If you're wanting a quick reference for these flights, check out the guide I made for you: nmtravels.ck.page/products/jalguide -if you're new to this, I like to recommend this app that is 100% free and does a good job introducing award travel, I still use this app to keep track of my credit card annual fees: my.travelfreely.com/share?bref=nup - If you're interested in any of these cards, please consider using one of my affiliate links unless you have friends/family that has a referral link, my links are here: travelfreely.com/best-offers-for-nurse-michael-travels/ - if you're wanting to learn another way to fly to Japan check this out: ruclips.net/video/8WeemICcB_U/видео.html
Thank you! Very helpful. I was trying to justify using a chase 5:24 slot for the alaska card because I always fly with them so I am most likely to use their points but not being able to choose and be more flexible was kind of making me want to pick a chase card. This kind of seals the deal for me though haha
@@DarthAndylus you’re welcome! It’s definitely counter-popular advice but I think an Airline card that will get you a bonus to make an aspirational trip happen is worth a 5/24 slot.
Those would be business class flights on American Airlines planes typically - those are priced dynamically so the price varies widely. There's not a whole lot of award space available right now on JAL so it will depend on the dates and airports you're flying from. Seats.aero would be the easiest way to look up availability fastest. SEA-NRT: 9/6/24, 9/7, 9/9 BOS-NRT: 7/12/25, 2/10/25 SFO-NRT: 9/7, 9/9, 9/10 ORD-HND: 9/9, Also handful of dates from Vancouver, and a lot more from Honolulu is what's showing on seats.aero right now, so mostly last minute availability with a couple of later dates. I haven't verified these on AA for the record.
Sadly you're pretty right, we're in the peak travel and booking season and seems like competition is highest than it ever has been before. Looking on Seats.Aero I'm only able to find some awkward availability like 3/24/25 ORD-EWR overnight stay and then JFK-HND in JAL business all in one itinerary. So the struggle is definitely real.
Availability does come and go fast! Especially this peak travel season with travel on everyone’s mind. I’d recommend trying to set an award alert if you’re set on booking with this airline (ruclips.net/video/xhb6CvfJdZQ/видео.html)
There’s regularly small patches of business class that come and go, there’s a handful seats currently available in March of next year. You can use Sears Aero to quickly scan for them. Or booking economy and switching to business when it becomes available is also a solid strategy
@@KennethTungol Hi Kenneth, I summarize it somewhat at 6:19 in the video. But you can cancel award flights on American for free. So if you find business class availability last minute, You can go and put a hold on the award space (see 4:09 in the video for how). Then cancel your economy flight, wait for the points to hit your account and then book that business class flight you just put on hold. You don’t need to have the required points in your account in order to hold a flight. Let me know if that helps or if I need to clarify anything!
@@NurseMichaelTravels thank you Michael for this. I personally don’t have any American Airlines points so I was wondering if you have insight on other airlines about if they have the same free cancellation option. I’m worried if I book an economy flight now and then later on I see a business class opening but it is for an entirely different airline that is not affiliated, would I just have to lose the points used for that economy flight in this case? Looking to book Japan in Dec
@@KennethTungol you’re welcome! I don’t have much personal experience doing it. But there are ways to cancel award flights and get your points back. Most airlines will charge a fee to do so, the fees and rules can vary quite widely. I don’t have another good option to suggest like American, but here’s a link to an article that goes over the change/cancellation fees of various airlines: awardwallet.com/blog/airline-award-ticket-change-and-cancellation-policies/
If you're wanting a quick reference for these flights, check out the guide I made for you: nmtravels.ck.page/products/jalguide
-if you're new to this, I like to recommend this app that is 100% free and does a good job introducing award travel, I still use this app to keep track of my credit card annual fees: my.travelfreely.com/share?bref=nup
- If you're interested in any of these cards, please consider using one of my affiliate links unless you have friends/family that has a referral link, my links are here: travelfreely.com/best-offers-for-nurse-michael-travels/
- if you're wanting to learn another way to fly to Japan check this out: ruclips.net/video/8WeemICcB_U/видео.html
Perfect timing! I'm looking to go to Japan with my family next summer, this and your other ANA video will come in handy. Thank you!
