Maximizing ANA Mileage Club Sweet Spots for Star Alliance Awards to Japan

Introduction

Japan remains one of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world, and for good reason. Its unique blend of ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity, coupled with world-class cuisine and impeccable hospitality, draws millions of visitors each year. For points and miles enthusiasts, flying to Japan in premium cabins is a bucket-list experience. However, with many frequent flyer programs devaluing their award charts or imposing high surcharges, finding the best way to book these seats can be challenging. Enter the ANA Mileage Club—the loyalty program of All Nippon Airways, Japan’s largest airline. While ANA is not a member of a major alliance, it partners with many Star Alliance carriers, and its distance-based award chart offers some of the most incredible sweet spots for travel to Japan. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to leverage ANA Mileage Club to book first and business class on partners like United, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, and more, often using significantly fewer miles than other programs.

Understanding ANA’s Distance-Based Award Chart

ANA Mileage Club uses a distance-based award chart for partner flights, which means the number of miles required is determined by the total flight distance, not by region. This is different from most U.S.-based programs like United MileagePlus or American AAdvantage, which use region-based charts. While region-based charts can be simpler, distance-based charts can offer exceptional value, especially for medium-haul routes or when you can optimize routing to stay within a certain distance band.

For Star Alliance partner awards, ANA calculates the total mileage of your itinerary, including all segments and connections, and then applies the corresponding mileage cost from its partner award chart. Crucially, ANA requires round-trip bookings for partner awards—one-way awards are not permitted. The total distance is based on the sum of all flown segments, and the award must be booked at least 96 hours before departure for international flights. Additionally, ANA imposes a seasonality component with Low, Regular, and High seasons, which can affect the mileage cost. However, even with these restrictions, the value can be outstanding.

ANA Partner Award Chart (Round-Trip, Economy/Business/First)

Below is a simplified version of the ANA partner award chart for round-trip travel. Note that these are base miles for Regular season; Low season requires fewer miles, and High season requires more.

Table data reflects Regular season. Low season subtracts 3,000–10,000 miles depending on class; High season adds similar amounts.

As you can see, the sweet spots are often found just under the distance thresholds. For example, a round-trip that totals 6,900 miles falls into the 4,001–7,000 band and costs 55,000 miles in business class, whereas a trip of 7,100 miles jumps to the next band and costs 65,000 miles. Careful planning of your departure city and routing can keep you within a lower band.

Key Rules and Restrictions

• Round-trip only: You cannot book one-way partner awards.
• No stopovers: ANA does not allow stopovers on partner awards; you can only have connections (less than 24 hours).
• Open-jaw permitted: You can have an open-jaw (e.g., fly into Tokyo and return from Osaka) as long as the distance between the open-jaw points is less than the distance of the shortest segment.
• Mixed classes allowed: You can mix cabins on different segments, but the award will price at the highest cabin.
• Fuel surcharges: ANA passes on fuel surcharges from partners, which can be high on some carriers (like ANA itself or Lufthansa). However, many partners have low or no surcharges, which is key to maximizing value.
• Booking window: Awards can be booked up to 355 days in advance. Last-minute bookings are allowed as long as it’s at least 96 hours before departure.
• Changes and cancellations: Changes are allowed for a fee (usually 3,000 miles), and cancellations incur a fee (also 3,000 miles) if done after ticketing. Unused miles are redeposited but expire based on their original expiration date.

Sweet Spot #1: U.S. West Coast to Tokyo in Business Class for 55,000 Miles Round-Trip

One of the most famous ANA sweet spots is flying from the U.S. West Coast to Tokyo in business class. Cities like Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Vancouver (YVR) are all roughly 5,000–5,500 miles from Tokyo (NRT/HND) one way, making the round-trip distance around 10,000–11,000 miles. This falls into the 9,001–11,000 band, costing 75,000 miles in business class during Regular season. However, if you can fly from a slightly closer city or use a routing that keeps the total distance under 9,000 miles, you can drop to the 7,001–9,000 band and pay only 65,000 miles.

But the real magic happens when you consider that ANA’s partner chart allows you to book on Star Alliance carriers like United, EVA Air, or Singapore Airlines. Let’s look at some examples:

United Airlines

United operates multiple daily flights from SFO and LAX to NRT, and from SFO to HND. These flights are operated by Boeing 777 or 787 aircraft with Polaris business class. By booking through ANA, you can secure a round-trip Polaris seat for 75,000 miles (Regular season) or as low as 65,000 miles if you can keep the distance under 9,000 miles total. In comparison, United MileagePlus would charge 110,000 miles for a round-trip saver award in business class between the U.S. and Japan, and that’s if you can find saver availability. The ANA price is a steal.

