How to collect Japan Airlines miles faster with d-point

Compared to its closest rival airline, Japan Airlines (JAL) has fewer shopping point partners, so on the surface collecting JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) miles takes longer than the competitor. However, one of its shopping point partners, the dpoint, has set up various ways to make its point collection faster, thereby making it possible to exchange to JMB sooner than usual. In this post you’ll get to read about the ways you can collect JMB miles via exchanging your dpoints.

The d-point is the point program of NTT Docomo , the largest telecommunications network in Japan at the moment. NTT Docomo subscribers should automatically have a d-account but non-subscribers can still create a d-account. You can exchange your dpoints to JMB at the current rate of 5,000 dpoints to 2,500 JMB miles.

Obviously, the first step is to create your d-account. Once created, the next step is to download the d-point (dポイント) app onto your phone. Enter your d-account details and once done, you can now start collecting d-points at stores where d-points can be collected. 

In convenience stores, you can collect only at Lawson if you have just the d-ポイント app. To be able to collect d-points at all convenience stores, you have to download the d-pay (d払い / d-barai) app. The d-barai is the QR-code payment system inaugurated by NTT Docomo not too long ago. Once you have the d-barai app, enter your preferred credit card and start purchasing.

For those who might be worried about credit card fraud that may happen when using d-barai, d-barai requires 3D Secure verification (Visa verified, MasterCard SecureCode, JCB J/Secure) before your card gets approved for purchase.

In my case, I entered my AEON JMB credit card in the d-barai app. So now, not only can I earn miles with my credit card transaction, but also dpoints - which of course, I will later on convert to JMB.

Now, there is a way to help you reach your required dpoints faster - and it does not involve spending. Through the d-point invest portal, you can, as the site name implies, “invest” your points. As with any other type of investment, there is always that risk of losing. At least it’s only points you are losing, not actual money. When you gain points, however, it gets you a tad bit closer to your goal doesn’t it?

When you start investing in d-point invest, make a mental note of how much you invested and watched it once a day. If there is even just a one-point gain, withdraw the gained point/s right away. If there is a loss, don’t do anything (just keep collecting via d-barai). Once you have 100 dpoints, immediately add them to the investment. Yes, you can withdraw as little as one point, but you can only add in increments of 100 points. Keep doing that until you reach you target dpoint amount. For JMB conversion, the required amount is 5,000 dpoints.

Keep in mind, though, that only the standard d-points can be invested in d-point invest. The period-fixed points (期間・用途限定) cannot be invested, so once you see those points on your d-point app, your choices are only to either use them or let them expire. If you have at least 100 period-fixed dpoints, you can set up your d-barai app to first use those points before charging your transaction to your credit card. 

So yes, it’s like you got a 100-yen off for your d-barai transaction. And because at the moment the Japanese government Is actively campaigning for people to start doing more cashless transactions, you can get more discounts from using d-barai.

I hope these tips will be helpful for you as you work towards getting those JMB miles.