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2021
16
August
What's the Best Strategy for Accumulating Points on International Flights to Japan?
16
August
Question:
Humans say...
Logan
It completely depends on fare class booked. It's extremely complex. You can search up "partner earnings air canada".
Generally speaking, crediting to the home program will earn the most miles. However, AP has a better program than NH, Imo, especially for intra Asia and long haul J.
*G also is easier to earn on AC.
This is a super difficult question to answer
Heather
Logan Thank you so much!
Simon
Nowadays with all the discount and basic airfares, a mile flown isn't automatically a point on aeroplan or any other frequent flyer plan. Cheaper tickets (you have to figure out the fare class) may get less points or no points. aeroplan has a chart for many of their partner airlines. I presume if you stay with Star Alliance, you would go with ANA. They will have the same thing. Points wise there are advantages with each program. I think aeroplan is still more generous with stop over/open jaw tickets than ANA so you can be very creative to get some great value (eg mini-round the world). ANA may still be only a chart based reward model which sometimes have better value than aeroplan. Aeroplan has eliminated carrier surcharges. I don't think ANA ever charged that. ANA's search engine is more powerful than aeroplan and is better if you want to avoid air canada metal for instance. aeroplan introduced upgrade awards etc. It all depends one what your needs are, how much flying you are going to do, if you wan to fly business, long haul vs short haul rewards etc. If you don't do a lot of travel, points might get orphaned on ANA after you get back. You may have local earn potential with ANA in Japan much like aeroplan has in Canada.
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Andrew Nacionales
Its cheap to fly out from japan to other asian countries. Peach Air budget airline and quite affordable with great service.
Heather
Andrew Nacionales Thank you!
Matt
Andrew Nacionales Agreed. I've flown Peach within Japan for cheap ex. <$100 CDN from Tokyo to Okinawa a few years back.
Lee
Use your star alliance membership to accumulate points. ANA and air canada have good service to Japan. When buying your tickets look closely for the % of miles earned on AIRCANADA.COM - it can be in your benefit to pay a little extra to receive more points. You'll eventually also earn threshold bonuses and have access to the business lounges if you fly a lot and consistently use Star Alliance partners. Book the flights on AIRCANADA.COM to earn 'qualifying dollars' (the price is the same as elsewhere). And research travel related credit cards like the AmEx Star Alliance gold card which gives double points for travel-related purchases (eg. flights, hotels, trains, etc). Soon you'll be triple-dipping and collecting points like a rock star
AIRCANADA.COM
air canada - The Official Website
Heather
Logan Thank you!
Heather
Lee Thank you so much!
Andrew
Heather I'll just toss this out here, unless you're flying outside of asia ANA and JAL will always be ridiculously expensive. It's not really worth flying with them for points when you can fly budget carriers for less than half the price.
Heather
Andrew Thank you!
Lydia
I think this is a question for Flyertalk. There are lots of aeroplan/loyalty program experts over there.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan-375/
FLYERTALK.COM
air canada | aeroplan - FlyerTalk Forums
Heather
Lydia Awesome
Thank you!
Alba
Using skyscanner I usually find better deals than when I relied on loyalty programs. BTW, Quantas has a low-cost subsidiary called Jet Star which flies all over Asia. They use Australian pilots and are inexpensive. Even better? They let you change flights on line. We accidentally booked a flight a day later than we meant to. Went on line, moved our reservation up a day. Fare was the same so they charged us ZERO for the change!!! Another time we decided to stay a couple days longer in one place - fare was $10 more, that's all we paid to change the res.
Heather
Alba Gross Excellent. Thank you!
Alexande
Aren’t the borders closed?
Heather
Alexande Broadly speaking, yes. From what I understand...Citizens and current residents are allowed in. As well, they are issuing work visas for a very few classes of people (e.g., academic faculty from certain countries). Then a 14-day quarantine is required for everyone, even for the vaccinated. They are discussing reducing the quarantine for citizens.
Matt
Alexande Closed for Tourist visas. Not for citizens, permanent residents, certain work visas, or exception visas like spousal.
A.I. says...
Travel Hacking: Maximizing Airline Miles When Moving to Japan
If you're planning to move to Japan for several years, it's essential to consider the best way to accumulate airline miles and enjoy the benefits of frequent flyer programs. One of the key decisions you'll need to make is whether to get a frequent flier card with a Japanese airline or stick with your existing Aeroplan (Air Canada) card and fly on Star Alliance partner airlines.
Option 1: Getting a Frequent Flier Card with a Japanese Airline
Japan is home to two major airlines: Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Both airlines offer their own frequent flier programs, which can be advantageous if you plan to fly frequently with them. Here are some benefits of getting a frequent flier card with a Japanese airline:
- Earn Miles on Japanese Domestic Flights: If you'll be traveling frequently within Japan, earning miles on domestic flights can add up quickly.
- Access to Lounge Facilities: Depending on your tier level, you may gain access to airline lounges in Japan, providing a comfortable space to relax before or between flights.
- Potential for Upgrades and Perks: As you accumulate more miles and reach higher tier levels, you may be eligible for upgrades, priority boarding, and other perks.
Option 2: Using Your Aeroplan Card on Star Alliance Partner Airlines
Aeroplan is Air Canada's frequent flyer program, and it's part of the Star Alliance network, which includes several partner airlines that fly to and from Japan, such as ANA and Asiana Airlines. If you choose this option, here's what you can expect:
- Earn Miles on Partner Airlines: Yes, you can still earn Aeroplan miles when flying on Star Alliance partner airlines, including ANA and Asiana. The number of miles earned may vary based on the fare class and airline.
- Potential for Upgrades: Depending on your Aeroplan tier level and availability, you may be eligible for upgrades when flying on partner airlines.
- Familiarity and Consistency: Sticking with your existing Aeroplan card can provide a sense of familiarity and consistency, as you'll be earning miles with a program you're already accustomed to.
Considerations and Recommendations
Ultimately, the decision depends on your travel patterns and preferences. If you anticipate flying frequently within Japan and on Japanese airlines, getting a frequent flier card with JAL or ANA could be beneficial. However, if you plan to fly primarily on international routes with Star Alliance partners, sticking with your Aeroplan card might be the more convenient option.
One potential strategy could be to hold both an Aeroplan card and a Japanese airline's frequent flier card. This way, you can earn miles on both programs and take advantage of the benefits offered by each airline alliance.
Remember to compare the earning rates, redemption options, and benefits of each program to make an informed decision that aligns with your travel needs and goals.
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Heather
Travel hack Q: I'm moving to Japan for several years. Should I get a frequent flier card(s) for their airlines, or should I always try to fly on a Star Alliance partner and use my aeroplan card? As in, do you still rake up the same number of points with AC when you fly a partner airline?