All Nippon Airways (ANA), like Japan Airlines, is a major airline in Japan. Frequent travelers may be familiar with ANA because of the rave reviews of its hard product (the seat and amenities). The airline flies nonstop to a number of US destinations allowing you to easily fly to Japan.
ANA Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance with flights domestically and internationally on more than 130 routes. This includes ANA Airlines’ nonstop flights to 10 US cities. With its Star Alliance membership, ANA Mileage Club members can redeem its miles to book ANA, Star Alliance partner like United Airlines, and non-alliance partners like Etihad Airways and Virgin Atlantic. With that said, let’s see how best to earn ANA Airlines miles to book your next award flight.
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Best Credit Cards to Earn ANA Miles
Earning transferable points from American Express and Marriott is one of the most efficient ways to earn ANA Airlines miles. The Amex Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card, Amex Green Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant are personal credit cards to check out. Business cards include the Amex Business Platinum Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business.
The Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card earn 5x on airfare. You earn 4x points at restaurants and US grocery stores with the Amex Gold Card. Amex Green Card members earn 3x points on dining and travel. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant and Marriott Bonvoy Business earn 6x points at Marriott. As you can see, it’s fairly easy to earn ANA miles.
Additional Ways to Earn ANA Miles
ANA offers its members additional ways to earn its miles. From flying on ANA to credit card spending to spend with travel partners, the airline ensures you have options to earn its airline miles.
The first way that you can earn ANA miles is by flying on ANA or its airline partners. If you are flying on a paid partner flight, simply link your ANA frequent flyer number to your partner flight and earn you’ll ANA miles. Head to wheretocredit.com to determine if this makes sense for your specific flight.
The second way that you can earn ANA miles is by spending on transferable point credit cards. ANA partners with American Express and Marriott. This means that you can transfer your points directly to ANA to book an award flight.
The last way that you can earn ANA miles is through ANA’s travel partners. The airline partners with car rental companies and hotels that allow you to earn miles when you spend with that partner.
Basic ANA Miles Redemption Rules
ANA has esoteric rules and uses a couple of award charts that can seem complex. However, you become familiar with the charts once you dig into them. For simplicity, below are the most important rules to know:
- When flying ANA:
- Award flights can be booked one-way
- Zones of travel, season, and cabin class determine the number of miles required
- Infants and children require the same number of miles to redeem an award flight as an adult
- When flying an ANA partner:
- Award flights must be booked round-trip
- Zones of travel and cabin class determine the number of miles required
- Infants and children require the same number of miles to redeem an award flight as an adult
- Taxes and fees will vary by an airline partner
Using the ANA Search Engine
The ANA website allows you to search for ANA and most partner airline flights one week of availability at a time. Start your Star Alliance award flight search on United Airlines, and then confirm the same availability on ANA.
You can book ANA and partner airline flights on the ANA website. Before transferring points to ANA to book a flight, confirm the same availability on Aeroplan and United. This ensures that the award availability you’re seeing on ANA is actually available to book.
Best Ways to Use ANA Airlines Miles
1. Star Alliance North America to Japan
What’s great about Japan for US travelers is that there are 10 different cities you can fly ANA Airlines nonstop en route to Japan. ANA’s award chart considers the US, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico in its North American region. Hawaii is in its own region with a different set of mileage requirements for flights to Japan.
With 85,000 ANA miles, you can book a round-trip Star Alliance business class flight from North America to Japan. While economy does not provide as much value, you can book a round-trip flight with 55,000 ANA miles.
When you are pricing out this award, make sure you are looking at Japan Zone 1A in the award chart. Zone 1A is for the following:
- A roundtrip itinerary with only 2 international sectors.
- A roundtrip itinerary with 2 international sectors, plus connections for domestic flights within Japan.
Examples of United Airlines flights you can book include:
- Houston–Intercontinental (IAH) <> Tokyo (NRT)
- Washington–Dulles (IAD) <> Tokyo (HND)
2. ANA North America to Japan
ANA has a vast network within North America. The airline flies non-stop to Japan from 8 US cities making it relatively easy to find award space.
With 150,000 ANA miles, you can book a round-trip ANA first-class flight from North America to Japan. Business-class also provides value at 75,000-85,000 ANA miles for a round-trip flight. You’ll also need to pay $342 in taxes and fees.
