Last summer, I introduced JAL’s “Dokokani Mile” program where Japan-based JAL Mileage Bank members can get a domestic roundtrip ticket from Tokyo and Osaka to a random destination for 6,000 miles roundtrip.
Yesterday, JAL announced launch of the program’s “Southern Islands Edition” for flights departing from Kagoshima and Naha to one of Japan’s islands in that area.
JAL Dokokani Mile Southern Islands Edition
With the new program which will open for booking on May 24, 2018, Mileage Bank members will be presented with three potential destinations that the system will then randomly choose from.
One thing to keep in mind here is that you can refresh the site to get a new set of three destinations which is useful if you have one or two particular destinations in mind as you can refresh until you get them in your selection.
While for the regular program, all of the flights out of Tokyo and Osaka are eligible, for the new program, the eligible routes include:
- Kagoshima to: Amami Oshima, Kikaijima, Okinoerabujima, Tanegashima, Tokunoshima, Yakushima, and Yoronjima
- Naha to:Â Amami Oshima, Ishigaki, Kitadaito, Kumejima, Minamidaito, Miyako, Okinoerabujima, Yonaguni, and Yoronjima
Compared to the regular program, the amount of people that will find this one useful will be limited. And, I also believe it does not provide as much value since some of the inter-island routes are quite cheap when purchased outright even on the day of departure.
However, compared to booking the tickets with other mileage programs (or even with the regular non-Dokokani Mile JAL Mileage Bank rates), the program still presents a great deal.
After all, the minimum mileage required for Japanese domestic tickets with some of the mileage programs is as follows:
- 6,000 miles one-way with JAL Mileage Bank
- 4,500 miles one-way with British Airways Executive Club
- 5,000 miles one-way with United MileagePlus
- 5,000 miles one-way with ANA Mileage Club
Now, of course, the low prices comes at the cost of flexibility, and so this is not something to use for a business trip. For a quick vacation to somewhere warm, it might be just the right thing, though!
