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International Flights JAL Bid Upgrades

Notices

The bidding upgrade interface has been revamped to improve ease of use.
For aircraft equipped with Premium Economy cabins, you may be able to place bids for both Premium Economy and Business Class, increasing your chances of securing an upgrade.
We look forward to your use of this service.

Service Overview

This service lets you upgrade your purchased Economy or Premium Economy class ticket for an extra fee.
The extra fee will be equal to your bid amount.

  • The number of seats available for upgrade is limited. Also, please note that this service may not always be available, regardless of the number of open seats in higher classes.
  • Upgrades to First Class are not available.

Process

If you have already purchased an international flight ticket and your flight is eligible for bid upgrades, you can place a bid through the booking confirmation page on the JAL website or via your confirmation email.
Bids are accepted up to 36 hours before departure, and if your bid is successful, you will be notified by email up to 24 hours prior to departure.

Eligible passengers

Flight tickets

Customers who have purchased international flight tickets from JAL or select oneworld member airlines and are booked on JAL-operated international flights eligible for bidding

  • Flights operated by other airlines within a JAL international flight ticket are not eligible for JAL bid upgrades. Please check the services offered by each airline.

Booking Class

Passengers traveling in Economy or Premium Economy Class

Applicable routes

International flights operated by JAL (those with JAL flight numbers or select codeshare flights carrying other oneworld airline flight numbers)

  • Excludes codeshare flights operated by other partner airlines

Please note that if your flight is operated by a partner airline, you may be able to take advantage of the services offered by that carrier. In such cases, service requirements may differ from those of JAL. Please contact the operating airline for further details.

Payment methods

Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/JCB/American Express/Diners Club)

Information

  • JAL may share with the issuer of the card personal information, such as booking details, credit card information, and internet usage data provided by customers for the purpose of detecting and preventing fraudulent use.
  • If you are using a card issued by a company located outside Japan, this information may be transferred to the country where the card issuer is based.
  • If the customer is a minor, they should obtain consent from a parent or guardian before using this service.

How to use this service

Step 1

To bid

Submitting requests from the JAL website

Please review your booking details for your purchased flight ticket using the Booking Confirmation link below.
If you have booked a flight that allows bidding, the “Bid Upgrade” button will be displayed.
Please submit your request by clicking the “Bid Upgrade” button

  • You will be redirected to an external website.
Confirm booking

Requesting via the confirmation email

If you received a confirmation email, you can also make a request via email.

Step 2

Bid submission

  • Please check the eligible flights on the bidding page.
  • If both Premium Economy and Business Class are shown as classes eligible for upgrades, you can place a bid for your preferred class, or for both. Please note that you cannot specify the order of priority.
    Please note that it is not possible to receive upgrades for both classes on the same flight simultaneously.
  • The bid should be made no later than 36 hours before flight departure.
  • If you wish to bid, please enter your bid amount and payment details, including your credit card information.
  • Your credit card will only be charged upon confirmation of the upgrade.

Step 3

Notification of results

  • If your bid is successful, we will contact you by email at least 24 hours before departure.
  • Upgrades will be granted to bidders in descending order of bid amount, starting with the highest bid. If multiple customers submit the same bid amount, upgrades will be determined based on priority, such as the booking class of the purchased ticket, JMB status, and the date and time of the bid.
  • Depending on booking availability when bidding closes, we may not be able to accommodate your upgrade request.
  • Once you have won the upgrade, you cannot cancel the upgrade request on its own.
  • Emails regarding this service will be sent from JALBidUpgrade@bid.jal.com. If you have set up domain-based email filtering, please configure your settings to allow emails from this domain beforehand.

If your bid is unsuccessful

  • We will contact you by email at least 24 hours before departure.
  • The amount you have bid will not be charged. Please board the flight in the class indicated on your purchased ticket.
  • We do not accept upgrade requests or inquiries about upgrade results over the phone. We appreciate your understanding.

To customers who have purchased JAL paid optional services:

If your bid is successful, you will be able to use the services included with the higher-class cabin.

For refunds on various optional paid services, please contact the JAL Contact Center.

  • Refund deadline: Within 1 year and 30 days from the date of purchase of the paid optional service.

