ANA (NH) Redemptions using VS Flying Club points - thread locked Sept 2022
May 2, 2019, 9:47 pm
#586
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta DM, AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 567
Stupid mistake
I transferred points to Virgin Flying Club last year and issued and flew an outbound JFK-HND in ANA First. I set the return for this April at a random date, with the intention of changing the award and paying a $50 fee when I knew I wanted to travel the other leg. Despite keeping a big spreadsheet with all my redemptions, I totally forgot to call in and make this change. Essentially I no showed. Is there any way to change this to a future date by paying the fee? Or any other advice?
Thanks
Thanks
May 5, 2019, 8:49 am
#587
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Very successful first NH booking.
Have been stalking award availability for next March. Transferred in 25k from Marriott about 3 days before my return was slated to become available (took 2.5 days).
Called up just after midnight ET and was able to put 2x RT F on hold for ORD - NRT // HND - ORD.
Transferred in from both AMEX (with 30% transfer bonus) and the rest from Chase.
Called back and easily processed -- total taxes and fees were $270/person.
Process was easy and the AMEX bonus was icing on the cake to give me a bonus 12k miles and hold onto more Chase and AMEX for future use
Have been stalking award availability for next March. Transferred in 25k from Marriott about 3 days before my return was slated to become available (took 2.5 days).
Called up just after midnight ET and was able to put 2x RT F on hold for ORD - NRT // HND - ORD.
Transferred in from both AMEX (with 30% transfer bonus) and the rest from Chase.
Called back and easily processed -- total taxes and fees were $270/person.
Process was easy and the AMEX bonus was icing on the cake to give me a bonus 12k miles and hold onto more Chase and AMEX for future use
May 8, 2019, 7:37 am
#588
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Chicago
Programs: MR Titanium Elite/LTP | UA Silver | HH Gold
Posts: 1
If I book for myself and my gf with flying club miles, I can get around the ANA family-only rule, right?
I'm sitting on 90k NH miles but have enough Amex and Chase to go the VS route for both of us, and I'd prefer to book us both on one itinerary to be safe.
I'm sitting on 90k NH miles but have enough Amex and Chase to go the VS route for both of us, and I'd prefer to book us both on one itinerary to be safe.
May 8, 2019, 8:02 am
#589
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Sunny AZ
Programs: HH Diamond, Sixt Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott/SPG Gold .....
Posts: 3,213
May 8, 2019, 1:26 pm
#590
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
Posts: 115
Booked for a winter visit to Japan. Unfortunately not availability for LHR-HND in J, so had to book FRA-HND instead.
Will position using BA
Will position using BA
May 8, 2019, 5:29 pm
#591
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
Yes, I booked my GF and myself on ANA F using Flying Club miles earlier this year.
May 9, 2019, 4:23 am
#592
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: 13,043
Saves APD, so not the end of the world... Leave lots of margin for winter travel delays. The night before if you're on the early flight.
May 9, 2019, 11:26 am
#593
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Cologne
Programs: FB Plat, IHG RA Spire, TK Elite+, HH Diamond, LH SEN, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 972
May 9, 2019, 7:01 pm
#594
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
We got the exact dates and flights we wanted each way for two people so I would say it was pretty good. We booked exactly 330 days out; initially booked a dummy return flight then changed it later to the actual date we wanted as soon as it opened.
May 9, 2019, 9:14 pm
#595
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,459
This is a vey good thread, those of you in the know are much nicer than in other forums.
I have 181k VS and plan to travel November of 2020, 2 seats in J hopefully into Osaka but Tokyo would be ok - we plan to visit southern Japan From what I have learned if I start from ORD I would need 6k more spend on my VS card (1.5 per $) but if we fly to SFO/LAX using AA miles I’m good to go?
We book the outbound with a return the day after we land - wait 2 weeks, find the return date we really want, pay $50 - change the return?
A lot of people have told me VS miles are worthless, maybe they are wrong.
I have 181k VS and plan to travel November of 2020, 2 seats in J hopefully into Osaka but Tokyo would be ok - we plan to visit southern Japan From what I have learned if I start from ORD I would need 6k more spend on my VS card (1.5 per $) but if we fly to SFO/LAX using AA miles I’m good to go?
We book the outbound with a return the day after we land - wait 2 weeks, find the return date we really want, pay $50 - change the return?
A lot of people have told me VS miles are worthless, maybe they are wrong.
May 10, 2019, 12:27 am
#596
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,342
Does anybody have experience sitting on ExpertFlyer alert and waiting for a seat in F to open up? Specifically for the JFK-NRT route, but other anecdotes are welcome too.
