ANA award change policy
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
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If I’m reading the rules correctly, I can change class, yes? Currently have an international business class ticket on partners but had to grab economy seats for a few short US domestic and intra Europe segments. Business seats now available for half our pax. If this change is permitted, will they have to split the PNRs since only two of four pax would be changed for that one segment? Not a big deal, just curious.
Also, and I feel like this is a yes but it’s been a long time since I flew international business, if the ticket is booked as business (could only get J seats on long haul tho) then the shorter economy segments (UA and A3) still receive the same benefits as the business ticket, yes? For example, if connecting BNA-ORD-EWR-LHR, and all but the last segment is economy, I still can use business check in and lounges etc throughout?
Also, and I feel like this is a yes but it’s been a long time since I flew international business, if the ticket is booked as business (could only get J seats on long haul tho) then the shorter economy segments (UA and A3) still receive the same benefits as the business ticket, yes? For example, if connecting BNA-ORD-EWR-LHR, and all but the last segment is economy, I still can use business check in and lounges etc throughout?
Same for check-in, if you break the journey, and leave the airport you will be checking in at the counter of your departing flight class or status, arriving flight does not count. If your first flight is Y, followed by a long haul in J on the same airline, you would likely be allowed to use the J counters. But if you stay airside all the way to the end, you only check in once. Though transit security along the route would also relegate you to the lines of your departing class or status.
#317
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 10
Looking to book a round-trip biz class ticket NRT-LAX/SFO for Feb 2024. Because the tickets seem to go very fast within a day, I'm trying to book each way on the day of the initial release (355 days out?). However, if I book the outbound ticket on the day of release, I don't have any dummy return tickets to book because they wouldn't be released yet. Any suggestions on what to do? TIA!
#318
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
With Star Alliance lounge access depends on the class of the departure flight, or status. Meaning if you depart in Y you need a Star Alliance Gold card to get lounge access. There are a few specific exceptions, but I can't see those being applicable to your examples. Like arriving with Lufthansa in F in Frankfurt and Munich.
Same for check-in, if you break the journey, and leave the airport you will be checking in at the counter of your departing flight class or status, arriving flight does not count. If your first flight is Y, followed by a long haul in J on the same airline, you would likely be allowed to use the J counters. But if you stay airside all the way to the end, you only check in once. Though transit security along the route would also relegate you to the lines of your departing class or status.
Same for check-in, if you break the journey, and leave the airport you will be checking in at the counter of your departing flight class or status, arriving flight does not count. If your first flight is Y, followed by a long haul in J on the same airline, you would likely be allowed to use the J counters. But if you stay airside all the way to the end, you only check in once. Though transit security along the route would also relegate you to the lines of your departing class or status.
#319
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
Looking to book a round-trip biz class ticket NRT-LAX/SFO for Feb 2024. Because the tickets seem to go very fast within a day, I'm trying to book each way on the day of the initial release (355 days out?). However, if I book the outbound ticket on the day of release, I don't have any dummy return tickets to book because they wouldn't be released yet. Any suggestions on what to do? TIA!
#320
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 10
Is there anything in rules that says you can’t flip the dates? So book lax/sfo-nrt before nrt-lax/sfo and then flip that outbound to the inbound? I don’t know if it would work. There may be some language re not changing the turnaround city. Otherwise I think I’d wait until the day after outbound to book so you can grab a return on the day of arrival. They used to hold Ana flights for a few days. If they still do that, hold on the outbound would give you enough time to book a dummy return and change later.
#321
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
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#322
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
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If you start in Japan, you can book Tokyo-US-Tokyo as the flights generally arrive and depart the same day in the US as they departed from Japan. Then when the actual desired return date opens later you can move the return flight. But I don't think you can Switch the order of Tokyo US Tokyo to be US Tokyo US.
Last edited by CPH-Flyer; Feb 8, 2023 at 2:43 pm
#323
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 5
If you start in Japan, you can book Tokyo-US-Tokyo as the flights generally arrive and depart the same in the US as they departed from Japan. Then when the actual desired return date opens later you can move the return flight. But I don't think you can Switch the order of Tokyo US Tokyo to be US Tokyo US.
#324
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
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If you start in Japan, you can book Tokyo-US-Tokyo as the flights generally arrive and depart the same day in the US as they departed from Japan. Then when the actual desired return date opens later you can move the return flight. But I don't think you can Switch the order of Tokyo US Tokyo to be US Tokyo US.
#325
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But you can't book US-JP-US on the same calendar day, as the return flight would need to depart before the outbound arrives. As a single ticket, the system would reject that.
#326
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,938
I booked 4x J ticket via phone bc website couldn’t ticket. All partner airlines. One segment in Y. Now 2x J seats have opened up for that segment. Two questions:
1) is it possible to change this online?
2) will this split the PNR since 2x are in Y and 2x are in J for that one segment?
1) is it possible to change this online?
2) will this split the PNR since 2x are in Y and 2x are in J for that one segment?
#327
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: United Gold (frmer. 1k and GS), AAdvantage Platinum, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 200
Is there *any* flexibility with changing awards?
My UA NRT-LAX flight got canceled, and I got rerouted NRT-SFO-LAX. I actually want to fly in and out of SFO (I only booked out of LAX for availability). Is there any possible chance I could try for an exception and get it moved to SFO?
My UA NRT-LAX flight got canceled, and I got rerouted NRT-SFO-LAX. I actually want to fly in and out of SFO (I only booked out of LAX for availability). Is there any possible chance I could try for an exception and get it moved to SFO?
#328
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,210
Is there *any* flexibility with changing awards?
My UA NRT-LAX flight got canceled, and I got rerouted NRT-SFO-LAX. I actually want to fly in and out of SFO (I only booked out of LAX for availability). Is there any possible chance I could try for an exception and get it moved to SFO?
My UA NRT-LAX flight got canceled, and I got rerouted NRT-SFO-LAX. I actually want to fly in and out of SFO (I only booked out of LAX for availability). Is there any possible chance I could try for an exception and get it moved to SFO?