JAL Mileage Bank guide
How JAL miles are earned and used, and how JMB PLUS dynamic pricing works.
JAL miles are earned on flights, cards, and partners, generally expire at the end of the 36th month after accrual, and use base award pricing plus JMB PLUS, which raises required miles when lower-priced inventory is unavailable.
Key points
- Free JMB membership; earn miles on flights, JAL cards (~1 mile/¥100), and partners.
- Miles generally expire at the end of the 36th month after accrual.
- Domestic awards use base pricing plus JMB PLUS when low inventory is unavailable.
- Tickets issued from October 1, 2026 were subject to announced revisions.
- oneworld alliance; Ponta transfers at two Ponta to one mile.
Earning, JMB PLUS, and valuation
JAL Mileage Bank offers free membership, and you earn miles on flights (zone-based), JAL credit cards (commonly 1 mile per ¥100), hotels, duty-free, and partners; Ponta transfers to JAL at two Ponta to one mile, and JCB Oki Doki points can convert. Miles generally expire at the end of the 36th month after accrual. Domestic awards use base pricing plus JMB PLUS, a mechanism that raises required miles above the base when lower-priced award inventory is unavailable, and tickets issued from October 1, 2026 were subject to announced revisions — so old charts are unsafe. As with ANA, value miles against a fare you would actually buy, minus award taxes and surcharges, not a fixed ¥2 assumption. Elite tiers (Crystal/Sapphire/Diamond) qualify separately and grant service benefits.
Who this is for
- Frequent JAL / oneworld travelers
What this is not
- People without realistic award redemptions
- JMB PLUS can raise required miles; awards from Oct 1, 2026 were revised — verify current pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How long do JAL miles last?
JAL miles generally expire at the end of the 36th month after accrual. JAL domestic awards use base pricing plus JMB PLUS, and tickets issued from October 1, 2026 were subject to announced revisions, so verify current award pricing.
Which is better, ANA or JAL?
The airline with better routes, award seats, and alliance partners for your real travel. ANA is Star Alliance; JAL is oneworld. Both miles generally expire at the end of the 36th month after accrual, and both revised award pricing in 2026, so neither is universally better and a fixed per-mile value is not a fact.
What are JAL PLUS (JMB PLUS) awards?
JMB PLUS is a mechanism that raises the required miles above the base price when lower-priced award inventory is unavailable, so the same route can cost more miles at busy times. Value awards against a fare you would actually buy, minus taxes and surcharges.