Visa Infinite Cardholders: Get JAL oneworld Sapphire status with just one booking

JAL is running a fast-track offer for Visa Infinite cardholders, which allows them to earn JMB Sapphire status (equivalent to oneworld Sapphire) with just a single round-trip Japan Airlines Business Class flight. 

While we have seen other oneworld Sapphire fast-track offers in the past, they generally required you to have status with some other programme as a starting point. This offer has no such prerequisite, making it accessible to everyone- well, at least everyone with a Visa Infinite card.

JAL x Visa Infinite fast-track offer

Details

The JAL x Visa Infinite fast-track offer is valid for Visa Infinite credit or debit cardholders who book a round-trip Japan Airlines Business Class ticket by 30 September 2024, where the first flight in the booking departs by 31 March 2025. 

Bookings must be made through the official Japan Airlines website, for round-trip tickets to Japan from the following cities. 

All flights must be operated and marketed by Japan Airlines, and the e-ticket number must start with 131.

Once you’ve purchased your ticket with your Visa Infinite card, you’ll need to register via this link, providing your:

• First 6 digits of Visa Infinite card
• JAL ticket number
• Nationality
• First flight number of itinerary
• First flight departure date
• Booking PNR
• JAL membership number
• Contact details

The main caveat worth pointing out is that JAL is making this available for a “limited number of slots,” and the campaign will end once all available slots are fully redeemed. It’s not specified exactly how many this is, so that’s the only uncertainty here.

When will status be granted?

If you meet the eligibility criteria, your status will be upgraded in November 2024, and be valid until 31 March 2026.

If you want to retain it beyond this date, you’ll need to abide by JMB’s regular requalification requirement, namely:

• 50,000 FLY ON Points (of which ≥25,000 must be from JAL Group flights), or
• 50 flights (of which ≥25 must be JAL Group flights) and 15,000 FLY ON Points

You can calculate how many FLY ON Points you earn per segment here. 

What benefits does JMB Sapphire have?

JMB Sapphire members enjoy perks such as:

• Access to JAL and oneworld Business Class lounges
• Priority check-in at Business Class counters
• Access to preferred seating
• Priority waitlisting
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling
• Extra baggage allowance

These benefits are valid whenever you fly on JAL, or one of its oneworld partners like Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines.

When flying out of Singapore, oneworld Sapphire will get you access to the British Airways Lounge (T1), Qantas Business Lounge (T1) and Cathay Pacific Lounge (T4). However, you will not be able to access the Qatar Premium Lounge (T1) unless you are flying in Business Class or above.

For more on the oneworld lounge options, refer to my post below.

Guide: How to do a oneworld lounge safari at Changi Airport

Is it worth participating?

oneworld Sapphire may not be the rarefied air of Emerald, but it’s certainly worth having for anyone who travels with oneworld frequently, especially in Economy. 

There was a similar promotion earlier this year with Trip.com, but if you ask me, the Visa Infinite offer is much better because the list of eligible countries has widened.

With the Trip.com offer, the cheapest way of meeting the requirements was to book a round-trip ticket from Manila (~S$1,700). This time round, you can book a ticket from Seoul Gimpo, and round-trip fares start from as little as ~S$723!

Now, obviously there are costs involved with repositioning, but if you’re reading this from South Korea or happen to be travelling there for vacation soon, a status run might not be the worst idea. 

To sweeten the deal, JAL is also offering a further 8% discount on bookings made with your Visa Infinite card, so you can save even more. 

Conclusion

JAL is offering a fast-track to JMB Sapphire status for Visa Infinite credit and debit cardholders who book a round-trip Business Class ticket by 30 September 2024 and commence travel by 31 March 2025. 

The cheapest way of fulfilling the requirements would be to book a Business Class ticket from Seoul, though if that’s not possible, then positioning yourself to Bangkok or Manila will also yield cheaper fares than flying from Singapore direct. 

Anyone taking advantage of this offer?

(HT: Matthew)