Virgin Atlantic (VS) Flying Club points redemptions on ANA (NH) - Master thread
#1
Moderator, Virgin Atlantic
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: www.V-Flyer.com
Programs: VS Red, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium - earned out of our own pocket!.
Posts: 2,392
Virgin Atlantic (VS) Flying Club points redemptions on ANA (NH) - Master thread
This is the second edition of a long running thread about redeeming Virgin Atlantic (VS) Flying Club points on ANA.
The very long original thread, which I closed on 9th September 2022 can be found here :- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virg...ub-points.html
It is generally recognised at the time of writing (September 2022), that ANA redemptions are no longer the absolute bargain that they once were. This is due to post-Covid uncertainty / cancellations, high fuel surcharges and in all honesty, the fact they the secret is out and lots of people are chasing the elusive reward seats.
Having said that, there redemptions, when available, still represent excellent value, and I don’t see the demand for them diminishing in the short-term.
As Moderator for the VS forum, I accept that a lot of people only visit this thread on the forum, and have absolutely no interest in flying on VS metal. For that reason, all discussion about ANA will be kept in this thread. If anyone has any insights, tips or best practice that they can share, please post then in this thread - even if they were repeated in the previous thread.
The previous thread contains lots of such tips, but given the pandemic and changes to travel patterns, a lot of them are out of date - hence this new thread, which I hope will grow over time.
I have closed the previous thread, so if anyone has any unanswered queries, please fell free to re-post them in this thread to help it grow.
Thanks for reading, and best of luck bagging the J and F points seats. Japan remains one of may favourite countries in the world, and I look forward to returning in the future.
Nick
Mod VS Forum
The very long original thread, which I closed on 9th September 2022 can be found here :- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virg...ub-points.html
It is generally recognised at the time of writing (September 2022), that ANA redemptions are no longer the absolute bargain that they once were. This is due to post-Covid uncertainty / cancellations, high fuel surcharges and in all honesty, the fact they the secret is out and lots of people are chasing the elusive reward seats.
Having said that, there redemptions, when available, still represent excellent value, and I don’t see the demand for them diminishing in the short-term.
As Moderator for the VS forum, I accept that a lot of people only visit this thread on the forum, and have absolutely no interest in flying on VS metal. For that reason, all discussion about ANA will be kept in this thread. If anyone has any insights, tips or best practice that they can share, please post then in this thread - even if they were repeated in the previous thread.
The previous thread contains lots of such tips, but given the pandemic and changes to travel patterns, a lot of them are out of date - hence this new thread, which I hope will grow over time.
I have closed the previous thread, so if anyone has any unanswered queries, please fell free to re-post them in this thread to help it grow.
Thanks for reading, and best of luck bagging the J and F points seats. Japan remains one of may favourite countries in the world, and I look forward to returning in the future.
Nick
Mod VS Forum
Last edited by Nottingham Nick; Sep 9, 2022 at 10:06 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Alaska,AC,Avios,
Posts: 330
I just spoke to Virgins rep, I was quoted $400 USD in taxes , is this normal ? I just wasn't expecting taxes/surcharge to be so high. Does anyone know which first route tends to be cheaper than others?
#4
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 44
That’s the new going rate. I believe they are increasing again October 1st. It’s a devalue by fuel surcharges and fees increasing. I’m jumping through hoops to get my visa for my October trip so I don’t have to rebook and pay $700 more for a round trip.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Alaska,AC,Avios,
Posts: 330
thank you both for responding .
#6
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 27
I've been reading the posts from the previous thread to understand how booking for award points works. From what I seen on blogs about how to book, alot of them gloss over important details as if it's an easy book. They explain just a general guide but when I try to follow whatever small section they have to explaining how to find said award seats, I could never find any decent ones. They make sound too easy but never explain too much in finding said seat. Isn't that the hardest part? Pardon my ignorance but this is what I get on how to do it in a general sense
- You can search for the award flights via partner websites such as United, Air Canada and so forth. These were the ones I have been looking at.