EVA Air

EVA Air, based in Taiwan, offers an exceptional business class product with its Royal Laurel class on 777-300ER aircraft. You can fly from U.S. West Coast cities like LAX, SFO, or SEA to Taipei (TPE) and then connect to Tokyo. The total distance from LAX to TPE to NRT is approximately 7,500 miles each way, totaling 15,000 miles round-trip. This falls into the 14,001–18,000 band, costing 95,000 miles in business class. While this is higher than the nonstop United option, EVA’s business class is often considered superior, and you get to experience one of the world’s best airlines. Plus, you might be able to include a long layover in Taipei (though not a stopover—remember, connections must be under 24 hours).

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines operates a fifth-freedom flight from LAX to NRT (SQ 12), continuing to Singapore. This flight often features the airline’s renowned business class on A380 or 777 aircraft. The round-trip distance LAX–NRT is around 10,900 miles, putting it in the 9,001–11,000 band at 75,000 miles. However, if you book the entire LAX–NRT–SIN itinerary, the distance increases significantly, so it’s best to book just the LAX–NRT segment. Note that ANA requires round-trip, so you’d need to find availability on SQ for both directions. Singapore Airlines typically releases very limited partner award space, but if you can snag it, it’s an incredible value.

Pro tip: To get the lowest mileage cost, consider departing from a city that keeps the total distance under 9,000 miles. For example, Honolulu (HNL) to Tokyo is about 3,800 miles one way, so round-trip is 7,600 miles—perfectly in the 7,001–9,000 band, costing only 65,000 miles in business. You could position to HNL using a separate ticket or other miles.

Sweet Spot #2: U.S. East Coast to Tokyo in First Class for 120,000 Miles

Flying first class to Japan is the ultimate aspiration, and ANA’s chart makes it surprisingly attainable. From the U.S. East Coast, the distance to Tokyo is roughly 6,700–7,000 miles one way, making the round-trip distance around 13,400–14,000 miles. This falls into the 11,001–14,000 band, costing 135,000 miles in first class during Regular season. However, if you can keep the total distance just under 14,000 miles, you could potentially drop to the 9,001–11,000 band and pay only 120,000 miles. Let’s see how this works with partners.

ANA First Class (Own Metal)

While this article focuses on partners, it’s worth noting that ANA’s own first class, “The Suite,” is available on select routes like New York (JFK) to Haneda (HND). Booking ANA first class through ANA Mileage Club is even cheaper than partner awards: round-trip from the U.S. East Coast to Japan costs 150,000 miles in high season and as low as 120,000 miles in low season. However, availability is extremely limited and usually only released to partners a few days before departure. For partner awards, we look at other carriers.

Lufthansa First Class

Lufthansa first class is legendary, but it’s notoriously difficult to book with miles because Lufthansa only releases first class award space to partners within 14 days of departure. However, if you’re flexible, you can fly Lufthansa from East Coast cities like Boston (BOS), New York (JFK/EWR), or Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC), and then connect to Tokyo. The total distance can vary, but a routing like JFK–FRA–HND is about 10,500 miles round-trip, putting it in the 9,001–11,000 band at 120,000 miles in first class. That’s an exceptional deal for one of the world’s best first-class experiences. Beware, though: Lufthansa imposes high fuel surcharges, which can add several hundred dollars to your ticket. Still, for many, the experience is worth it.

United First Class

United doesn’t offer a true international first class anymore, but its Polaris business class is excellent. However, on some routes, United operates a three-cabin aircraft with a “United First” cabin that is sold as business class on international flights. For the purposes of ANA awards, this is considered business class, not first. So, if you’re looking for first class, you’ll need to stick with carriers that have a true first class cabin, like ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss, or Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines Suites/First Class

Singapore Airlines operates the A380 from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) and then on to Singapore (SIN), with a connection to Tokyo. The total distance JFK–FRA–SIN–NRT is around 12,000 miles one way, so round-trip is about 24,000 miles, which would cost a whopping 180,000 miles in first class. That’s not a great value. However, if you can book just the JFK–FRA segment in first class and then connect on another carrier within the same distance band, you might find a sweet spot. But availability on SQ first class is extremely scarce.

Pro tip: For East Coast departures, consider starting your journey from a city slightly further west, like Chicago (ORD) or even Dallas (DFW), to reduce the total distance. ORD to NRT is about 6,300 miles one way, making the round-trip 12,600 miles—still in the 11,001–14,000 band, but closer to the lower end. If you can find a routing that totals under 11,000 miles (perhaps with a connection in a city that doesn’t add much distance), you could snag first class for 120,000 miles.

Sweet Spot #3: Europe to Japan in Business Class for 65,000 Miles

ANA’s distance-based chart also offers incredible value for travel between Europe and Japan. Many European cities are within the 5,000–6,000 mile range to Tokyo one way, making the round-trip distance 10,000–12,000 miles. This typically falls into the 9,001–11,000 band at 75,000 miles in business class. However, there are several ways to get this down to 65,000 miles or even lower.

