One year ago Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines announced a new partnership. This translated to a codeshare agreement between the two airlines which took effect in March of this year. But now, Hawaiian and Japan Airlines expands their partnership further, offering passengers even more options.
Expanded Partnership
Ultimately, Hawaiian and Japan Airlines are hoping to form a joint-venture partnership. Currently, their application is pending regulatory review. So, in the meantime, the two carriers are building upon their existing codeshare relationship. And, the next step in that is to offer reciprocal benefits to frequent fliers.
What exactly does Hawaiian and Japan Air mean about reciprocal benefits? I’m not 100% sure. According to their respective websites, it sounds like the enhanced relationship primarily concerns mileage earning. Specifically, HawaiianMiles members will be able to earn HawaiianMiles on 800 Japan Airlines domestic and international flights. Japan Mileage Bank members, on the other hand, will be able to earn miles on all Hawaiian inter-island and international routes.
Unfortunately, there’s no mention regarding elite member benefits. Hopefully, we’ll receive more clarity in this regard in the near future.
Earning Rates
Unfortunately, unless you’re flying a premium product or full fare economy, you won’t earn all that many miles, if any at all. Heck, even discount business class tickets won’t earn miles at a 100% rate. Just take a look at HawaiianMiles earning rates for Japan Airlines flights.
Yikes! Those are awful earning rates! But they’re no different than what Mileage Bank members earn on Japan Air’s own flights. Likewise, Mileage Bank members will earn miles at those same rates when flying on eligible Hawaiian Air flights.
Hawaiian and Japan Airlines Expands Their Partnership, Final Thoughts
These changes take effect today, October 1, 2018, though the mileage earning rates are a joke. You’ll earn 100% of miles flown on full fare economy only? No thanks! I’d rather credit miles to Alaska Air Mileage Plan. With Alaska, you’ll earn a minimum of 75% of miles flown on Japan Airlines domestic flights, though international flights earn at the same rate as flights credited to Hawaiian.