Important Notes on Using the Service (Please Review)

  • An upgrade means being seated in a class higher than the one on your current ticket.
    Therefore, this service is not available for First Class passengers.
    (Examples: Economy Class → Premium Economy Class, Economy Class → Business Class, Premium Economy Class → Business Class)
  • Bidding refers to requesting an upgrade through the prescribed procedures.
  • Winning the bid means that the upgrade has been confirmed at the amount you bid.
  • You can bid on the eligible flights displayed on the bidding page.
  • You can change or cancel your bid up to 36 hours before the departure of the flight you are bidding on.
  • If you need to change your flight while bidding is still open, please cancel all bids before making the change, then place your bids again after the change has been completed. However, your new flight may no longer be eligible for bidding, depending on the changes made.
  • The notification email will no longer be valid if you change the flight you are bidding on.
  • The results of your bid will be notified by email. We cannot respond to individual inquiries.
  • The number of seats available for upgrade is limited. Also, please note that this service may not always be available, regardless of the number of open seats in higher classes.
  • If multiple customers are under the same booking, the confirmation email will be sent to the representative passenger.
  • Bids placed and upgrades granted will apply to all passengers under the same booking. Bids submitted by only some passengers cannot be accepted.
  • If your booking is split, your request will become invalid.
  • The fare rules for JAL international flight tickets (starting with 131) remain in effect even after a successful bid. Please check with your point of purchase regarding the fare rules for your flight tickets.
  • Your seat may be assigned automatically after bidding ends, but you can check and change it on the JAL website.
    Please note that if you place a bid for multiple passengers, we cannot guarantee that you will be seated together.
    Customers holding tickets other than JAL international flight tickets (beginning with 131) will not be able to verify their booking on the JAL website after winning the bid. Please check your seat at the airport counter or at a self-service check-in kiosk.
    *If online check-in is available, you can check and change your seat at check-in.
  • Ancillary services such as lounge service and priority baggage claim will be subject to the terms of your upgraded booking class.
  • Free baggage allowance is subject to the rules stated on the ticket. Please note that depending on your itinerary, the rules of your connecting airline may apply.
  • Mileage and FLY ON point accrual will be based on the booking class of the ticket purchased before bidding. Upgraded award tickets are not eligible for mileage accrual.
  • Once your upgrade is confirmed, payment will be processed using the credit card you registered in advance.
  • Various fees may apply depending on the terms and conditions of the credit card used.
  • Upon successful bidding, an Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) will be issued.
Flight tickets, e-ticket itinerary/receipt, and EMDs
  • Electronic Miscellaneous Document (EMD) can be used only for flights on which you have received an upgrade.
  • If the customer is considered a minor under the laws of their country, parental consent is required to place a bid.
  • This service is provided in partnership with Plusgrade (located in Canada). Personal information will be shared to the extent necessary.
  • The bidding page is provided by Plusgrade.
  • The system requirements for websites provided by Plusgrade are different from those for the JAL website.
    Please refer to the following for recommended system requirements.
    Chrome (Android) - Latest Version
    Chrome (iOS) - Latest version
    Chrome (MacOS) - Latest version
    Chrome (Windows) - Latest Version
    Safari (iOS) - Latest version
    Safari (MacOS) - Latest version
    Firefox (Mac) - Latest Version
    Firefox (Windows) - Latest Version
    Opera (Windows) - Latest Version
    Opera (Mac) - Latest Version
    UC Browser (Windows) - Latest Version
    UC Browser (iOS) - Latest Version
    UC Browser (Android) - Latest Version
  • Customers who are waitlisted for JAL international upgrade awards on flights eligible for bid upgrades are not eligible for this service.
  • This service is different from the same-day upgrade at airports for Premium Economy class. For more information, please click below.
Information on same-day upgrades at the airport for Premium Economy passengers

Refunds for upgrade fees after successful bids (please review)

No refunds can be made after an upgrade has been granted.
However, refunds will be issued in the following cases:

  • If we are unable to offer you an upgraded seat due to flight cancellations or delays.
    However, if a flight change allows us to provide the cabin class originally granted, no refund will be issued.
  • If you have already purchased a JAL international flight ticket (starting with 131) and wish to change or cancel a JAL or JAL-operated flight that you successfully bid on.
    If multiple passengers under the same booking have been granted an upgrade, refunds cannot be issued for only some of them.

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