Japan Airlines recently launched direct Melbourne-Tokyo flights, and there is lots of award availability! Find out how to redeem your Qantas points for a seat to Tokyo or beyond…
Update: It is now possible to book Japan Airlines award flights on the Qantas website.
The Opportunity
Japan Airlines, a Oneworld partner of Qantas, will begin direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo (Narita) in October! The daily flight will run at opposite ends of the day to the existing Qantas flight on the route, with a midnight departure from Melbourne and daylight return flight from Tokyo. The flights will be served by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with one of the most comfortable configurations of any airline. The Business and Premium Economy class products both look fantastic, and the small Economy cabin boasts wide seats with a generous 33 inches of seat pitch!
As is often the case when a new route is launched, there is plenty of award availability in all classes of travel! Many dates have 4 seats available in Economy, Premium Economy and Business!
If you have Qantas Frequent Flyer points, a seat on this flight will cost you 42,000 points in Economy, 63,000 points in Premium Economy or 78,000 points for Business class. A round trip costs twice the number of points. In addition to the points, you would need to pay just $84.25 in taxes (one-way).
You can also redeem points in other Oneworld programs. For example, a Business class seat from Melbourne to Tokyo could be yours for 40,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
The Melbourne-Tokyo flight connects well to other Japan Airlines flights from Tokyo to Frankfurt and Paris. An Economy seat from Melbourne to Europe would cost 75,000 Qantas points, and Business class is 139,000 points. The connections don’t work so well on the return trip back from Europe, though – an overnight stopover in Tokyo would be necessary.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to redeem Qantas points for Japan Airlines flights online. To book a seat using your Qantas points, you would need to call Qantas on 13 13 13 (from within Australia). The phone booking fee (usually $60) should be waived as Japan Airlines award bookings cannot be made online.
The Facts
- Currency: Qantas Frequent Flyer points (Redemptions are also possible from other Oneworld programs)
- Airline: Japan Airlines
- Route: Melbourne-Tokyo
- Class of travel: Economy, Premium Economy & Business
- Cost: 42,000 Qantas points (Economy), 63,000 Qantas points (Premium Economy) or 78,000 Qantas points (Business) + $84.25 taxes (Melbourne-Tokyo)
- Availability: Good – 4 seats are available in each class of travel on many dates
- How to book: Call Qantas on 13 13 13
Would you like help using your frequent flyer points?
Our Frequent Flyer Concierge service can help you to find a great itinerary using your own points, taking away the hard work. Just let the team know how many points you have and where you would like to go.
Not sure yet where you’d like to go with your points? Stay tuned for more Points Inspiration articles!
