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Great price from Los Angeles to Bangkok on Japan Airlines Business Class! However, there is a catch. You need to be an Amex Cardholder and must book via AMEX International Airline Program (IAP) to get the lowest price starting from $2,233 R/T.
Now if you are not a card member, fear not. The deal is still applicable for you – just pay a few hundred bucks more. But why haven’t you signed up for an Amex yet? The discount with Amex IAP essentially pays for itself.
| Routing (R/T) | Price from (quoted by Japan Airlines) | Price from (quoted by American Express IAP) |
| Los Angeles to Bangkok | USD2,878 | USD2,233 |
A Quick Introduction to Amex International Airline Program
As part of the benefits under AMEX Platinum Card or AMEX Business Card, cardholders may receive exclusive savings on selected airlines via AMEX International Airline Program for international travels on First, Business and Premium Economy cabins. Flights have to be originated from the US or selected Canadian destination. As claimed by AMEX, the average savings for First, Business and Premium Economy are as follows: $600, $300, $100 (R/T). In addition, you will also receive 5x Membership Rewards points.
How to find this deal?
The best way to find this deal is by first searching Amex Travel. If you are not an AMEX cardholder, you can find this deal under google flights here.
Things to Note
- Travel period: Available from July 2019 to May 2020 at the point of writing.
- Booking Code: X
What is The Business Class Product like?
At the point of writing, for the lowest fare, you will most likely be getting the Sky Suite 3 seat from Los Angeles to Osaka, then Osaka to Bangkok on Shell Flat Neo seat.
Where Should I Credit This Ticket?
Check out where to credit. These tickets should book into fare code X, for some great earnings on Alaska Airlines. Other great places to credit these miles include British Airways and American Airlines. For example, you will be earning 37416 base miles on Alaska Airlines if you are taking this routing: LAX – KIX – BKK – KIX – LAX.
How Should I Pay For This Ticket?
I recommend booking this deal directly with the airline as that is the safest way to ensure that your tickets are in good hands.
If you are taking advantage of the IAP deal, you need to pay with an American Express card. I recommend using The Platinum Card® from American Express, as it offers 5x points on all airfare purchases made directly with airlines and Amex. You should earn a minimum of 11,000 membership rewards points worth around ~$190 USD depending on how you value American Express Membership Rewards Points. You can learn more about The Platinum Card® from American Express here.
H/T: Flying Chuck from Flyertalk