the JAL mileage bank rewards site



When I asked the operator they said they couldn't find any rewards flights availability.

So my questions are:
1. Do reward flights for JAL domestic on classic rewards become available 2 months or 330 days prior
2. Does the JAL reward availability on their website reflect what's available for classic rewards, or is it from a different pool?
3. If from a different pool, is there any method to manually check the availability myself rather than relying on the phone operator?

If anyone can help in terms of redeeming a domestic rewards flight with my QFF points that will be much appreciated!

 

[Mattg]

On purely domestic itineraries, flights are indeed only available for redemption 2 months prior. If it's an international itinerary (which it would be as it is part of a Oneworld Award) then it is now 360 days (was 330 days until last month).

That said, the JAL website is only accurate at showing what's available to JAL Mileage Bank members when searching for awards on JL metal. Have you tried searching on the Qantas website? If the flight doesn't show on the QF website, I suspect you can't book it using Qantas points.

 

[lumm]

thanks so much, I'll do a bit more research!

 

[sudoer]

@lumm JAL are changing their domestic booking window restrictions on 10 September 2019.

Rule Changes for Domestic Fares - JAL

If you haven't arranged your April 2020 flights yet, I would expect you can secure them in a couple of months time

 

[knightfall88]

@lumm JAL are changing their domestic booking window restrictions on 10 September 2019.

Rule Changes for Domestic Fares - JAL

If you haven't arranged your April 2020 flights yet, I would expect you can secure them in a couple of months time

Hi, this impacting me as I am looking to add some domestic JAL to my oneworld classic. Sounds the 2 months rule is superseded. However I hear that domestic JAL when issued will expire 3 months from the issue date. Does anyone have any experience with this rule?

 

[sudoer]

Sounds the 2 months rule is superseded. However I hear that domestic JAL when issued will expire 3 months from the issue date.

The two month rule is definitely gone, however where are you hearing about the 3 month expiry? I don't believe that is correct.

 

[knightfall88]

The two month rule is definitely gone, however where are you hearing about the 3 month expiry? I don't believe that is correct.

Yes I've been told by a Qantas Agent this morning. I've been trying to find the rules online myself.

 

[sudoer]

Yes I've been told by a Qantas Agent this morning. I've been trying to find the rules online myself.

I've found what they're looking at - it's Qantas' own T&C....

Clause 14.6 states "Classic Flight Reward tickets on a JAL domestic Itinerary will be valid for three months from the date of issue.".. but then again..

Clause 14.2.2 states: "Partner airlines may also have minimum booking times, for example, Classic Flight Reward bookings on a JAL domestic itinerary can only be made within two months prior to departure."

So clearly the T&C haven't been updated since JAL extended their domestic booking engine to 330 days...

 

[knightfall88]

I've found what they're looking at - it's Qantas' own T&C....

Clause 14.6 states "Classic Flight Reward tickets on a JAL domestic Itinerary will be valid for three months from the date of issue.".. but then again..

Clause 14.2.2 states: "Partner airlines may also have minimum booking times, for example, Classic Flight Reward bookings on a JAL domestic itinerary can only be made within two months prior to departure."

So clearly the T&C haven't been updated since JAL extended their domestic booking engine to 330 days...

Yes just saw that, thanks for looking into it too. Given the I can see the flights being available, its clear the 2 month release is gone. But I might not risk booking a flight and having it disappear. I might wait until I am within 3 months of departure.

 

[Oubline]

Yes just saw that, thanks for looking into it too. Given the I can see the flights being available, its clear the 2 month release is gone. But I might not risk booking a flight and having it disappear. I might wait until I am within 3 months of departure.

I never heard about this three month rule and currently have a Oneworld Award booked with two domestic JAL legs that take place in October 2020. It’s been ticketed and would seem bizarre to me that it would expire!

 

[knightfall88]

I never heard about this three month rule and currently have a Oneworld Award booked with two domestic JAL legs that take place in October 2020. It’s been ticketed and would seem bizarre to me that it would expire!

Hey robbegong, didn't you tell me that you had issues adding domestic JAL legs to your oneworld?

 

[Oubline]

Hey robbegong, didn't you tell me that you had issues adding domestic JAL legs to your oneworld?

Hi, yes I had two issues:

Most agents not knowing how to search for the availability, and then business class awards domestically not being able to be included - so my current business itinerary has the domestic Japan legs as economy.

I had no issues in relation to a three month expiry though.

 

[knightfall88]

Hi, yes I had two issues:

Most agents not knowing how to search for the availability, and then business class awards domestically not being able to be included - so my current business itinerary has the domestic Japan legs as economy.

I had no issues in relation to a three month expiry though.

Ahh yes that makes sense. You just couldn't add business domestic but economy domestic was fine. When did your JAL domestic get issued? Has it been longer than 3 months yet?

 

[Oubline]

Ahh yes that makes sense. You just couldn't add business domestic but economy domestic was fine. When did your JAL domestic get issued? Has it been longer than 3 months yet?

Yeah, that’s right.. that was the issue! Even the competent people I got on to at Qantas still couldn’t add business class. My first domestic leg was added in November and then another one in December. Travel isn’t until Aug 2020. Ticketing was fine once the availability could be seen by the consultant.

 

[knightfall88]

Yeah, that’s right.. that was the issue! Even the competent people I got on to at Qantas still couldn’t add business class. My first domestic leg was added in November and then another one in December. Travel isn’t until Aug 2020. Ticketing was fine once the availability could be seen by the consultant.

Brilliant. Looks like your first domestic leg is close to 3 months and it's looking fine. I'll try to give qantas a call then.