Can I use Avios for Japan Airlines flights?

Can you spend your Avios points on flights on Japan Airlines?

In this article I want to look at how you can use your Avios to fly with partner airline Japan Airlines.

The good news is that you are not restricted to spending Avios points on British Airways.  BA is part of a global airline alliance called oneworld, and this allows you to redeem Avios for flights with all of the member airlines.

This means that you can book Avios flights on:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines

British Airways also has additional partnerships with Aer Lingus, LATAM and China Southern.

How do you book Japan Airlines flights with Avios?

It’s easy.  You do it exactly the same way that you would when booking Avios redemption flights on British Airways.

Go to ba.com, log in to the British Airways Executive Club section and then go to the Avios booking page.

The process is identical to booking a BA flight with points.

Here’s a tip – remember that you don’t need to start your flight in the UK.  You might find more seats by searching from a different departure city elsewhere in Europe and buying a cash flight to connect with it.

What are the cancellation rules on Japan Airlines flights booked with Avios?

The cancellation and change fee rules are the same as if you had booked a BA flight.  You can cancel your flight up to 24 hours before departure, either online or by calling BA.

100% of your Avios will be refunded.

Your taxes and charges payment will also be refunded, less a £35 cancellation fee per person.  If the taxes and charges were less than £35 per person, you do not need to pay any extra. (Domestic redemptions on Japan Airlines have virtually no tax, so those flights are almost totally free to cancel.)

How many Avios will I need to book on Japan Airlines?

British Airways has a separate pricing chart for reward flights on partner airlines. This chart is no longer publicly available and some partners – including Japan Airlines – now have slightly different rates, so treat it as nothing more than a guide.

Here is the table:

As you can see, it is very easy to book Japan Airlines flights with Avios points and it opens up a large number of new travel destinations for you.

(This article is part of our ‘BA Q&A’ series which explains how British Airways Executive Club works.  You can see all of our ‘BA Q&A’ articles here. )

(Head for Points is the UK’s biggest frequent flyer website with 2.5 million monthly page views.  Want to learn more about earning and spending Avios?  Click here to read our latest news stories and click here to join the mailing list for our weekly or daily email newsletters.)