Sometimes you find a flight deal that gets its claws in you. It's a deal you can't stop thinking about. One of those flight deals that reminds you that for all the bad news there is in points and miles, there's always a new opportunity around the corner.
This is that kind of deal: Fly nonstop to Tahiti (PPT) in lie-flat business for 85,000 miles roundtrip and just $67 in taxes in fees.
It's definitely the best Tahiti flight deal we've ever seen and it's been the crowning moment for Japan Airlines Mileage Bank – the quirky Japanese loyalty program that burst onto the scene last year and has quickly become the best in all of award travel.
If you're waiting for the catch, here it is: You have to call Japan Airlines Mileage Bank to book it. But I'd argue getting half off what you'd pay to fly this itinerary with other airlines is well worth picking up the phone.
So, let's break down this deal so you can book this stunning Tahiti fare that's living rent-free in my head.
The Flights
The flights you're going to book are on Air France. I know … weird, right?
Air France wants to connect travelers between its Paris (CDG) hub and the French Polynesian city of Papeete (PPT), but there's a problem: Air France can't fly that far in one fell swoop. So, to make it work, Air France stops in Los Angeles (LAX) and will pick up and drop off passengers in L.A. It's a great option for West Coast travelers or anyone who's willing to book a positioning flight to L.A.
Unfortunately, it's not the cheapest option for a business class ticket …
And using your Air France/KLM FlyingBlue miles won't get you a great rate, either. In fact, Air France charges three times as much as Japan Airlines does for these flights, coming in at 240,000 miles roundtrip and even higher taxes and fees!
These examples, my friends, are NOT what you're going to book, thank goodness.
The Deal: Biz Class Flights to Tahiti for 85K Roundtrip
When we discovered this deal, we immediately called Japan Airlines to confirm it was bookable before we got into the details and sent an alert to our Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers. Just a few short minutes after we did that, our members received an email that looked like this:
The alert showed that travelers with Japan Airlines miles could book one-way flights for 60,000 miles or roundtrip flights for just 85,000 miles … but that you have to call Japan Airlines to get it done. There is no way to book Air France flights online with Japan Airlines.
Japan Airlines miles are unfamiliar to some U.S. travelers, and that's because JAL didn't have any credit card transfer partners in the United States until last year, adding both Bilt Rewards (1:1) and Capital One (1,000 Capital One miles gets you 750 JAL miles) as partners. Just last week, Citi joined in as a transfer partner, allowing you to send your miles on a 1:1 basis from Citi to JAL, too.
Plus, as with almost every flight deal we send with award availability, we list the bookable dates to take the guesswork out of the booking process. Just dial up Japan Airlines, and you're good … kind of …
The Quirks
Let's talk about Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. It offers some of the best redemptions on earth right now … but it's also a bit funky.
First of all, the requirement to call 800-525-3663 to book partner airlines like Air France is annoying, but it's not the end of the world. I think we can all stomach making that leap for savings this big. But here are some other things to be wary of with JAL.
To redeem Japan Airlines miles, your account must be open for at least 7 days. It's an annoying anti-fraud measure that Japan Airlines instituted that you can't work around. My advice: Set up a Japan Airlines Mileage Bank account today so you're ready for the next deal.
The Japan Airlines call center is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., so you can't call at all hours of the day.
A Step-by-Step Booking Guide
Here's a step-by-step process for booking this deal:
1. Call (800-525-3663) to book with a live JAL agent. The US call center is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central.
2. Hold to continue in English, then press 5 to book an award ticket.
3. Enter your JAL account number & 6-digit phone pin (this is different than the password for the website – if you don't remember your pin, you can just push 3#).
4. Ask the agent, “Can you check for availability to fly Air France business class using JAL miles?”
5. Give the agent the route & exact dates listed above. It can also help to give them the flight numbers found when searching JAL's website.
6. Transfer points only after you've confirmed the flights are available with JAL. Transfers are usually instant – just ask an agent to stay on the line until your points hit your account.
You'll need to go through multiple verification steps with the agent & need to have passport info for all travelers. The agents should waive any phone booking fees due to website errors. Expect this call to take 30-60 minutes (or more).
Read our step-by-step guide to booking flights by phone & never transfer points until you've confirmed availability with a JAL agent.
Bottom Line
Booking Air France Business Class with Japan Airlines to Tahiti for 85,000 miles roundtrip might just be the best deal in award travel right now.
If you can stomach the quirks of Japan Airlines, this is a deal you don't want to miss!
