Mar 21, 2024, 5:48 pm
Last edit by: joejones
TL;DR VERSION
- ANA award seats are strictly limited in quantity. Unless you have status with the ANA program, there is usually only one first class seat and one business class seat made available per flight.
- Awards become available for booking to ANA Mileage Club members 355 days before departure at 9am JST, and almost all First and Business Class award seats get booked within minutes at this time.
- Most partner airlines (e.g. Virgin Atlantic and United) do not allow you to book this early.
- If using ANA miles, you need to fly round-trip, which creates a catch-22 for itineraries starting in North America because there will be no return flight available yet.
- After T-355, availability shows up at random times due to other people canceling their reservations. You have to be flexible and search frequently across multiple dates and cities.
- If ANA upgrades a route's equipment to a 777-300ER with First Class, it will result in an award seat being available every day on the calendar. Get them while they're hot.
- Some flights will show more award availability 2-3 weeks before departure, especially during low seasons.
- Useful search tools include ANA's website, United's website, point.me (available to Amex MR cardholders), and seats.aero.
ANA Award Availability
Jul 25, 2022, 4:43 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 101
Looks like it takes 2-3 days for Amex points to transfer in to ANA. Will they hold seats while points transfer in? I'm trying to get 4 J seats next summer and can status match to Platinum. Is there any hope of doing this 330-360 days out before partners get access to the awards?
but also, I doubt you can get more than 2 seats, they only release 2x J and 2x F if I recall correctly.
Jul 25, 2022, 6:35 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Tokyo
Programs: *G (NH); OWS (JL); STE (KE)
Posts: 35
I’m not sure if it was just a one-off but the Platinum desk in Japan recently gave me a 72-hour hold on an award booking while I finalized my schedule.
Jul 25, 2022, 7:16 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,294
Jul 25, 2022, 7:26 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Tokyo
Programs: *G (NH); OWS (JL); STE (KE)
Posts: 35
Jul 25, 2022, 7:42 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,294
Jul 29, 2022, 1:42 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,352
Am I correct in my understanding that you need to book both outbound and inbound flight together? If I want to book ex-USA soon as award opens up, I'm out of luck as the inbound won't be opened for another week. Second question, when award availability opens up at 355 days is it for all members or only plat and diamond?
Aug 3, 2022, 1:10 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,738
You could book the latest inbound now, then change it later to the date you want (date changes are free, but no route changes).
Apr 4, 2023, 7:53 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: NYC
Posts: 33
For US to Japan you can book 354 days out on ANA as both flights will be available, then change your inbound flight once your actual date is bookable. People traveling in the opposite direction have a 24 hour advantage as both directions are available on the 355th day.
Apr 4, 2023, 8:01 pm
#40
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
Apr 10, 2023, 8:37 am
#41
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: Delta, Marriott
Posts: 187
How likely is this to work? Do you need to be right on it at release time? I'm struggling to use my points that I have stranded on ANA.
Apr 10, 2023, 8:50 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: NYC
Posts: 33
Apr 10, 2023, 10:33 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: NYC
Posts: 33
I have found recently they are only releasing 1 J and 1 F seat on each east coast flight at 355 days out. Hopefully that will go back to 2 of each at some point.
If you are comfortable booking 21 days or less out I have seen flights with up to 8 J seats available pretty regularly. Benefit here is you can book these through partners (Virgin 95k RT). F seats are still pretty rare even at T-21 days.
hope this helps
If you are comfortable booking 21 days or less out I have seen flights with up to 8 J seats available pretty regularly. Benefit here is you can book these through partners (Virgin 95k RT). F seats are still pretty rare even at T-21 days.
hope this helps
Apr 11, 2023, 6:05 am
#45
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Alpharetta, GA, USA
Posts: 948
I have found recently they are only releasing 1 J and 1 F seat on each east coast flight at 355 days out. Hopefully that will go back to 2 of each at some point.
If you are comfortable booking 21 days or less out I have seen flights with up to 8 J seats available pretty regularly. Benefit here is you can book these through partners (Virgin 95k RT). F seats are still pretty rare even at T-21 days.
hope this helps
If you are comfortable booking 21 days or less out I have seen flights with up to 8 J seats available pretty regularly. Benefit here is you can book these through partners (Virgin 95k RT). F seats are still pretty rare even at T-21 days.
hope this helps