Key Points

• ANA Mileage Club offers some of the best business class redemption rates in the industry, with flights to Europe starting at just 50,000 miles each way.
• American Express Membership Rewards is the only major credit card program that transfers to ANA, making Amex cards essential for earning ANA miles.
• The program requires round-trip bookings but allows generous stopovers and open-jaw itineraries, maximizing value on complex trips.

Introduction

ANA Mileage Club might not be the first airline program that comes to mind for U.S. travelers, but it should be. All Nippon Airways operates Japan's largest airline and Star Alliance member with some of the most competitive award pricing available—especially for premium cabin travel. While the program underwent a devaluation in April 2024, it still offers exceptional value for those who know how to use it strategically.

Here's what makes ANA special: the program maintains zone-based award charts when most airlines have switched to dynamic pricing. This means you can book incredible business class redemptions for fixed, predictable costs. The catch? You can only transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, and you must book round-trips. But for travelers willing to work within these constraints, ANA miles unlock some of the best value in the award travel world.

What Is ANA Mileage Club?

ANA Mileage Club is the frequent flyer program for All Nippon Airways, Japan's largest airline. As a Star Alliance member, ANA partners with 26 airlines including United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines. This massive network means your ANA miles work on thousands of routes worldwide, not just ANA-operated flights.

The program stands out because it uses published award charts rather than dynamic pricing. While many competing programs now charge whatever the market will bear, ANA maintains predictable, zone-based pricing. You know exactly how many miles you need for any route, making it possible to strategically accumulate miles for specific redemptions.

ANA divides the world into zones, and your redemption cost depends on which zones you're traveling between. The program also distinguishes between ANA-operated flights (which have seasonal pricing) and partner flights (which don't). Understanding this distinction helps you maximize value.

How to Earn ANA Miles

Transfer from American Express

The primary way U.S.-based travelers earn ANA miles is through American Express Membership Rewards transfers. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, though transfers take approximately 48 hours—not instant like some other programs.

Several Amex cards earn Membership Rewards:

• The Platinum Card from American Express: Earns 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels, plus 1x on everything else
• American Express Gold Card: Earns 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, 3x on flights
• Blue Business Plus: Earns 2x on the first $50,000 in purchases annually

The transfer process is straightforward: log into your Amex account, select "Transfer Points," choose ANA Mileage Club, and confirm. Remember the 48-hour delay when booking time-sensitive awards.

Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus of 5,000 miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred. This means 60,000 Bonvoy points becomes 25,000 ANA miles.

This is generally poor value compared to using Marriott points for hotel stays. Only consider this option when you need a small top-up for a specific award booking. For earning Bonvoy points, consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Marriott Bonvoy Business cards.

Flying ANA and Partners

You earn ANA miles when flying on ANA or its Star Alliance partners. Earning rates vary by booking class and route, but you'll typically earn between 30% to 150% of miles flown depending on your fare type.

For domestic U.S. flights, crediting to United MileagePlus usually makes more sense given United's stronger domestic network. Save your ANA accumulation strategy for when you're specifically targeting an ANA sweet spot redemption.

Understanding ANA Award Charts

ANA uses three different award chart systems:

ANA-Operated International Flights

These awards use seasonal pricing with three tiers:

• Low Season: Cheapest rates
• Regular Season: Standard rates
• High Season: Highest rates

Peak pricing varies by route. Japan-bound flights from North America typically see high-season pricing during cherry blossom season (late March to early May) and fall foliage (October-November).

Partner-Operated Flights

Partner awards use a simpler zone-based chart without seasonal variations. This makes them easier to predict and often more valuable during peak travel periods when ANA's own flights would cost more.

The partner chart covers all Star Alliance airlines plus non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic and Etihad Airways. Award costs depend on origin and destination zones only—not demand or seasonality.

Round-the-World Awards

ANA offers one of the best round-the-world award programs, priced by total distance traveled rather than number of stops. You can book up to 12 flight segments with multiple stopovers, perfect for ambitious multi-country itineraries.

Best ANA Mileage Club Sweet Spots

U.S. to Japan on ANA

Flying business class between the U.S. and Japan on ANA metal costs:

• Low Season: 100,000 miles round-trip
• Regular Season: 105,000 miles round-trip
• High Season: 110,000 miles round-trip

This remains excellent value for experiencing ANA's highly-regarded "The Room" business class product. First class runs 150,000-200,000 miles round-trip depending on season.

