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

Expired

Book a single round-trip JAL Business Class flight with Visa Infinite and get fast-tracked to JMB Sapphire for as low as S$720!

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. 

Departing from Eligible Flights
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ Bangalore JL754
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ Bangkok JL32, JL34, JL708, JL728
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ Delhi JL30
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Hanoi JL752
๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡ณ Ho Chi Minh City JL70 or JL750
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Jakarta JL720 or 726
๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡พ Kuala Lumpur JL724
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ญ Manila JL78 or JL746
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Melbourne JL774
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Singapore JL36, JL38, JL712
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท Seoul (Gimpo) JL90, JL92, JL94
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Sydney JL52

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 โ‰ฅ25,000 must be from JAL Group flights), or
  • 50 flights (of which โ‰ฅ25 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?

JAL Sakura Lounge Tokyo Narita | Photo: Points Hacks

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.

British Airways Lounge Changi Terminal 1

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?

Access Cathay Pacific and other oneworld lounges with JMB Sapphire status

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)

Aaron Wong
Aaron Wong
Aaron founded The Milelion to help people travel better for less and impress chiobu. He was 50% successful.

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Max

Wow Thanks for sharing. All Singapore Visa Infinite Card is eligible? Missing the what card section… ๐Ÿ™‚

Nobody

Sounds interesting but not sure I will sign up for a one off. My travel pattern will certainly not help keep status after it expires as there are hardly any destinations of mine where *A coverage < One World. Alaska would have been interesting but flying an all B737 fleet is not worth the risk for the foreseeable future.
Now, if Sky Team folks were to offer something similar, Delta + ITA will make paying dollars for status worthwhile.

John

Sky Team is offering that with the Vietnam paid matching..

MilesGal

I would caution those who are signing up to be aware that the status validity may end not being given as stipulated. I signed up for the Trip.com x JMB one earlier this year and is now being told my status is only valid til Mar 2025 instead of the Dec 2025 as per the T&C. I have screenshots as proof but both Trip.com and Japan Airlines are not being helpful when I asked for a follow up. JAL asked me to speak to Trip.com since its a Trip.com promotion and Trip.com is giving me the roundabout and after an… Read more »

JDH

Thanks for this. Was planning a Japan trip in Dec for my mother on biz and the cheapest decent biz at this point was JAL. This article came at just the right time and took the opportunity to apply for the UOB VI offer (existing customer 40k miles). The 8% JAL discount offset more than half of VI annual fees, making the bonus miles really cheap. If can get the OWS will be a bonus