Earlier this week, One Mile at a Time reported that First Class availability to/from Tokyo and North America was wide open, and many readers took advantage of the opportunity. As tickets are being confirmed today, here is a how-to on selecting seats for your JAL flight.
JAL’s website may be the most accurate in displaying award seats availability on OneWorld carriers, but it’s pretty horrible in terms of navigation.
You can most definitely call Japan Airlines to reserve seats, but you can also do it online quite easily. Assuming you booked your flight through American Airlines, to select your seat first head to JAL’s North American website. Under “View My Reservation,” select “My Reservation.” You do not need a JAL account to reserve a seat.
You will need the confirmation code from Japan Airlines. This is not the same as the confirmation code that you use to look up your reservation on American Airlines’ website. If you did not ask for/were not provided with this code, you will have to call American Airlines to get it. Simply ask for the Japan Airlines PNR related to the reservation, and the agent should understand.
On the JAL website, simply input your confirmation code, the flight number, the date of departure, and you first and last name, and then select “View My Reservation.”
Your JAL flight should display. Select the flight you wish to reserve a seat for.
All the flight segments under the reservation will show up and you can select seats for all JAL flights on the same reservation by clicking “Seat Assignment.”
Once in, you can select any seats in green. And of course, remember to agree to their terms and conditions to confirm your seat selection!
Japan Airlines does block certain seats, meaning that they are not available to be assigned online. For example, with the flight I have selected, seats 1A and 1K are showing as available on ExpertFlyer, but they are not available for selection on JAL’s website. This is because Japan Airlines reserves those seats for full fare First Class customers. If you want those seats, you’ll have to ask for them at the airport.
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19 comments
I just did this, this morning for a PEK-TYO segment on JL.
Actually, if you don’t want to call there’s an easier way. Go to https://www.checkmytrip.com/cmt/apf/cmtng/index?LANGUAGE=GB&SITE=NCMTNCMT enter your confirmation number (BA, AA, whatever) and your last name–download the PDF of your reservation, and it will include your JL PNR. You can enter that info on JL reservation.
Also, if it doesn’t work the first time around, you may need to enter your middle initial or prefix in the first name section.
I have some F tickets I booked a few months ago, and using the JAL site to pick seats was a little frustrating since – even though I had a PNR – it was telling me it was invalid. Turns out I had to put my whole first name and middle initial (without a space between them) in the first name field, and last name as usual. It worked fine after that.
[…] How-To: Select a Seat for Your Japan Airlines Flight […]
May i know whether any charges for select a seat in japan airline. I have booked a ticket to kansai osaka japan on Nov 2016, when i select a seat there is charges appear ,so i would like to check whether they will charge me .
Having read this I believed it was extremely informative.
I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this informative
article together. I once again find myself spending way
too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worth it!
I try to book my ticket on JAL but it result on AA flight .I don’t know how to check in and check the flight status?
Why JAL tickets could not let it customers to choose their seats in advance?
Your flight to Japan is operated by AA and you need to go to AA website to do so. You won’t be able to choose seats most likely until 24 hours prior to departure time. They will release all available seats at that time without extra charges. To select seats in advance you have to be AA elite, premium members otherwise there will be a fee depending where you choose to be seated.
This is the first only airline I have come across or heard of that are quite prepared to take payment for flights but do not allow booking of seats at the time. Makes you wander why people would want to fly Air Japan
If you are booking directly, selecting seat is easy. The context here is that you are booking their flight from a partner airline.
My flight info:
Flight no.: JAL 8495
Departure port: JFK New York USA to NRT Tokyo Japen
Date: 08/Aug/2017(New York Time)
Name: Lee Mei Lee
Spouse: Lee Yiu Cheung
Please note that We are unable to book seats in advance. We would like to have seats reserved in aisle seats in meddle section for the two of us. Hope you may help us for the issue. Your prompt reply is highly appreciated. Thank you.
I want to book ticket to Tokyo should I book direct thru airline or Skyscanner etc
I confused pls advice. Thank you and appreciate your prompt reply.
Hopefully this link will help someone… I have been struggling with this.
https://www.5931.jal.co.jp/rsvInter/GuestCertForRsvConfirm.do
Please note that sometimes they flip first and last name
found out you must put in your full name including the initials or middle as shown at the end of passport with the <<< signs….
Paid $20 pp and sent the passport copies to the email they provided.
I can’t find View My Reservation on JAL site.
[…] flown many different airlines, I’m still a huge Cathay Pacific fan. I have an award ticket for a Japan Airlines flight booked using Alaska miles, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing JAL’s […]
[…] flown many different airlines, I’m still a huge Cathay Pacific fan. I have an award ticket for a Japan Airlines flight booked using Alaska miles, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing JAL’s […]
Screw Japan Airlines, i bought my ticket and there is still no option to choose my seat. These guys are as bad as united and american. Fly someone better.
I already bought the air-ticket from Boston Us to Taipei CKS a week ago and can,t selct my seats. Please kindly assist me how to select the seats. Thanks.