U.S. to Europe on Star Alliance Partners

Partner business class between North America and Europe costs just 100,000 miles round-trip—one of the best rates available. The key is choosing the right partner to avoid fuel surcharges.

Low Surcharge Options:

• United Airlines
• Air Canada
• TAP Air Portugal
• SAS Scandinavian Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines (minimal surcharges)

High Surcharge Airlines to Avoid:

• Lufthansa
• SWISS
• Austrian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines

By sticking with low-surcharge carriers, you'll pay around $100-150 in taxes versus $1,000+ on Lufthansa.

U.S. to South America

Business class to South America costs 96,000 miles round-trip on partners. Unlike many programs that divide South America into northern and southern zones, ANA treats the entire continent as one zone. This makes Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro as cheap as Bogotá or Lima.

United operates extensive South American routes with no fuel surcharges, making this an outstanding use of ANA miles.

U.S. to Asia (Beyond Japan)

Asia Zone 1 (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Guam, China): 112,000-125,000 miles round-trip in business on ANA, or 100,000 miles on partners

Asia Zone 2 (Southeast Asia, Maldives, Singapore, Indonesia): 132,000-135,000 miles round-trip in business on ANA, or 136,000 miles on partners

Singapore Airlines often restricts premium cabin space to its own members, so availability may be limited. Look for United, Air Canada, or Thai Airways flights instead.

Australia and Oceania

Round-trip business class to Australia costs 130,000 miles on partners. While United doesn't fly to Australia, you can connect through Asia on ANA or book Air New Zealand flights for excellent value with minimal surcharges.

How to Search for Award Space

Using ANA's Website

Log into your ANA Mileage Club account and navigate to the "Award Reservation" section under Flight Awards. The search tool shows availability for your dates across ANA and partner airlines.

Search Tips:

• Check the +/- 3 days option for flexible date searches
• Economy class generally shows more availability
• Book 355 days out when space releases
• Business class books quickly on popular routes

Using United.com

United's search tool often shows more comprehensive Star Alliance availability. Search on united.com first, note which flights have saver space, then call ANA to book those same flights at ANA's (usually lower) rates.

This two-step process takes extra time but can save thousands of miles. United shows availability in real-time, while ANA's website sometimes misses partner space.

Booking by Phone

For complex itineraries or if the website won't complete your booking, call ANA at 1-800-235-9262. Agents are well-trained and helpful, though hold times can be long. Have your exact flight details ready to speed up the process.

Phone bookings don't incur fees, making this a viable option even for simple awards.

Stopover and Open-Jaw Rules

Stopover Benefits

ANA allows one free stopover on round-trip international awards. You can stop in one city for days or weeks before continuing to your final destination. This effectively gives you two trips for the price of one.

Example: Fly New York to Tokyo, stay five days, then continue to Singapore. Return the same way or reverse the route. You're only charged for a New York to Singapore round-trip.

The stopover must be on either the outbound or return journey—not both. Each direction can have connections, but only one counts as a stopover.

Open-Jaw Flexibility

Open-jaw awards let you return to a different city than where you departed. The cities must be in the same zone, with one major exception: the U.S. and Canada are treated as one zone.

Example: Fly Los Angeles to London, return from Rome to New York. This counts as one North America to Europe award with an open-jaw in Europe.

You can also open-jaw at your destination. Fly from both New York and Chicago to Tokyo, with positioning flights on your own dime. This works well when finding two one-way tickets would be more expensive.

Important Program Restrictions

Round-Trip Requirement

ANA only books round-trip or open-jaw international awards. You cannot book one-way flights, which limits flexibility compared to programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards partners.

The workaround: book an open-jaw where your "return" is positioned somewhere convenient you were planning to visit anyway. Or accept that ANA works best when you know your return plans.

Family Members Only

You can only book awards for yourself, your spouse/domestic partner, or relatives within two degrees of kinship (parents, children, grandparents, siblings). No booking for friends or extended family.

This restriction differs from most programs that let you book for anyone. It's frustrating but reflects ANA's traditional Japanese business practices.

Transfer Time and Booking Windows

Amex transfers take 48 hours, and you cannot book within four days of departure. This means you need at least 5-6 days between deciding to book and traveling. Last-minute award hunters should look elsewhere.

