Notes when using JAL International Upgrade Awards

General rules and conditions

  • All award bookings must be made by the JMB member.
  • Regardless of who uses the award, application for the award should be made by the member himself/herself.
  • For children under 5 years of age (children/infants), reservation of accompanying adult is required.
  • The total mileage required for redeeming awards will be deducted from the JMB account of the applying member.
  • Members who have registered for the JALCARD Family Program can combine mileage of a main member and a sub-member.
  • Mileage can be combined among family members who have registered for the JAL Family Club.
  • As it is necessary that there is enough mileage available for award exchange at the time of award application, please confirm that there is enough valid mileage for award exchange.
  • Award reservations will not be accepted if there is not enough mileage in the JMB member account. Mileage accumulated in other airline companies' mileage programs (including JMB partner airlines) cannot be combined with JMB mileage in order to receive awards.

Tickets eligible for Upgrade Awards

Tickets purchased in the following eligible booking classes

Business Class > First Class

Booking Class J/C/D/I

Economy Class/Premium Economy Class > Business Class

Booking Class W/R/Y/B/H/K

Economy Class > Premium Economy Class

Booking Class Y/B/H/K
  • For booking classes other than J and Y, flights traveled in international Dynamic Package (from Japan) or international package tour products are ineligible for upgrade.
  • Some fares are not eligible for upgrade even if the ticket was purchased in an eligible class.
  • Seats designated for upgrade awards are limited.

Tickets Not Eligible for Upgrade

Individual or group inclusive tour fares, special discounted fares, JMB award tickets and tickets subject to special provisions.

Taxes and handling charges

  • At the time of using upgrade awards, airport taxes and/or fuel surcharges, insurance surcharges and other surcharges must be borne by the JMB member or users of awards.
  • Amounts for the following air passenger duties differ according to cabin class. The difference in amount is required for every upgrade to Premium Economy Class or Business Class.
  • Payments are accepted by phone. Please contact JMB International Award Reservations Desk/JMB Center before departure.

AIR PASSENGER DUTY (UK)

Upgrade from Economy Class to Premium Economy Class or Business Class on flights departing from the UK

AIR PASSENGER SOLIDARITY TAX / AIR PASSENGER SOLIDARITY TAX SURPLUS (France)

Upgrade from Economy Class or Premium Economy Class to Business Class on flights departing from France

DEPARTURE TAX (Malaysia)

Upgrade from Economy Class or Premium Economy Class to Business Class on flights departing from Malaysia

Passengers who need special arrangements

As the following passengers may need special arrangements, please contact the JMB International Award Reservations Desk/JMB Center after completing the reservation bookings. Seat selection is also handled by the aforementioned JMB International Award Reservations Desk/JMB Center.

  • Customers who have already requested special arrangements will need to make the request again after upgrade as information will not be carried over.
  • Passengers using wheelchairs*
  • Passengers with sight impediment*
  • Passengers with hearing impediment*
  • Pregnant passengers falling under any of the following:
  • Medical information Form(MEDIF) must be submitted.
  • When the expected date of delivery is within 4 weeks (28 days)
  • When there is some doubt concerning the expected date of delivery
  • In the case of a multiple pregnancy
  • If there is a history of early delivery
  • Passengers who have requested Baby Food/Baby Meal or disposable diapers*
  • JMB members who travel with an infant who does not occupy seat and is under 2 at the start of the journey (purchase of air tickets is required.)
  • Special arrangements can also be requested from the reservation confirmation screen on the JAL website. Please note that the ability to request special arrangements on the JAL website may not be available for some reservations including reservations made through travel agencies.

Cancellations / Refunds

After an award has been booked, the mileage used for the award can only be reinstated for totally unused awards. All reinstated mileage must be returned to the JMB account from which it was redeemed. A cancellation charge will not be incurred.

Contact Point

Cancellations and refunds are handled via our call centers.

Cancellation/Refund Deadline

Please contact us up to 24 hours before the departure of your scheduled upgrade award flight (in the time zone of the departure point) or within the business hours of each regional call center, whichever is earlier.*

  • Exceptions :
  • When you change your booked Premium Economy upgrade award to a Business Class upgrade award at the airport on the day of departure.
  • When you cancel the purchased ticket, or change your reservation.

Reservations made through the JAL website

Please first log in your JMB account to request upgrade awards on the JAL website.

Deadline for award request

Awards requests on the JAL website will be accepted until 25 hours prior to departure of the respective outbound flight or return flight (departure city time).

Conditions for redeeming awards

  • At the time of making your reservation/request (including waitlist requests), you must already have purchased your ticket, which is valid for use with an upgrade award.
    Please note that reservation changes will not be permitted on the JAL website for purchased tickets after you request an upgrade award (including waitlist requests).
    To change your reservation, please contact the JMB International Award Reservations Desk/JMB Center. (Ticket Service Fee will apply.)
  • Upgrade awards are available for one-way travel.
  • You cannot combine two upgrade awards to be "bumped up" from Economy Class to First Class (by using an award for upgrade from Economy to Business with an award for upgrade from Business to First).
  • The following requests cannot be processed on the JAL website. Please contact the JMB International Award Reservations Desk/JMB Center for assistance.
  • When your reservation includes an infant who will share a seat with an adult
  • When the passenger is an unaccompanied child under 12 years of age or an unaccompanied infant who will occupy his/her own seat
  • When using JAL Family Service
  • When making arrangements for bulky baggage/musical instruments and/or extra seats
  • When special arrangements or services have been requested
  • If a reservation is made through a travel agency for two or more passengers and not all of the passengers on that same reservation wish to upgrade their flight, the reservation record for those passengers who wish to upgrade must be split from the passengers who will not upgrade their flight. Please contact the travel agency to have your reservation split before you make your upgrade request.

Itineraries

  • All of the restrictions and conditions of travel for the purchased tickets may apply to the upgrade awards.
  • One upgrade award is required for each flight sector. Two upgrade awards will be required for itineraries that originate outside Japan and use Japan as a transfer point to continue to a final destination outside Japan.

Waitlisting

  • For waitlisted requests, please verify whether your seat has been confirmed on the JAL website or when you check in at the airport. The mileage will be deducted from your account and the necessary arrangements to issue the award will be made once your seat has been confirmed.
  • Waitlists for JAL International Upgrade Awards will be held until 24 hours prior to flight departure (departure city time). Waitlisted requests that are not confirmed by the end of the waitlist holding period will be cancelled. If you still wish to upgrade after your waitlisted request has been cancelled, please inquire at the airport on the day of your flight.

Changes to award reservations

After mileage is redeemed, changes to upgrade award reservations are not permitted. If you wish to change your reservation, you must cancel and refund your existing upgrade reservation and then make a new upgrade reservation.

  • Please note that the mileage reinstatement fee will not apply for the upgrade award. Mileage cannot be returned if it is expired at the time of the reinstatement request.

Others

  • Information provided or announced through the latest communication medium will take precedence over previous contents in terms of conditions of use for the awards.
  • Conditions for the use of awards are subject to change without prior notice.
  • When flying on the international flights, Conditions of International Carriage will apply.
  • Please check the validity of your passport and requirement of visa. If visa is required, please obtain visa by yourself.