ANA Mileage Club is increasing award rates — book your redemptions now

Hot on the heels of the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles program, Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways has announced a Mileage Club devaluation by increasing redemption rates for bookings made starting April 18.

Here's what you need to know about ANA's latest award chart devaluation.

ANA increases award rates for business-class flights from the US to Japan

Flights booked using ANA's Mileage Club miles from the United States to Japan in business class will increase as follows:

• Low season: 100,000 miles round-trip (up from 75,000 miles)
• Regular season: 105,0000 miles round-trip (up from 85,000 miles)
• High season: 110,000 miles round-trip (up from 90,000 miles)

Depending on the season, these new rates represent increases of 22% to 33%.

Additionally, ANA has increased business-class award redemptions beyond U.S. flights to Japan, as round-trip flights to Asia, Hawaii, South Korea and Russia will see an increase starting in mid-April.

First-class flights from the U.S. to Japan will also increase from 150,000 miles to 170,000 miles during the regular season and from 165,000 miles to 200,000 miles during the high season; there will be no change during the low season.

ANA has also announced revisions to its award chart prices for business- and first-class tickets from the U.S. to the following: South Korea and Russia (Zone 2), Asia 1 (Zone 3) and Asia 2 (Zone 4).

You can find more information on the specific award price changes on ANA's website, including new prices to and from Europe, Hawaii and Oceania.

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Related: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo

This program does not allow one-way redemptions, so you will be charged the round-trip price even if you only need a flight in one direction.

Mileage Club is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, and while redemption rates have been very attractive, transfers from Amex are not instant and not reversible, meaning there is some risk of seats disappearing while members wait for points to transfer.

Though ANA is increasing its award rates for business-class flights, there are no changes to the Mileage Club redemption rates for economy or premium economy flights.

ANA increases award rates for Star Alliance business-class flights

Mileage Club redemptions for flights on Star Alliance partner airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada and Lufthansa, will also increase, with business-class rates for bookings made from April 18 onward as follows:

• United States to Europe: 110,000 miles round-trip (up from 88,000 miles)
• United States to Japan: 110,000-117,000 miles round-trip (up from 85,000-90,000 miles)
• United States to Oceania: 145,000 miles round-trip (up from 120,000 miles)
• United States to the Middle East: 70,000 miles round-trip in economy (up from 65,000 miles), 130,000 miles round-trip in business class (up from 104,000 miles) and 210,000 miles round-trip in first class (up from 195,000 miles)
• United States to Hawaii: 47,000 miles round-trip in economy (up from 40,000 miles), 85,000 miles round-trip in business class (up from 68,000 miles) and 135,000 miles round-trip in first class (up from 120,000 miles)

Redemptions traveling on ANA made through partner programs, such as the fantastic Virgin Atlantic Flying Club sweet spot, remain unchanged, though availability is difficult to find.

Bottom line

Devaluations are an unfortunate reality of airline and hotel loyalty programs, and while unwelcome, this could be worse. For starters, ANA is providing several months' notice of the award price changes, allowing members to book flights at existing (lower) rates until April 17, even if travel is beyond this date.

Also, while rates are increasing, the increases are relatively mild and still reasonable compared to competing programs, such as United MileagePlus, which uses dynamic pricing for many flights.

If you plan to redeem ANA miles this year, we recommend doing so before April 17 to enjoy the lower prices — but remember, transfers from Membership Rewards are not instant.