On this page
- Why two seats are harder than one
- Where to search
- Which US cards reach which program
- Worked example: a couple, one way (published prices and hypothetical figures)
- The full round-trip cost for two
- Business or economy?
- Steps for booking two seats
- Trade-offs
- If only one seat shows
- Two award seats to Japan: FAQs
For two travelers, start with Aeroplan, which publishes distance-based prices for flights between North America and Asia, and which Amex, Chase, Capital One and Bilt all transfer to at 1:1. On Aeroplan's chart, business class to Japan is 85,000 points per person one way for 5,001–7,500 miles flown, and 55,000 under 5,000 miles, which brings Seattle into the lower band. Then compare with ANA (via Amex) or JAL (via Capital One, Bilt or Citi). The hard part isn't the price; it's finding two seats on the same flight.
What we'd do first: decide your cabin and your flexibility on dates. Then search Aeroplan for two travelers, from your home airport and from Seattle, across a full week. Don't transfer points until two seats show.
Why two seats are harder than one
Programs release award seats in small numbers, often one or two per cabin per flight. A date that shows one seat may not show two. Business class is tighter than economy. For couples, that means three things matter more than usual: flexible dates, willingness to fly from another airport, and a backup plan if only one seat appears.
Where to search
Aeroplan (Air Canada). Aeroplan's chart prices partner awards by distance flown. Between North America and the Pacific zone (which includes Asia) it lists, one way per person:
- 0–5,000 miles: economy 32,500 points, business 55,000;
- 5,001–7,500 miles: economy 50,000 on most partners (Air Canada and Select Partners from 45,000), business 85,000.
On most partners, such as ANA, those prices are fixed. On Air Canada and its "Select Partners", which include United, they're "starting at" prices; the chart lists medians well above them (158,200 points for business in the 5,001–7,500 band). It also says "A partner booking fee will apply to flight rewards which include travel with a partner airline" and that points are "based on the actual distance flown" (Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, PDF, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:47 Lima).
Why Seattle can price lower. Seattle to Tokyo Haneda is about 4,790 miles, inside the 0–5,000 band. San Francisco (about 5,150) and Los Angeles (about 5,480) fall just over, and New York (about 6,760) and Chicago (about 6,290) sit well inside the higher band. A nonstop from Seattle, if one is available at chart price on your dates, can save 30,000 points per person in business. A connection that adds distance can push you into the next band.
ANA Mileage Club. Amex lists ANA as a 1:1 transfer partner (American Express US transfer page, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:32 Lima), with an estimated transfer time of four days. Check ANA's own award rules and prices before transferring; we didn't verify them for this guide.
JAL Mileage Bank. Capital One lists Japan Airlines at 2:1.5, so 1,000 Capital One miles become 750 JAL miles (Capital One transfer partners guide, dated Nov 2, 2026, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:55 Lima). Bilt lists Japan Airlines at 1:1 (Bilt transfer partners, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:55 Lima), and Citi lists JAL Mileage Bank (ratio shown at transfer) (Citi ThankYou partner listing, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:32 Lima).
Which US cards reach which program
| Program | Amex | Chase | Capital One | Citi | Bilt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | not listed | 1:1 |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1:1 | not listed | not listed | not listed | not listed |
| JAL Mileage Bank | not listed | not listed | 2:1.5 | listed (ratio at transfer) | 1:1 |
| United MileagePlus | not listed | 1:1 | not listed | not listed | 1:1 |
As listed on issuer pages on 13 November 2026 (Chase from the Sapphire Preferred benefits page, checked 21:52 Lima). Partners change, so check before committing.
Worked example: a couple, one way (published prices and hypothetical figures)
Two travelers, one way to Tokyo. We compare against hypothetical cash fares and subtract a 2% cash-back baseline you'd earn paying cash. Taxes and fees of $80 per person are hypothetical; a partner booking fee may apply on top.
| Option (2 travelers, one way) | Points for two | Cash (hypo) | Cash fare for two (hypo) | Cents per point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Los Angeles or San Francisco, Aeroplan partner | 170,000 (published) | $160 | $9,000 | 5.09¢ |
| Business, Seattle, Aeroplan partner | 110,000 (published) | $160 | $9,000 | 7.87¢ |
| Economy, Los Angeles or San Francisco, Aeroplan partner | 100,000 (published) | $160 | $2,200 | 2.00¢ |
| Economy, Seattle, Aeroplan partner | 65,000 (published) | $160 | $2,200 | 3.07¢ |
The math: for business from California, ($9,000 − $160 − $180) ÷ 170,000 = 5.09 cents per point. All four options clear our assumed 1-cent yardstick against these hypothetical fares. The bigger decision for a couple is total points: two business seats from California cost 170,000 points one way, or 340,000 round trip, before fees.
The full round-trip cost for two
Put the whole trip on one line before you transfer. Using Aeroplan's published partner prices from California, a couple flying business both ways needs 340,000 points plus taxes and fees for four one-way awards (hypothetically $320 at $80 each), plus any partner booking fees. Flying business out and economy back cuts that to 270,000 points. Economy both ways is 200,000 points. From Seattle, the same three plans need 220,000, 175,000 and 130,000 points. Each figure is a published starting price; availability at that price is not guaranteed.
Business or economy?
For many couples, the realistic choice is mixed: business one way, economy the other, or premium economy if it shows. Business seats for two are the scarcest. Economy for two is easier to find and uses far fewer points: 130,000 round trip from Seattle on Aeroplan's published partner price, against 220,000 for business. If the overnight eastbound flight is the one you most want to sleep on, spend the points there.
Steps for booking two seats
- Search Aeroplan for two travelers across seven or more days, from your home airport and from Seattle.
- Check ANA (if you hold Amex points) or JAL (Capital One, Bilt or Citi) for the same dates.
- Confirm both seats are on the same flight and in the same cabin.
- Link accounts in each traveler's exact name and transfer enough for both. Most programs let you book an award for someone else, but check before transferring.
- Book immediately; seats can go while transfers process. Amex estimates four days for ANA.
- Pay the TSA security fee and other taxes with a card; the TSA fee applies per one-way trip originating at a US airport, including award tickets (TSA: Security Fees, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:46 Lima).
Trade-offs
- Positioning to Seattle can save points but adds a domestic flight, time and its own cost. Count it in the total.
- Splitting programs (one seat on Aeroplan, one on another program, same flight) can work when only one seat shows per program, but changes and cancellations become harder to coordinate.
- Partner fees and surcharges vary by program and airline; read the final cash total.
- Pooling points. You'll usually need to transfer from one person's card account; check whether your issuer lets you transfer to another person's program account before you plan around it.
If only one seat shows
Book nothing yet. Try the day before and after, other departure cities, or a different cabin for one direction. Set an alert in a search tool (see our award availability guide). If one of you must fly on a specific date, consider paying cash for one seat and using points for the other, and compare with our cents-per-point method.
Two award seats to Japan: FAQs
Is Haneda or Narita cheaper on points?
On Aeroplan's distance-based chart, it depends on miles flown from your departure city, and the two airports are close in distance. Pick by schedule.
Can we each use our own points?
Yes, if each of you transfers to your own program account and books separately; just make sure both seats are on the same flight.
Will award prices be the same on the return?
Aeroplan's chart covers travel between the zones in either direction, but taxes departing Japan differ. Check the return separately.
For which programs each US currency reaches, see transferable points explained.