Compare 9 loyalty programs for San Diego to Tokyo award flights, with economy seats from 35,000 points.
San Diego to Tokyo is a transpacific route, and nonstop award space shows up on Japan Airlines. It's priced by nine programs, and the cheapest economy award is 35,000 points through American AAdvantage, on a Japan Airlines nonstop. With this many programs in play, the same seat can price very differently depending on where you book it. This page compares all nine programs on SAN–NRT side by side.
Best one-way award prices per airline over the next 12 months.
| Airline | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American AirlinesAA | 35,000Lowest | 84,000pts | 141,800pts | Not available |
 Alaska AirlinesAS | 35,000Lowest | Not available | 106,000pts | 100,000pts |
 Japan AirlinesJL | 35,000Lowest | 50,000Lowest | 80,000Lowest | 100,000pts |
 KLMKL | 36,000pts | 65,000pts | 154,000pts | Not available |
 DeltaDL | 42,000pts | 111,000pts | 499,900pts | 355,000pts |
 United AirlinesUA | 42,000pts | 65,000pts | 118,188pts | 87,500Lowest |
 Air CanadaAC | 48,600pts | 92,600pts | 87,500pts | Not available |
ANANH | 48,800pts | Not available | 110,000pts | Not available |
Asiana AirlinesOZ | 49,100pts | Not available | 275,300pts | Not available |
Korean AirKE | 50,500pts | Not available | Not available | Not available |
When award seats between San Diego and Tokyo price cheapest over the next year.
| Month | Cheapest award (points) |
|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | 35,000 |
| Dec 2026 | 35,000 |
| Jan 2027 | 35,000 |
| Feb 2027 | 35,000 |
| Mar 2027 | 35,000 |
| Apr 2027 | 35,000 |
| May 2027 | 35,000 |
| Jun 2027 | 50,000 |
| Jul 2027 | 35,000 |
| Aug 2027 | 43,000 |
| Sep 2027 | 43,500 |
| Oct 2027 | No award data |
5 airlines with award seats between San Diego and Tokyo, nonstop or connecting.
American AirlinesAAAir CanadaACAlaska AirlinesASDeltaDLUnited AirlinesUAWhat to know before booking San Diego to Tokyo with points.
Distance ~5,550 miles; nonstop flying time ~11h40 (estimate). Tokyo runs 16 hours ahead of San Diego (17 while San Diego is on standard time). Data covers November 2026–October 2027, with calendar prices for 11 months. Of the well-covered ones, November 2026–January 2027 are among the cheapest, at 35,000 points; pricier months include June 2027 (50,000).
San Diego to Tokyo is served by American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and 10 more, offering multiple options for award travelers. Compare 9 loyalty programs to find the best value for your points. Award prices start from 35,000 points in economy. Use our search tool to check real-time award availability on this route.
At about 5,550 miles from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT), a nonstop runs roughly 11h40, give or take with the winds. Nonstop award space in the data comes from a single airline: Japan Airlines. The Boeing 787-9 shows up on those nonstop award segments. Nonstops make up less than 1% of the award options in the data; the rest connect.
San Diego–Tokyo is a long-haul trip, so cabin choice shapes the whole booking. The economy floor is a partner booking on a Japan Airlines nonstop, with no connection to trade off against the points. The data lists only about $6 in taxes on that seat, likely incomplete for an international ticket; confirm at checkout. Premium economy runs about 1.4 times the economy price and business about 2.3 times. Transfers out of bank programs can't be reversed, so confirm the exact flight is bookable first.
American AAdvantage wins economy at 35,000 points, premium economy at 50,000, and business class at 80,000. First class starts at 87,500 points through Air Canada Aeroplan on a connecting itinerary, often first on one leg only, so confirm the cabin on each flight. Of the other seven, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, and Qantas Frequent Flyer are worth a look too.
In the current award data, only Japan Airlines shows nonstop space on San Diego–Tokyo, but as a oneworld member its seats also price through alliance partners, not just Japan Airlines' own program. Beyond the nonstop, the cheaper connecting awards in the data change planes in San Francisco, Seattle, and Dallas/Fort Worth. Partner pricing sets the business-class floor: American AAdvantage books Japan Airlines as a oneworld partner, and no program prices Japan Airlines lower in that cabin at last check.
At the Tokyo end, Haneda (HND) starts at 38,000 points in economy, close to the route's 35,000-point economy floor and worth pricing when Narita space is thin. Worth comparing at last check: Las Vegas to Tokyo from 34,700 points and San Diego to London from 15,000.
Alternative corridors travelers consider alongside San Diego to Tokyo.
From 12,500 ptsBusiness 43,000 pts
From 15,000 ptsBusiness 57,500 pts
From 25,750 ptsBusiness 51,580 pts
From 27,500 ptsBusiness 52,120 pts
From 27,500 ptsBusiness 60,500 pts
From 27,500 ptsBusiness 54,330 pts
Common questions travelers ask about the San Diego to Tokyo route.