I called at T-330, but was only able to snag one seat. I stalked EF beforehand, and did not see two seats available anyway, so I'm assuming only one was released. I'm looking to book for my partner and myself, so my plan is to keep the JFK-NRT seat for her and put myself on ORD-NRT, so (worst case) at least we'll arrive in Tokyo around the same time. But I'd prefer to change over so we're on the same flight, obviously.
I called at T-330, but was only able to snag one seat. I stalked EF beforehand, and did not see two seats available anyway, so I'm assuming only one was released. I'm looking to book for my partner and myself, so my plan is to keep the JFK-NRT seat for her and put myself on ORD-NRT, so (worst case) at least we'll arrive in Tokyo around the same time. But I'd prefer to change over so we're on the same flight, obviously.
May 10, 2019, 1:09 am
#597
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: 13,043
This is a vey good thread, those of you in the know are much nicer than in other forums.
I have 181k VS and plan to travel November of 2020, 2 seats in J hopefully into Osaka but Tokyo would be ok - we plan to visit southern Japan From what I have learned if I start from ORD I would need 6k more spend on my VS card (1.5 per $) but if we fly to SFO/LAX using AA miles I’m good to go?
We book the outbound with a return the day after we land - wait 2 weeks, find the return date we really want, pay $50 - change the return?
A lot of people have told me VS miles are worthless, maybe they are wrong.
I have 181k VS and plan to travel November of 2020, 2 seats in J hopefully into Osaka but Tokyo would be ok - we plan to visit southern Japan From what I have learned if I start from ORD I would need 6k more spend on my VS card (1.5 per $) but if we fly to SFO/LAX using AA miles I’m good to go?
We book the outbound with a return the day after we land - wait 2 weeks, find the return date we really want, pay $50 - change the return?
A lot of people have told me VS miles are worthless, maybe they are wrong.
Once in Japan you will probably want to move around on the Shinkansen with a Japan rail pass anyhow.
But yes... the most cautious people book the outbound and return as you suggest, then pay to change later.
VS worthless? Not at all... but you do have a fairly limited subset of decent reward options.
May 10, 2019, 6:54 am
#598
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Omaha
Programs: AA Life Plat 4mm, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,459
I
You would have to pay more miles to tag on the flights to/from Osaka. Personally I would keep it simple and fly from ORD if that's home base. Only as a backup plan - due to a lack of award space from ORD - would I consider positioning within the US (leave lots of extra time so you don't no-show the ANA flight)
Once in Japan you will probably want to move around on the Shinkansen with a Japan rail pass anyhow.
But yes... the most cautious people book the outbound and return as you suggest, then pay to change later.
VS worthless? Not at all... but you do have a fairly limited subset of decent reward options.
Once in Japan you will probably want to move around on the Shinkansen with a Japan rail pass anyhow.
But yes... the most cautious people book the outbound and return as you suggest, then pay to change later.
VS worthless? Not at all... but you do have a fairly limited subset of decent reward options.
I forgot I have Thank You Points + Chase Sapphire - I think both transfer to VS or simply spend 6k on cc over the summer. As others have mentioned the VS site is very bulky, it wants us to pay 82.5k one way pp on Delta, I did find a few 60k from MSP and LAX on Delta One with only $5 in fees.
May 10, 2019, 10:57 am
#599
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Does anybody have experience sitting on ExpertFlyer alert and waiting for a seat in F to open up? Specifically for the JFK-NRT route, but other anecdotes are welcome too.
I called at T-330, but was only able to snag one seat. I stalked EF beforehand, and did not see two seats available anyway, so I'm assuming only one was released. I'm looking to book for my partner and myself, so my plan is to keep the JFK-NRT seat for her and put myself on ORD-NRT, so (worst case) at least we'll arrive in Tokyo around the same time. But I'd prefer to change over so we're on the same flight, obviously.
I called at T-330, but was only able to snag one seat. I stalked EF beforehand, and did not see two seats available anyway, so I'm assuming only one was released. I'm looking to book for my partner and myself, so my plan is to keep the JFK-NRT seat for her and put myself on ORD-NRT, so (worst case) at least we'll arrive in Tokyo around the same time. But I'd prefer to change over so we're on the same flight, obviously.
I saw plenty on ORD and IAD flights (and more limited IAH flights) -- I assume JFK they keep to just 1 since they have a much better shot of selling out that cabin vs. their other F cities
May 10, 2019, 11:55 am
#600
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141