ANA Mileage Club changes: One-way award flights, ending RTW tickets and more
Changes are coming to ANA Mileage Club, the loyalty program of Japan-based All Nippon Airways, as first reported by View from the Wing.
The updates, set to be implemented in June, are a mixed bag. Mileage Club members will finally be allowed to redeem miles for one-way flights, opening new redemption options and ending the frustration of being limited to round-trip award flights. On the other hand, award rates for many international fares are going up (again), and the program's beloved Round the World tickets are coming to an end.
Here are all the details.
Book ANA Mileage Club one-way award flights
After years of allowing only round-trip redemptions, ANA Mileage Club has announced plans to offer one-way award flights starting June 24. One-way redemptions won't be searchable until that date, but ANA has already published one-way award charts, and rates are half of what you'll pay for a round-trip flight.
ANA breaks its award charts into three date ranges: low season (L), regular season (R) and high season (H). You can find specific date ranges for each season on ANA's website.
For instance, an economy flight (Y fare class) from North America to Japan will range from 20,000 miles on low-season dates to 36,000 miles on high-season dates. Business-class (C) fares will range from 50,000 to 82,500 miles each way.
Meanwhile, one-way flights from North America to Oceania will cost 30,000 to 49,000 miles in economy and 68,500 to 108,000 miles in business.
These are reasonable rates, and the fact that ANA Mileage Club still uses an award chart (when so many other airlines have gone to the dark side with dynamic award pricing) is a bonus. Instead of having to compare dates and award rates, you'll know from the get-go how many miles you'll need.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one thing, ANA award availability can be scarce — we couldn't find premium economy seats on some round-trip flights as far as a year out. For another, transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards is not instantaneous and can take up to 48 hours, according to our tests. Therefore, an award seat could get snapped up while you wait for your points to transfer.
ANA also charges hefty fees, especially on certain partner tickets. This round-trip economy flight from New York to Geneva, operated by Swiss and Singapore Airlines, charges roughly $400 in fees.
For a business-class award seat operated by Swiss, you'll pay over $2,000 in surcharges.
You can expect to pay roughly half of these numbers for one-way award flights when they become available June 24. However, these fees can vary widely depending on the partner airline, so pay close attention when searching for flights.
Overall, ANA's new one-way award flights will open new redemption possibilities for Mileage Club members. For instance, if you found a great deal to your destination on ANA but a better rate on another Star Alliance partner for the return leg of your journey, you could mix and match and save miles.
Related: How to maximize stopovers and open jaws for award travel: Check out these airline loyalty programs
ANA Mileage Club award chart devaluation
One-way award flights are a boon for Mileage Club members, but they're the only good news in the program's latest round of changes. In June, ANA plans to devalue its award charts — again.
For ANA's award chart for flights between North America and Japan, prices are slated to rise across all fare classes in the high season.
This comes on the heels of last year's devaluation, in which business-class (C) fares between the U.S. and Japan saw prices spike 22% to 33% across all seasons.
That time, high-season business-class fares went up from 90,000 miles to 110,000 miles round-trip. Now they're increasing to 165,000 miles round-trip, starting June 24. That's an 83% total jump in a year and a half.
Still, 165,000 miles round-trip for a long-haul business-class flight isn't bad, especially compared to dynamically priced programs like Delta SkyMiles, which is known to charge upward of 300,000 miles each way.
On the other hand, you could save rewards by booking a round-trip first-class reward flight through Virgin Atlantic for 170,000 Flying Club points from the East Coast to Japan. Note that you must call to book ANA flights through Virgin Atlantic after confirming award availability.
Additionally, it may be easier to redeem transferable rewards through Flying Club as the loyalty program is a transfer partner of Amex, Bilt, Citi, Chase and Wells Fargo. Though Flying Club is not a direct transfer partner of Capital One, Virgin Red is, and you can link your program accounts to redeem rewards through either program.
Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles
For ANA Mileage Club redemptions between North America and Oceania, most price hikes will be on high-season flights as well. You can still fly Down Under in economy for as low as 60,000 miles round-trip in the offseason, but you'll be paying close to 100,000 miles on peak dates, and business class will set you back up to 216,000 miles.
Again, these rates aren't terrible compared to the competition. You can still get some fantastic deals when redeeming ANA miles on less desirable dates, but flying during peak times is about to get more expensive.
If you've got your eye on a Mileage Club redemption, consider booking before June 24, when the award rates increase.
ANA Mileage Club ending Round the World award flights
ANA's Star Alliance Round the World award ticket has long been a highlight of the Mileage Club program. You could tour the world on Star Alliance airlines, with up to 12 flights and eight stopovers, all on ANA miles (plus taxes and fees, of course).
Sadly, as of June 24, ANA will issue no more Round the World tickets. According to a post by ANA, "Star Alliance Round the World tickets issued up to June 23, 2025 can be used as usual until their ticket expiration date, including any changes or similar factors."
So, if you have your heart set on redeeming Mileage Club miles for one of these valuable tickets, you have until June 23 to book it.
Related: How to book a round-the-world ticket using points and miles
Bottom line
ANA Mileage Club members will be sad to see yet another devaluation and the loss of the program's Round the World tickets. However, award rates are still reasonable, and the program still uses an award chart, which is a rare thing these days. Plus, the addition of one-way redemptions should make it easier to get the most out of your miles.
If you need more ANA miles, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to the program at a 1:1 ratio.
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