I constantly search the internet for unbelievable airfare deals, but today I uncovered an absolute blockbuster of a discount that I simply had to share immediately. If you live in or near Salt Lake City, you already know how difficult it can be to find affordable flights to Asia. Because Delta Air Lines heavily dominates Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), local travelers usually face painfully high pricing to international destinations. However, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have stepped up to challenge that dominance with an incredible round-trip fare to Tokyo, Japan, for just $777. Even better, you can easily slash that price down to an unbelievable $697 by leveraging a targeted American Express credit card offer.

In this post, I will break down the exact details of this flight deal, explain how you can apply credit card statement credits to lower the cost, and recommend the best travel credit cards to maximize your points and protection on this purchase. This is a rare, limited-time booking window for travel in January and February of 2027, so you must act quickly before the airlines pull these fares.

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The Anatomy of This Incredible Tokyo Flight Deal

To begin with, let us look at the flight details. This round-trip fare departs from Salt Lake City (SLC) and lands in Tokyo, Japan, utilizing either Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) or Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). You will fly on a combination of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Because these two carriers recently merged, they now offer seamless booking engines and highly integrated flight schedules.

Typically, you will fly from Salt Lake City to a major West Coast gateway like Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), or Los Angeles (LAX) on Alaska Airlines. From there, you will connect to a long-haul flight to Tokyo. Alternatively, some routings may take you through Honolulu (HNL) on Hawaiian Airlines, which actually serves as a fantastic excuse to stretch your legs halfway across the Pacific Ocean.

The baseline price of $777 represents an outstanding value because flights from SLC to Asia regularly exceed $1,200 in economy. However, you must pay close attention to the travel dates. This specific pricing is only available for a limited travel window spanning January through February of 2027. While booking nearly two years in advance might seem extreme to some travelers, I absolutely love doing this because it gives me ample time to save up points for luxury hotel stays and plan a perfect itinerary.

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Stacking the Savings with Targeted Amex Offers

While a $777 round-trip ticket to Japan is already a steal, you can make this deal even sweeter by utilizing American Express Offers. Amex Offers are targeted promotions that give cardmembers statement credits or bonus points for spending money with specific merchants. Currently, many cardholders are seeing targeted offers for both Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines in their American Express accounts.

Specifically, I recently found an Amex Offer on my American Express Gold Card that gives a $80 statement credit when you spend $500 or more directly with Alaska Airlines. Alternatively, some users report seeing a similar offer for Hawaiian Airlines. If you have been targeted for this offer, your final price for this round-trip ticket to Tokyo drops to just $697.

To successfully redeem this offer, you must follow a few simple steps. First, log into your American Express mobile application or desktop dashboard. Scroll down to the “Amex Offers & Benefits” section and locate the Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines promotion. Next, click “Add to Card” before you make your purchase. Finally, ensure that you book your flights directly through the website of the airline that matches your specific Amex Offer. Once you complete the transaction, American Express will automatically credit your account with the $80 discount, leaving you with an unbeatable $697 trip to Japan.

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The Best Credit Cards to Book This Deal

Even if you do not have the targeted Amex Offer, you should still use a high-yielding travel credit card to purchase this airfare. I always emphasize the importance of using the right credit card because the points you earn and the insurance you receive can make a massive difference in your overall travel experience.

First, I highly recommend using The Platinum Card® from American Express. I love this credit card because it provides 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Booking a $777 ticket on this card will net you nearly 3,885 valuable points, which I value at around $77 toward future luxury travel. Furthermore, the Amex Platinum card provides robust trip delay insurance and trip interruption protection, which gives me immense peace of mind when booking flights so far in advance.

Second, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® remains one of my absolute favorite cards for booking airfare. This card earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on all travel purchases, which means you will earn approximately 2,331 points on this ticket. Additionally, Chase offers the absolute best trip cancellation and interruption insurance in the industry. If a medical emergency prevents you from traveling to Tokyo in 2027, Chase will reimburse you for your non-refundable expenses.

If you prefer to earn miles directly with the airline, you might consider using the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. I hold this card in my wallet because it grants a free checked bag on Alaska flights and allows you to earn valuable Alaska Mileage Plan miles on your everyday purchases. Using this card to book your flight guarantees that you will earn 3x miles per dollar spent on Alaska purchases.

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Why You Must Visit Tokyo in January and February

You might wonder if traveling to Japan during the winter months of January and February is actually a good idea. Personally, I believe winter is one of the absolute best times to visit Tokyo.

To start, the tourist crowds during January and February are significantly thinner than they are during the chaotic cherry blossom season of spring or the hot, humid summer months. Consequently, you can explore iconic neighborhoods like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Asakusa without fighting massive walls of people. You will also face much shorter lines at major attractions like Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and the immersive teamLab digital art museums.

Furthermore, winter weather in Tokyo is generally crisp, sunny, and very dry. This lack of humidity and cloud cover creates the perfect conditions for viewing Mount Fuji. During my winter trips to Tokyo, I have easily spotted the snow-capped peak of Mount Fuji from various observation decks across the city, a sight that is often obscured by summer haze. Additionally, winter is the peak season for enjoying traditional Japanese hot springs (onsen). There is nothing quite like soaking in a steaming outdoor hot spring while the crisp winter air cools your face.

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Leveraging the Alaska-Hawaiian Merger for Maximum Value

Another exciting angle to this deal is the ongoing integration of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. Because federal regulators approved their merger, these two airlines are blending their frequent flyer programs in ways that benefit savvy travelers.

Currently, you can transfer your miles between the Alaska Mileage Plan and the Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles program at a 1:1 ratio, completely free of charge. Therefore, when you book this flight, you can choose to credit your flying miles to whichever program benefits your travel goals the most.

Furthermore, Alaska Airlines belongs to the Oneworld Alliance. This membership means that the miles you earn on this trip can help you secure elite status with Alaska, which in turn grants you lounge access, free upgrades, and priority boarding when flying on other Oneworld carriers like American Airlines, British Airways, and Japan Airlines. I always prioritize earning Alaska miles because I find them to be the most valuable airline currency for booking high-end international business class cabins.

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Final Thoughts on Booking This Deal

Ultimately, flight deals as lucrative as this one do not last long. Airline revenue management systems constantly scan for pricing anomalies, and they will likely raise these fares back to standard levels within a matter of hours.

If you want to secure this $777 price tag, or the lower $697 price with the Amex Offer, I suggest you head over to Google Flights immediately. Set your departure airport to SLC and your destination to NRT or HND, and filter the calendar to January and February of 2027. Once you find the dates that work for your schedule, click through to book directly with the airline and secure your ticket to one of the most incredible cities on Earth.