ANA has a low, regular, and high season in its award chart. You’ll want to focus on the low and regular-season dates. In 2021, the low season is from January 5 to February 28, April 1 to April 27. The regular season is from March 1 to March 31, May 10 to July 22, August 23 to December 19. In 2022.
In 2022, the low season is from January 4 to February 28, April 1 to April 26. The regular season is from March 1 to March 31, May 9 to July 21, August 22 to December 18.
ANA flies non-stop to Japan (HND) from Chicago–O’Hare (ORD), Houston–Intercontinental (IAH), Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX), New York–JFK (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), Seattle/Tacoma (SEA), Washington–Dulles (IAD). You can also fly non-stop to Narita (NRT) from Chicago–O’Hare, Los Angeles, New York–JFK, and San Francisco.
3. Star Alliance North America to South America
The Star Alliance has three airlines in Avianca, Copa Airlines, and United that offer flights between North America to South America. ANA considers all of South America in its Central and South America region. Some award programs break South America into two regions. What’s great about all of South America in one region is that you can receive more value for long-haul flights to southern South America.
With 88,000 ANA miles, you can book a round-trip business class flight from North America to South America. While economy does not offer as much value, you can book a round-trip flight with 55,000 ANA miles. In addition to the miles, you’ll need to pay $52-$91 in taxes and fees.
Examples of non-stop Star Alliance flights from the US to South America include:
- Houston (IAH) to Chile (SCL) – United
- Houston to Argentina (EZE) – United
- Miami (MIA) to Brazil (GRU) – LATAM
- Miami to Peru (LIM) – Avianca
4. Star Alliance North America to South Korea
South Korea is served with non-stop flights to the US from two Star Alliance partners in Asiana Airlines and United Airlines. Asiana is based in South Korea and flies to several US cities.
With 180,000 ANA miles, you can book a round-trip Asiana first-class flight from the US to South Korea. You can also use 95,000 ANA miles to book a round-trip Asiana or United business class flight. You’ll also need to pay $323 in taxes and fees for these flights.
Asiana flies non-stop to South Korea (ICN) from Honolulu (HNL), Los Angeles (LAX), New York–JFK (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Seattle/Tacoma (SEA). United flies non-stop from San Francisco to South Korea.
5. Star Alliance North America to Asia
The Asia 1 Zone 3 region is served with non-stop flights from three Star Alliance partners in Air China, EVA Air, and United. ANA considers Guam, Taiwan, mainland China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Macau in its Asia 1 Zone 3 region.
With 180,000 ANA miles, you can book a round-trip Air China first-class flight from North America to Asia. Another option is to book a round-trip Star Alliance business class flight with 95,000 ANA miles. In addition to the miles, you’ll also need to pay $35 in taxes and fees.
Examples of Star Alliance non-stop flights include:
- Los Angeles to Beijing (PEK) – Air China
- Newark (EWR) to Shanghai (PVG) – United
- San Francisco (SFO) to Taiwan (TPE) – EVA Air
Additional Ways to Use ANA Miles
If you’re wanting more ways to use your ANA miles, here are a few additional options to consider booking:
- 136,000 miles roundtrip North America to Southeast Asia Star Alliance business class
- 88,000 miles roundtrip North America to Europe Star Alliance business class
- 104,000 miles roundtrip North America to Africa/Middle East Star Alliance business class
ANA Airlines FAQs
Is ANA a good airline?
All Nippon Airways (ANA) is has been a SKYTRAX 5-Star rated airline since 2013. ANA is the only SKYTRAX 5-star rated airline in Japan per SKYTRAX.
Is alcohol-free on ANA airlines?
Alochol is free on ANA airlines per ANA’s website. The quality of alcohol depends upon the cabin calss of your ticket.
Is ANA a Japanese airline?
Yes! ANA is headquartered in Tokyo.
Is ANA a budget airline?
ANA is not considered a budget airline.
Conclusion on the Best Ways to Use ANA Miles
ANA and its Mileage Club program continue to be at the top of the Star Alliance pack because of the quality of its airline experience and the value you can receive from your ANA miles. Speaking of ANA miles, its miles are fairly easy to earn because of its partnership with American Express. ANA’s award chart rules and search engine take time to familiarize yourself with, however, once you do, the value you receive with your miles makes the time spent learning about the program worth it.
Have you used ANA miles on any of these redemptions? What other ways have you used your ANA miles? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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