Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
Points vs. Cash: What’s the Best Way to Fly to Japan this Summer? How to get to Japan for $500 Now
July 1, 2025
Dreaming of Japan but not the price tag? Here are two ways you can get there for less this summer.
Two Ways to Get to Japan
Option 1: The Amex Points Strategy
Total Cost: 96,000 Amex points + $97 = Effective cost of ~$1,700
If you want a straightforward booking, then American Express Membership Rewards points are your golden ticket to Japan:
- Transfer 96,000 Amex points to Avianca LifeMiles
- Get 110,400 LifeMiles (thanks to the 15% transfer bonus through July 31, 2025)
- Book United flights round-trip in economy for 110,000 LifeMiles + ~$97 in taxes
- Fly United both ways - same quality as booking directly with United
Why this works: Avianca LifeMiles is part of Star Alliance, so you can book United flights at excellent redemption rates. The current 15% transfer bonus makes this deal even sweeter. We price the dollar value of this redemption to be about $1,700.
Option 2: Amex + ZIPAIR Summer Sale (Direct Booking)
Total Cost: Around $500-600 during sale
If you don’t have the Amex points to do the full booking and aren’t afraid of a little more work, then consider checking out the ZIPAIR sale to book one of your flights:
- Book during the ZIPAIR summer sale (ends July 18th)
- Choose from flights through October 31st - perfect for Labor Day travel
- Pay cash but earn credit card rewards
- Book return flight separately (can mix airlines)
Sale includes:
- Flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose to Tokyo Narita
- No fuel surcharges
What is Zipair?
ZIPAIR is JAL's budget airline subsidiary that launched in 2020, offering some of the most affordable flights from the U.S. to Tokyo. Think of it as the "Southwest of international travel" - no frills, but reliable and significantly cheaper than major carriers.
Key Benefits:
- No fuel surcharges - Unlike many airlines
- Modern fleet - Newer aircraft with decent amenities
- JAL partnership - Reliability of a major airline group
- Competitive pricing - Often 40-60% cheaper than major carriers
Step-by-Step: How to Book for $500
Using the ZIPAIR Sale for your departure flight to Japan:
Step 1: Book During Sale
- Choose flights for late August/early September (Labor Day) or through October 31st
- Make sure to choose the Flex option for the cheapest flight to Japan
- Pay with a travel rewards credit card
Step 2: Maximize Credit Card Rewards
- Use Chase Sapphire Reserve® (3x points on travel)
- Or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (2x miles on everything)
- Or The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x points on flights, Terms Apply.)
Using the Amex-Avianca Strategy to book your return flight from Japan:
Step 1: Get Amex Points
- Apply for the Amex Platinum or American Express® Gold Card
- Meet the minimum spending requirement for bonus
- Use the card for everyday purchases
Step 2: Transfer Points (Do this only when ready to book)
- Log in to your Avianca LifeMiles account
- Transfer 48,000 Amex points
- Receive 55,200 LifeMiles with 15% bonus ending July 31, 2025
Step 3: Book United Flight
- Search for United flights on Avianca's website
- Book one-way flights from Tokyo back to San Francisco or Los Angeles for 55,000 LifeMiles + ~$69 taxes
- When booking through Avianca, you’ll get a standard economy United airfare, which includes one piece of checked luggage.
- If a carry-on isn’t enough to bring your goodies home from Japan, then you can shop with ease, knowing you can check in another piece of luggage at no extra cost
Why This Works So Well Right Now
- Limited-time transfer bonus - 15% extra LifeMiles through July 31, 2025
- ZIP Air sale - Ends July 18th, covering flights through October 31st
- Labor Day timing - Perfect for late August/early September travel
- Star Alliance benefits - Book United flights through Avianca for less
Important Timing Notes
Act Fast:
- ZIP Air sale ends July 18th
- Amex transfer bonus ends July 31, 2025
- Labor Day flights (late August/early September) are included
Planning Timeline:
- Now through July 18th: Book ZIP Air sale flights
- ASAP: Apply for Amex cards if you don't have points
- Before travel: Transfer points only when ready to book
What You Get With Each Strategy
With Amex-Avianca Only:
- Round-trip flights on United Airlines
- Same service as booking United directly
- No fuel surcharges
- Ability to select seats and meals (for fees)
With ZIP Air Sale:
- Direct flights on ZIP Air (JAL subsidiary)
- Modern aircraft
- No fuel surcharges
- Need to book the return separately
Pro Tips for Success
- Don't transfer points speculatively - Only transfer when you're ready to book
- Check United flight availability first - Make sure your preferred dates work
- Have backup dates - Flexibility helps with award availability
- Book soon - Both the sale and transfer bonuses are time-limited
- Consider positioning flights - Sometimes flying to LAX/SFO first saves money
Alternative if You Miss the Sale
If you miss the ZIP Air sale and the July transfer bonus, you can still use the Amex-Avianca strategy year-round:
- United flights to Japan: 110,000 LifeMiles round-trip
- Total cost: ~$1,700 in point value + $97 taxes
Bottom Line
Getting to Japan this summer on a last-minute flight is absolutely possible right now, but you’ll need to act fast. The Amex-Avianca route offers the most straightforward booking experience if you have or can get Amex points, while the ZIPAIR sale provides a cash option with more steps.
Quick Action Items:
- If you have Amex Membership Rewards points: check United flight availability and transfer points
- If you need points: Apply for the Amex Platinum or Gold card now
- If you prefer cash: Book the ZIPAIR sale before July 18th
- Either way: Start planning your Japan adventure!
The key is acting fast - both opportunities are time-sensitive, but they represent some of the best deals to Japan we've seen in years. Your Tokyo adventure awaits!
Supercharge Your Credit Cards
Experience smarter spending with Kudos and unlock more from your credit cards. Earn $20.00 when you sign up for Kudos with "GET20" and make an eligible Kudos Boost purchase.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