No Changes to Route or Passenger

Once booked, you cannot change the passenger, airline, route, or cabin class—only dates and times on the same routing. Award changes are free, but cancellations cost 3,000 miles per passenger.

Plan carefully before booking. This inflexibility is the tradeoff for ANA's excellent pricing.

Comparing ANA to Other Programs

ANA vs. United MileagePlus

United offers dynamic pricing, meaning award costs fluctuate. During high demand, United can charge double or triple what ANA charges for the same flight. During low demand, United occasionally matches or beats ANA's rates.

ANA wins for:

• Predictable pricing
• Premium cabin sweet spots
• Europe and South America business class

United wins for:

• One-way bookings
• Domestic U.S. awards
• Flexibility in who you book for

ANA vs. Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan allows one-way bookings and has its own sweet spots, particularly to Europe. Aeroplan also transfers from Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt.

ANA typically offers lower round-trip pricing in business class, while Aeroplan provides more transfer options and booking flexibility. Your choice depends on whether you value lowest cost (ANA) or maximum flexibility (Aeroplan).

Avoiding Fuel Surcharges

Fuel surcharges can destroy an otherwise excellent award redemption. Some Star Alliance partners add $500-1,500+ in surcharges per person, effectively charging you twice—once in miles, again in cash.

Partners with No or Low Surcharges:

• United Airlines: None
• Air Canada: None
• Air New Zealand: Minimal
• Avianca: None
• Copa Airlines: None
• Ethiopian Airlines: Low
• TAP Air Portugal: Low
• SAS: Low

Partners with High Surcharges:

• Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines)
• Turkish Airlines
• South African Airways

Always check the final price before confirming. If surcharges are high, search for alternative routing on low-surcharge carriers. Sometimes adding a connection saves hundreds of dollars.

Step-by-Step Booking Guide

1. Create Your ANA Account

Visit ANA's website and register for Mileage Club. Membership is free and takes five minutes. Save your member number in a password manager—you'll need it often.

2. Accumulate Points

Transfer Amex Membership Rewards to ANA, remembering the 48-hour delay. Don't transfer more than needed until you confirm award space exists.

3. Search for Availability

Use United.com or ANA's website to find available flights. Look for "saver" space on United's site—this indicates availability to partner programs.

4. Book Your Award

Either book online through ANA's website or call 1-800-235-9262 to book by phone. Have your exact flight details ready.

5. Monitor Your Reservation

Check your booking regularly for schedule changes. Airlines often adjust flight times, and you want to catch changes early.

FAQ

Can I transfer ANA miles to other programs?

No, ANA miles cannot be transferred out. They can only be used within ANA Mileage Club or donated to charity.

Do ANA miles expire?

ANA miles expire 36 months after earning. Any activity—earning or redeeming miles—resets the expiration clock on your entire balance.

What if American Express isn't an option for me?

Without Amex, earning substantial ANA miles is difficult. You can credit Star Alliance flights to ANA or transfer from Marriott Bonvoy, but these methods accumulate miles slowly. Consider focusing on other travel rewards programs that offer more transfer options.

Can I use ANA miles for upgrades?

Yes, ANA offers upgrade awards on both ANA and Star Alliance partners, though availability is limited and pricing varies. Most travelers find better value booking business class awards outright.

What happens if ANA cancels my flight?

If ANA or a partner cancels your award, they'll rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. If no suitable alternative exists, they'll refund your miles and any fees paid.

Should I book ANA flights through Virgin Atlantic instead?

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers excellent rates for ANA first class—often better than booking through ANA itself. However, Virgin Atlantic doesn't offer the same business class sweet spots ANA provides for partner airlines. Use Virgin for ANA first class, ANA Mileage Club for everything else.

Conclusion

ANA Mileage Club rewards strategic travelers who plan ahead and work within the program's constraints. Yes, you're limited to American Express transfers and round-trip bookings. But the tradeoff is some of the best business class pricing available, especially to Europe, Asia, and South America.

Start by getting an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards. Build your points balance, then search for availability using United.com to identify your best options. When you find the sweet spot that matches your travel goals, ANA miles deliver outsized value that's hard to beat.

The program isn't perfect—no airline loyalty program is. But for travelers willing to embrace round-trip bookings and do a bit of research, ANA Mileage Club opens doors to premium cabin travel at remarkably reasonable mileage costs.

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