Changes to JMB programs after JBV with AA on Apr 1 2011

When Japan Airlines (JAL) and American Airlines (AA) start their JBV on April 1, rules to JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) will change and JMB members will get more our of AA flights :) Below are the details

1. For flights on/after April 1, 2011, Mile-Up Bonus will be available for boarding on American Airlines flights using eligible fares as well as travel on JAL Group airlines flights.

2. For boarding from April 1, 2011, Flight mileage accumulation rate for certain classes will be changed.

150%: A, F, P
125%: J, D, I, R
100%: Y
70%: B, H, K, M, L, W, V, S
50%: N, Q, O*, G

*1 Flights between the US/Canada/Caribbean/Mexico and Central/South America booked in "O" class are not eligible for mileage accumulation.
+Includes American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights and all codeshare flights with AA flight numbers.

3. You can save up to 11,000 miles when redeeming for North America route AA award tickets and JAL+AA joint award tickets for flights from April 8,.2011 through June 30, 2011.
Reservation will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. on April 1, 2011. Details: http://www.jal.co.jp/121campaign/jl_aa/index_en.html

4. In addition to JAL, AA flight will be available for travel between Asia/Oceania/Japan and North America/Hawaii for applications on and after April 1, 2011. Details: http://www.jal.co.jp/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/jal_aa/

5. For application on and after July 1, 2011, the rules of AA award tickets will be changed from that of a Zone scheme to Distance scheme. Details: http://www.jal.co.jp/cms/jalmile/en/en_jmb_189.html

6. JAL+AA Joint Award Tickets will be integrated into oneworld award tickets for application on and after July 1, 2011.
In this connection, JAL+AA Joint Award Tickets will be discontinued for application from July 1, 2011. Details: http://www.jal.co.jp/cms/jalmile/en/en_jmb_190.html

For more info, please visit JAL website.

Good that no AA upgrade awards is added (You AA folks hands off my upgrade :p). But below are some comparisons to the old system.

[Accumulation Rate]
Before
150%: A, F, P
125%: J, D, I, R
100%: Y
70%: B, H, K, M, L, W
50%: V, N, S, Q, O*, G

After
150%: A, F, P
125%: J, D, I, R
100% : Y
70%: B, H, K, M, L, W, V, S
50%: N, Q, O*, G

As you can see, the only change here is V and S classes can now earn more miles (50% -> 70%). A slight improvement.

[New Distance Based AA Award Tickets]
For zone scheme change, the minimum award can be redeemed with 23,000 JMB miles, vs the 25,000 miles on Zone scheme. But of course some awards will cost more/the same/less under the same scheme but it's a bit more fair this way. Hey JFK-HKG burns more fuel than LAX-HKG (55,000 vs 50,000 under the new scheme)

But there is no more peak and off-peak periods for Y awards

[Improved OW Award]
- After the change, 2+ OW carriers can be used regardless of whether JAL flights are included or not.
- JAL/JTA domestic routes are eligible if travel within JAL is included (just like before)
- If the OW award only involve JAL and QF, QF designated flights operated by JQ can be used as well. No restrictions on flights operated by Qantas, QantasLink (Airlink: National Jet Systems, Eastern Australia Airlines and Sunstate Airlines), Australian Airlines , and Jetconnect.

Easier to use OW award and nice touch adding JQ (well if you need that)

Overall, I am happy with the changes. The one most likely that will benefit me is the elite bonus on AA flights. I hope AA will have similar changes on their end, nothing too radical :p (hint: no upgrade award, no waiting list for JAL award please :p)