If you’re going to Japan either (or both) of those airlines will get you there nicely!
Your videos are very detailed and straight forward. Japan is a beautiful country. We loved it!!
Thank you! I’m hoping to get there myself next year
Nice explanation
Thank you!
Thank you! Very helpful. I was trying to justify using a chase 5:24 slot for the alaska card because I always fly with them so I am most likely to use their points but not being able to choose and be more flexible was kind of making me want to pick a chase card. This kind of seals the deal for me though haha
@@DarthAndylus you’re welcome! It’s definitely counter-popular advice but I think an Airline card that will get you a bonus to make an aspirational trip happen is worth a 5/24 slot.
I tried looking at this for American Airlines but it was saying it cost 450k points or 330k points not 60k… any idea what has happened??
Those would be business class flights on American Airlines planes typically - those are priced dynamically so the price varies widely. There's not a whole lot of award space available right now on JAL so it will depend on the dates and airports you're flying from. Seats.aero would be the easiest way to look up availability fastest.
SEA-NRT: 9/6/24, 9/7, 9/9
BOS-NRT: 7/12/25, 2/10/25
SFO-NRT: 9/7, 9/9, 9/10
ORD-HND: 9/9,
Also handful of dates from Vancouver, and a lot more from Honolulu is what's showing on seats.aero right now, so mostly last minute availability with a couple of later dates. I haven't verified these on AA for the record.
Well done. Very helpful.
Thank you! Happy to help
i don't see any flights operated by Japan airline at all. its' all AA or skywest
Sadly you're pretty right, we're in the peak travel and booking season and seems like competition is highest than it ever has been before. Looking on Seats.Aero I'm only able to find some awkward availability like 3/24/25 ORD-EWR overnight stay and then JFK-HND in JAL business all in one itinerary. So the struggle is definitely real.
In just 3 weeks , even the last minute availability are over 150k points lol
Availability does come and go fast! Especially this peak travel season with travel on everyone’s mind. I’d recommend trying to set an award alert if you’re set on booking with this airline (ruclips.net/video/xhb6CvfJdZQ/видео.html)
😂😂😂only last minutes availability
There’s regularly small patches of business class that come and go, there’s a handful seats currently available in March of next year. You can use Sears Aero to quickly scan for them.
Or booking economy and switching to business when it becomes available is also a solid strategy
@@NurseMichaelTravelsdo you have a video of doing this? Or would you just have to cancel your economy flight and take the loss?
@@KennethTungol Hi Kenneth, I summarize it somewhat at 6:19 in the video.
But you can cancel award flights on American for free. So if you find business class availability last minute, You can go and put a hold on the award space (see 4:09 in the video for how).
Then cancel your economy flight, wait for the points to hit your account and then book that business class flight you just put on hold.
You don’t need to have the required points in your account in order to hold a flight.
Let me know if that helps or if I need to clarify anything!
@@NurseMichaelTravels thank you Michael for this. I personally don’t have any American Airlines points so I was wondering if you have insight on other airlines about if they have the same free cancellation option. I’m worried if I book an economy flight now and then later on I see a business class opening but it is for an entirely different airline that is not affiliated, would I just have to lose the points used for that economy flight in this case? Looking to book Japan in Dec
@@KennethTungol you’re welcome! I don’t have much personal experience doing it. But there are ways to cancel award flights and get your points back. Most airlines will charge a fee to do so, the fees and rules can vary quite widely. I don’t have another good option to suggest like American, but here’s a link to an article that goes over the change/cancellation fees of various airlines:
awardwallet.com/blog/airline-award-ticket-change-and-cancellation-policies/