JAL used to have a fantastic credit card option, namely the JAL Global Club card. It used to be available for all Sapphire tier members of the JAL mileage program and it would effectively lock you in the Sapphire tier status for life (including Oneworld Sapphire) without having to get the required miles every year, and even make it easier to reach Emerald status (with 80k points instead of 100k requirement). This was by far the easiest way to maintain the status and enjoy the many benefits.
From this year, the regulations have changed and Sapphire members are no longer eligible for the JAL Global Club card: one now needs to have 1,500 "Life Status Points". As per this page, you get 5 points for each 1,000 miles flown internationally, and mileage accumulation bonuses are not counted. This means that one now has to actually fly 300,000 miles on JAL only to get the Global Club membership, which is quite a damn lot. Using a JAL card also gives you points but it really is not much.
Does anyone know of any shortcuts to get the required points? I didn't get the Global Club status in time before the regulations changed and now I'm screwed.
FYI, the ANA card with equivalent perks is still available to all Platinum members, but the fact that JAL nerfed their program this hard makes me think that perhaps so will ANA. (I also much prefer JAL so I'd rather not have to change airlines.)
by _moving_out_