ANA Reward Flights Via Virgin Atlantic.
Jun 6, 2018, 3:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 67
ANA Reward Flights Via Virgin Atlantic.
Hello – first time poster here so be gentle 
I live between Glasgow and Edinburgh and are looking to travel to Japan next May, just after the Golden Week holidays are over in Japan.
I have air miles with Virgin Atlantic and through their partnership with ANA, am told I have enough air miles to get myself / partner First Class seats on ANA in one direction, and Business class flights on way back for a flight from London Heathrow.
Virgin have indicated that the cost in taxes fess will be roughly around 600 GBP per person.
Due to my partners job we can get to London on the train for no cost.
To try and maximise chances of getting these seats, we have basically a month after our first day (Friday May 17th 2019) to pick as a start of our trip, with a duration of anything between 10 and 14 days, and think I start calling Virgin to try and reserve seats from June 27th this month, to try for a 10 day duration trip.
I know these seats are limited but anyone any thoughts on how likely will be to get anything?
Ideally I want to go First on way out, Business on way back.
I also see ANA fly direct from Paris and Frankfurt – I think Frankfurt have 2 flights a day direct via ANA – so perhaps use these airports also, as I can get low cost flights to / from both cities.
Any thoughts, tips that could help?
I live between Glasgow and Edinburgh and are looking to travel to Japan next May, just after the Golden Week holidays are over in Japan.
I have air miles with Virgin Atlantic and through their partnership with ANA, am told I have enough air miles to get myself / partner First Class seats on ANA in one direction, and Business class flights on way back for a flight from London Heathrow.
Virgin have indicated that the cost in taxes fess will be roughly around 600 GBP per person.
Due to my partners job we can get to London on the train for no cost.
To try and maximise chances of getting these seats, we have basically a month after our first day (Friday May 17th 2019) to pick as a start of our trip, with a duration of anything between 10 and 14 days, and think I start calling Virgin to try and reserve seats from June 27th this month, to try for a 10 day duration trip.
I know these seats are limited but anyone any thoughts on how likely will be to get anything?
Ideally I want to go First on way out, Business on way back.
I also see ANA fly direct from Paris and Frankfurt – I think Frankfurt have 2 flights a day direct via ANA – so perhaps use these airports also, as I can get low cost flights to / from both cities.
Any thoughts, tips that could help?
Jun 6, 2018, 11:37 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,153
Hello – first time poster here so be gentle
I live between Glasgow and Edinburgh and are looking to travel to Japan next May, just after the Golden Week holidays are over in Japan.
I have air miles with Virgin Atlantic and through their partnership with ANA, am told I have enough air miles to get myself / partner First Class seats on ANA in one direction, and Business class flights on way back for a flight from London Heathrow.
Virgin have indicated that the cost in taxes fess will be roughly around 600 GBP per person.
Due to my partners job we can get to London on the train for no cost.
To try and maximise chances of getting these seats, we have basically a month after our first day (Friday May 17th 2019) to pick as a start of our trip, with a duration of anything between 10 and 14 days, and think I start calling Virgin to try and reserve seats from June 27th this month, to try for a 10 day duration trip.
I know these seats are limited but anyone any thoughts on how likely will be to get anything?
Ideally I want to go First on way out, Business on way back.
I also see ANA fly direct from Paris and Frankfurt – I think Frankfurt have 2 flights a day direct via ANA – so perhaps use these airports also, as I can get low cost flights to / from both cities.
Any thoughts, tips that could help?
I live between Glasgow and Edinburgh and are looking to travel to Japan next May, just after the Golden Week holidays are over in Japan.
I have air miles with Virgin Atlantic and through their partnership with ANA, am told I have enough air miles to get myself / partner First Class seats on ANA in one direction, and Business class flights on way back for a flight from London Heathrow.
Virgin have indicated that the cost in taxes fess will be roughly around 600 GBP per person.
Due to my partners job we can get to London on the train for no cost.
To try and maximise chances of getting these seats, we have basically a month after our first day (Friday May 17th 2019) to pick as a start of our trip, with a duration of anything between 10 and 14 days, and think I start calling Virgin to try and reserve seats from June 27th this month, to try for a 10 day duration trip.
