ANA (NH) Redemptions using VS Flying Club points - thread locked Sept 2022
#571
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 26
Any recent experiences trying to book award tickets out of JFK to HND/NRT in F or J? Seemingly impossible to find ANA saver availability on UA, even as far out as possible. Any tips or suggestions? I'm aware of T-330 and booking a round trip to return the next day, just to secure the outbound and eat the $50 change fee. Am I better off looking for availability out of IAH or ORD? Any advice is appreciated - thanks.
#572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,979
Any recent experiences trying to book award tickets out of JFK to HND/NRT in F or J? Seemingly impossible to find ANA saver availability on UA, even as far out as possible. Any tips or suggestions? I'm aware of T-330 and booking a round trip to return the next day, just to secure the outbound and eat the $50 change fee. Am I better off looking for availability out of IAH or ORD? Any advice is appreciated - thanks.
1. ANA members get to book flights roughly a month before partners.
2. If you're aiming for cherry blossoms 2020 that's obviously a popular time to visit Japan so it's entirely possible that seats won't be released until much later (if at all)
#573
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 26
Thanks, I will need to use UR points unfortunately so that only leaves the VS redemption option. I was under the impression that cherry blossoms were during April so late May should avoid it, though understandably it coincides with Memorial Day holiday in the US.
#574
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,203
late May .... this year? For next year you would have to wai a while to book (unites/va are 330(?) days out)
#575
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 26
What I've learned so far is:
- At T-330/329 - book the desired departure date and book the return for the next day to secure the departure and eat the $50 change fee when you rebook the actual desired return date later on
- Look for departure/returns on Tuesday-Thursday for best availability
- Since JFK can be tough to find availability, consider IAH/ORD/IAD
- F may have better availability than J
#576
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Somewhere between BHX and HUY
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Eurobonus Silver, ALL Gold
Posts: 1,663
March-early April as well as first week of May is ultra high season for JPN. Not surprised if those aren't available.
#577
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,203
#578
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 1
Good afternoon. I am looking to book ANA for the Olympics in 2020, departing on 7/22 and returning on 8/6. Do you guys see it being realistic to find 2 J's if I wait the 330 days for availability through Virgin, or should I just transfer directly to ANA and book as soon as available 365 from the trip?
#579
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,979
As long as you are flying in the opposite direction of Golden Week you should be ok.
Of course it is a horrible time to visit Japan since hotels will be crazy expensive and tourist attractions full of Japanese visitors...
Don't expect award seats of any kind for Olympic dates, even 365 days in advance.
Of course it is a horrible time to visit Japan since hotels will be crazy expensive and tourist attractions full of Japanese visitors...
Good afternoon. I am looking to book ANA for the Olympics in 2020, departing on 7/22 and returning on 8/6. Do you guys see it being realistic to find 2 J's if I wait the 330 days for availability through Virgin, or should I just transfer directly to ANA and book as soon as available 365 from the trip?
#581
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,272
Yea even looking for several months from now I had a hard time using ANA miles. Can't imagine how difficult it is to redeem with VS miles.
#582
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,203
I had no problems when looking F for 2020 sacura season .... but I booked the morning ANA released award space .... VS is cheaper (especially with the 30% Amex transfer bonus but more of a gamble)
Last edited by blitzen; May 2, 2019 at 5:07 am
#583
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 68
Does anyone know if this is allowed? Specifically the different zone.
#584
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,272
I know I booked from different cities within the same zone so for example I fly out of chicago to japan and then fly back from japan to new york. The starting and ending points are the same zones though just different cities. I would think flying back to a different zone would make it two one way tickets and not a round trip but not 100% sure.
#585
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 486
I'm also preparing to book for 2020. Does anyone know what time the seats are released at T-330?
And this is probably a stupid question but can they put one person in F and one person in J on the same PNR? Probably not but I'd like to make sure because it appears they only release one seat in F per flight from Europe.
And this is probably a stupid question but can they put one person in F and one person in J on the same PNR? Probably not but I'd like to make sure because it appears they only release one seat in F per flight from Europe.
Last edited by CosmicGirl; May 2, 2019 at 2:01 am