Rakuten connects loyalty program with Japan Airlines

Rakuten Points can be mutually exchanged with JAL Miles.

Rakuten Group is collaborating with Japan Airlines’ (JAL) mileage service, JAL Mileage Bank, allowing Rakuten Points under its loyalty program to be mutually exchanged with the airlines’ mileage program JAL Miles, the e-commerce firm said in a news release.

When converting Rakuten Points into JAL Miles, two Rakuten Points can be exchanged for one JAL Mile. Users can exchange a minimum of 50 Rakuten Points – in increments of two points – up to a maximum monthly amount of 20,000 Rakuten Points for JAL Miles.

Conversely, when converting JAL Miles into Rakuten Points, the minimum exchange amount is 3,000 miles – in increments of 1,000 miles.

One JAL Mile can be exchanged for 0.5 Rakuten Points. However, for exchanges of 10,000 miles or more – in increments of 10,000 miles – one JAL Mile can be exchanged for 0.8 Rakuten Points instead, the company said.

Users can access a webpage from Rakuten Point Club, the website for managing Rakuten Points to exchange their preferred number of points or miles. The equivalent exchanged points or miles will be received within ten days of the time of application, Rakuten added.

As Rakuten Points have been exchangeable with All Nippon Airways’ Miles since 2004, the new collaboration marks the first time that a major Japanese loyalty points program has become mutually exchangeable with the mileage programs of both of Japan’s leading airlines.