I know these seats are limited but anyone any thoughts on how likely will be to get anything?
Ideally I want to go First on way out, Business on way back.
I also see ANA fly direct from Paris and Frankfurt – I think Frankfurt have 2 flights a day direct via ANA – so perhaps use these airports also, as I can get low cost flights to / from both cities.
Any thoughts, tips that could help?
Good luck.
Jun 6, 2018, 11:51 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: BER
Programs: LH FTL
Posts: 278
A few weeks ago I booked an award ticket in J through Lufthansa's M&M. I'm now going from MUC, but checked FRA too. I can only confirm to book as quickly as possible after release and do not wait until return flight becomes available as well. Furthermore, M&M agents told me that ANA releases only 1 seat in J per flight to M&M - or maybe to partner airlines at all?
Jun 6, 2018, 4:05 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 157
Hi! There is a whole thread in the Virgin Atlantic forum on this if you want to check that out. I would check for availability through United's website (as they show the same thing), and call VA with as much info as possible (dates, flight numbers, ETC). I did this in January for our trip this November and it was a piece of cake.
Jun 6, 2018, 5:47 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO/YYZ
Programs: AC 25K, AS MVP Gold, BA Bronze, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,466
Hi! There is a whole thread in the Virgin Atlantic forum on this if you want to check that out. I would check for availability through United's website (as they show the same thing), and call VA with as much info as possible (dates, flight numbers, ETC). I did this in January for our trip this November and it was a piece of cake.
Jun 6, 2018, 8:22 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Japan
Programs: NH Diamond, JL JGC Diamond, BA Gold Guest List(Gold for life), CX Diamond
Posts: 1,580
For ORD-NRT, 3 F and 4 J are released for general ANA members (and partner airlines ?).
For LAX-HND, 3 F and 3 J are released for general ANA members (and partner airlines ?).
However, only 1 F and 3 J for HND-LHR, 1 F and 1 J for HND-FRA.
Even an ANA diamond member, you can redeem only 1 F for HND-FRA, and HND-LHR.
BTW, my FRA-HND F waiting list was cleared 3 months before the flight.
Jun 7, 2018, 4:41 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 67
A few weeks ago I booked an award ticket in J through Lufthansa's M&M. I'm now going from MUC, but checked FRA too. I can only confirm to book as quickly as possible after release and do not wait until return flight becomes available as well. Furthermore, M&M agents told me that ANA releases only 1 seat in J per flight to M&M - or maybe to partner airlines at all?
For my first combination of dates for next year (May 17 out, back May 27) they said to call around June 27 this month, to try and get them.
From sound of it, there are chances of getting the flight BACK as it is released that day, but the flight out will have come out 10 days before and quite possibly be gone.
Jun 7, 2018, 4:42 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 67
Hi! There is a whole thread in the Virgin Atlantic forum on this if you want to check that out. I would check for availability through United's website (as they show the same thing), and call VA with as much info as possible (dates, flight numbers, ETC). I did this in January for our trip this November and it was a piece of cake.
I never thought to look for a Virgin one - what a newbie - thanks for that, will try there.
Jun 7, 2018, 5:08 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,153
But Virgin tell me I have to book a return flight at same time, no one way, and have to wait until my return date is released to do the booking.
For my first combination of dates for next year (May 17 out, back May 27) they said to call around June 27 this month, to try and get them.
From sound of it, there are chances of getting the flight BACK as it is released that day, but the flight out will have come out 10 days before and quite possibly be gone.
For my first combination of dates for next year (May 17 out, back May 27) they said to call around June 27 this month, to try and get them.
From sound of it, there are chances of getting the flight BACK as it is released that day, but the flight out will have come out 10 days before and quite possibly be gone.
Jun 8, 2018, 9:51 pm
#11
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
Please continue this discussion in the Virgin Atlantic forum as this involves redeeming with their FFP.
Regards,
armagebedar
ANA forum moderator
Regards,
armagebedar
ANA forum moderator