- For the life of me cannot find any J class, let alone F for any non direct flights from LAX to TYO. I'm pretty sure this is a super in demand route so unless I book for a date way in advance, should I start looking at different airports?
- There is very limited availability on these seats and in all probability I won't be able to find something between now and Dec?
- I'm stuck with either a few UA flights but can't find any NH. Of course if you want to pay for a straight cash fare, those are plenty available.
Is there something I'm not understanding here or is this the gist of how you guys go about this?
- You can search for the award flights via partner websites such as United, Air Canada and so forth. These were the ones I have been looking at.
- For the life of me cannot find any J class, let alone F for any non direct flights from LAX to TYO. I'm pretty sure this is a super in demand route so unless I book for a date way in advance, should I start looking at different airports?
- There is very limited availability on these seats and in all probability I won't be able to find something between now and Dec?
- I'm stuck with either a few UA flights but can't find any NH. Of course if you want to pay for a straight cash fare, those are plenty available.
Is there something I'm not understanding here or is this the gist of how you guys go about this?
#8
Moderator, Virgin Atlantic
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: www.V-Flyer.com
Programs: VS Red, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium - earned out of our own pocket!.
Posts: 2,392
This is something I haven’t done, but was planning until Covid.
From reading the numerous posts in the previous threads, it seems to me that the two essentials are patience and flexibility with airports / dates.
The other maxim is to book as early as possible. It is clear VS point rememptions are pretty low down on the ANA pecking order and several other partners get a shot at them first.
At the moment there are lots of people trying to rebook cancelled flights, so this makes it even harder.
Best of luck and please report any success you have in this thread.
Nick
#9
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: 13,046
Also note that ANA Mileage Club members get an additional one month head start for booking. So you might NEVER see ANA award flights on Aeroplan, UA, etc. for the dates you want. And of course there is no guarantee that VS will see award space that you might have found elsewhere.
You also need to be willing to position yourself separately to any city in North America that ANA flies to...
#10
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 33
I am seeing some award ticket availability on the LAX-HND route for next year; however, it still shows it as the old 789 configuration.
Do you think just booking the 'correct' route (NH105/106) that should be flying 77W and hope they update the schedules to 77W be a good bet?
Maybe a better question would be: How often did they use to fly 77W vs 789 on these routes?
Do you think just booking the 'correct' route (NH105/106) that should be flying 77W and hope they update the schedules to 77W be a good bet?
Maybe a better question would be: How often did they use to fly 77W vs 789 on these routes?
#11
Join Date: Sep 2022
Posts: 11
First time trying to get a business / first class ticket through ANA via VS points. I'm on United and when selecting a date I see there are some business flights at 88k points, but it says they are 1-way and when selecting a return fair I have to pay for that in points as well. Was this always the case or just a recent change? If so, this method got a lot more expensive at 176k points for a business class ticket.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 940
First time trying to get a business / first class ticket through ANA via VS points. I'm on United and when selecting a date I see there are some business flights at 88k points, but it says they are 1-way and when selecting a return fair I have to pay for that in points as well. Was this always the case or just a recent change? If so, this method got a lot more expensive at 176k points for a business class ticket.
The surcharges are currently disgusting - I don’t think oil prices have gone up x5 within the last 12 months.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 940
I am seeing some award ticket availability on the LAX-HND route for next year; however, it still shows it as the old 789 configuration.
Do you think just booking the 'correct' route (NH105/106) that should be flying 77W and hope they update the schedules to 77W be a good bet?
Maybe a better question would be: How often did they use to fly 77W vs 789 on these routes?
Do you think just booking the 'correct' route (NH105/106) that should be flying 77W and hope they update the schedules to 77W be a good bet?
Maybe a better question would be: How often did they use to fly 77W vs 789 on these routes?
Really need a crystal ball for this one tbh. Fra-Hnd was an original launch route and has dropped the 777 for a 789, so who knows.
One tiny saving grace I’ve just seen mentioned is that they’re seriously considering losing the majority of the rest of entry restrictions by end of October - so we might possibly see some normality return!!