All Nippon Airways Mileage Club - The best credit card in Japan to have for ANA mileage

Hello.

Which credit card do you believe gives the best ANA advantages for residents in Japan?

The HSBC Premier Credit Card?

Thanks

Bit off topic. Sorry.
Not for ANA miles, but I am very happy with the UFJ Miles & More card, which gives me 1 mile for every 100 Yen - keeping in mind the JPY/EUR exchange rate in mind, not a bad deal.
On top of that you get the full benefit of the UFJ bonus programme.

Not the best credit card in Japan, but if you have Platinum or Diamond status, you can get the SFC (super flyers card) which will allow you to pay a yearly fee and maintain *G forever (as long as you pay the yearly fee) without ever having to fly again.

If you are a regular member every 1000 yen get's you 1 point. (one point is 10 miles) If you are able to get the Gold card it's much better than that.

There must be better credit cards, but this SFC card will allow you to maintain midtier on NH :)

Bit off topic. Sorry.
Not for ANA miles, but I am very happy with the UFJ Miles & More card, which gives me 1 mile for every 100 Yen - keeping in mind the JPY/EUR exchange rate in mind, not a bad deal.
On top of that you get the full benefit of the UFJ bonus programme.


As I will be starting my assignment in Tokyo later this year, I am currently also checking which CC to take and have to decide between this UFJ card for LH M+M or some other card with ANA.

I already have the LH M+M Mastercard in Germany, but I guess it won't be a problem to get a second LH CC, in this case with UFJ ? I think all communication with them is in Japanese, but this would be ok for me.
What exactly is the UFJ bonus program ?

Or is the earning / spending ratio better with some ANA card ? As I will need regular private domestic flights in JP, I have in my mind that LH charges 25k miles, whereas ANA is only 15k miles, correct?

Thanks a lot and sorry for not opening a separate thread.

Thanks a lot and sorry for not opening a separate thread.[/QUOTE]

Miles are miles and this is not a thread in the wrong place.
Credit card mileage is as important as flying miles.

I have Air Canada Elite status already for 2009-2010 but wanted to start ANA NOW, as I fly ANA weekly domestic -- not sure if I can get the 50,000 miles by Dec (in fact I doubt it) but will try for the 30,000.

I was looking for a ANA card that gave me extra non-status miles or some other perk like upgrades -- starting from ZERO, it sounds like the UFJ card is the best?

Would love to hear other input from ANA fliers.

Thank you

I have no personal experience but there seem to be several types of ANA cards to choose from.
https://www.ana.co.jp/amc_e/guide/tameru/ana_card_hd.html

If you can read Japanese there's further explanation here.
https://www.ana.co.jp/amc/regist/list_2.html

Not the best credit card in Japan, but if you have Platinum or Diamond status, you can get the SFC (super flyers card) which will allow you to pay a yearly fee and maintain *G forever (as long as you pay the yearly fee) without ever having to fly again.

If you are a regular member every 1000 yen get's you 1 point. (one point is 10 miles) If you are able to get the Gold card it's much better than that.



The point earning benifits has been significantly watered-down. Currently, the normal ANA Mastercard (super flyer or not) gets 1 ANA mile for 200 yen spent unless you pay an additional 6000 yen yearly fee to get 1 ANA mile for 100 yen spent. That is on top of the 2000 yen you pay just to hold the ANA normal card.
For Super Flyer Card members, that additional 6000 yen is on top of the 10000+ yen you pay just to keep the Super Flyers card.

There are the GOLD version and WIDE verson of ANA card. They have 6000 yen - 12000 yen yearly fee. They allow conversion ratio of 1 ANA mile for 100 yen spent.

I am from Canada and I stick with the MBNA Starwood Mastercard. If ANA miles is the main concern, that card gives $C 1 to 1.25 ANA miles. More precisly, you get 1 starpoint for each $C1 up to first $30000. Then for every 20000 Starpoints you convert to ANA, you get a bonus 5000 ANA miles resulting in $C 1 to 1.25 ANA miles.

Do any of these cards have acquisition bonuses? The information out there seems to be mostly in Japanese so I'm struggling in finding what I need :p

You mean sign-up bonus'?

I think it is a Bonus if you can actually land the Japanese CC if you are not Japanese.

Good Luck

You mean sign-up bonus'?

I think it is a Bonus if you can actually land the Japanese CC if you are not Japanese.

Good Luck

I agree. Getting the Japanese to give non-Japanese a credit card is like pulling teeth. See the thread that I started regarding how I got mine...

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599510&highlight=card+flyers+super

For an update, this would be my 3rd year holding this Japanese Mastercard. I pay my bills on time for 3 years and charge a decent amount each year (like $US 20000). My Credit limit.... 200,000 yen (about $ 2000). Called once every before renewal date and ask for credit limit increase and they will only approve a 'temporary increase' but never a permanent one.

My Canadian card has a limit of $17500.

I'm a SuperFlyer's Card holder, essentially for the Star Gold benefits. I now live outside of Japan so use my JCB card once in a bllue moon! I used to have a UA Saison Card (http://www.unitedairlines.co.jp/jsp/en/mileage/card_saison.jsp)which was much better for accumulating miles. JCB does give you higher spending limits; I certainly got more than Y200,000.

What exactly is the UFJ bonus program ?


An independent programme where you earn points in the CC company's programme. You double dip: LH miles PLUS the points in the UFJ programme. These points can be swapped for different stuff or shopping vouchers. Can work out as another 0.5 to 0.75% kickback.

I agree. Getting the Japanese to give non-Japanese a credit card is like pulling teeth.

I hear that a lot. Yet, I got the UFH Miles & More card without a problem. And now I also have a UCB Stacia PiTaPa card that doubles as a train pass for most of public transport around Osaka and Kobe.

From discussions with friends my gut feeling is to stay extremely consistent in your documentation: spelling of your name, address, etc.
I submitted for the UFJ card:
- copy of the gaijin card (both sides in order to document moves from one address to another)
- a few original utility bills showing my name and my address
- form filled in in Japanese

Um, I haven't had a problem getting a CC in Japan either. Somehow I've also managed to convince JL that I'm worthy of their bestowing upon me their equivalent of the ANA Superflyer's card too.


PS: KIXJMB, I note you're based near UKB. I'm quite close too; if there're any others nearby as well maybe we should come up with a Kansai version of the Mabodofu Nemawashi (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=778507)!

I have the SFC Visa card also, but on the application I lied quite a bit, but they did call my dad's company to verify some information. So everything was straight. I'm still not sure how they gave me the limit of my credit card. I do have PR in Japan, but never submitted my Gaijin Touroku copy. I was able to get it without getting rejected. Since then I extended the benefits to my whole family. So we all have *G status now with me being the only Platinum member :D

KIXman I'm also UKB based so if you can figure something out we can all meet :)