Direct Flights from Europe to Tokyo

Several Star Alliance carriers operate nonstop flights from Europe to Tokyo:

• Lufthansa from Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC)
• Swiss from Zurich (ZRH)
• Austrian from Vienna (VIE)
• LOT Polish from Warsaw (WAW)
• SAS from Copenhagen (CPH)
• Turkish Airlines from Istanbul (IST)

Among these, Turkish Airlines often has excellent business class award availability and a great product. Istanbul to Tokyo is about 5,500 miles one way, so round-trip is 11,000 miles—just at the edge of the 9,001–11,000 band. If you can find a slightly shorter routing, you might drop to the next lower band.

The 65,000-Mile Sweet Spot

To get business class for 65,000 miles round-trip, you need to keep the total distance under 9,000 miles. This is possible if you depart from a European city that is closer to Japan. For example, Helsinki (HEL) to Tokyo is about 4,800 miles one way, so round-trip is 9,600 miles—still in the 9,001–11,000 band. But what about Moscow (SVO)? At 4,600 miles one way, round-trip is 9,200 miles—still over 9,000. To get under 9,000, you’d need a city like Anchorage (ANC) or perhaps a routing through a city that doesn’t add much distance.

However, there is a trick: if you can book a flight from Europe to Japan with a connection in a city that is on the way and doesn’t add significant distance, you might keep the total under 9,000. For instance, flying from Istanbul to Tokyo via a city like Bangkok (BKK) could be shorter than the nonstop? Actually, IST–BKK–NRT is about 7,500 miles one way, so round-trip is 15,000 miles—much higher. So that doesn’t work.

The real sweet spot for 65,000 miles is actually from the Middle East or Central Asia. For example, flying from Dubai (DXB) to Tokyo is about 4,800 miles one way, round-trip 9,600 miles—still over 9,000. But if you start from a city like Delhi (DEL) to Tokyo, it’s about 3,600 miles one way, round-trip 7,200 miles—well within the 7,001–9,000 band! So, 65,000 miles round-trip in business class from India to Japan is a fantastic deal. Similarly, from Singapore (SIN) to Tokyo is about 3,300 miles one way, round-trip 6,600 miles—in the 4,001–7,000 band, costing only 55,000 miles in business class! So, intra-Asia awards are where the chart really shines.

Intra-Asia Sweet Spots

For those already in Asia, ANA’s partner chart is unbeatable. Here are some examples:

• Singapore to Tokyo: 3,300 miles one way, 6,600 round-trip = 55,000 miles in business class on Singapore Airlines or ANA.
• Bangkok to Tokyo: 2,900 miles one way, 5,800 round-trip = 55,000 miles in business class on Thai Airways or ANA.
• Hong Kong to Tokyo: 1,800 miles one way, 3,600 round-trip = 40,000 miles in business class on ANA or United (via Guam? Actually, nonstop is shorter).
• Seoul to Tokyo: 700 miles one way, 1,400 round-trip = 35,000 miles in business class on Asiana or ANA.

These intra-Asia awards are incredible value, especially considering that other programs might charge similar or higher miles for one-way awards.

Sweet Spot #4: Australia to Japan in Business Class for 65,000 Miles

Travel between Australia and Japan is another area where ANA’s chart offers exceptional value. The distance from Sydney (SYD) to Tokyo is about 4,800 miles one way, so round-trip is 9,600 miles. This falls into the 9,001–11,000 band, costing 75,000 miles in business class. However, if you depart from a city like Cairns (CNS), the distance to Tokyo is only 3,600 miles one way, round-trip 7,200 miles—in the 7,001–9,000 band, costing just 65,000 miles! Even from Sydney, you could potentially route through a city that doesn’t add much distance to stay under 9,000 miles total.

Star Alliance carriers that operate between Australia and Japan include:

• ANA (own metal) from Sydney to Haneda
• Singapore Airlines via Singapore
• Thai Airways via Bangkok
• Air China via Beijing (though this may add significant distance)
• Asiana via Seoul

By choosing the right routing, you can maximize value. For example, Sydney to Tokyo via Singapore is about 5,000 miles one way (SYD–SIN 3,900 + SIN–NRT 3,300 = 7,200 one way? Wait, that’s not right—SIN–NRT is 3,300, so total one way is 7,200, round-trip 14,400, which is in the 14,001–18,000 band, costing 95,000 miles. That’s not a good routing. Instead, you’d want the most direct routing. Nonstop SYD–HND on ANA is 4,800 miles, so round-trip 9,600—75,000 miles. If you connect in CNS, you might keep it under 9,000. CNS–HND is 3,600 miles, so SYD–CNS–HND would be SYD–CNS 1,200 + CNS–HND 3,600 = 4,800 miles one way—same as nonstop! So no savings there. The real savings come from starting in a city that is closer to Japan, like Cairns or Darwin.

How to Search and Book ANA Partner Awards

Booking ANA partner awards requires a bit of work, but it’s straightforward once you know the process.

Step 1: Search for Star Alliance Award Space

ANA’s own website can search for Star Alliance awards, but it’s often clunky and doesn’t show all available options. It’s better to use other Star Alliance search tools:

• United’s website: Excellent for searching Star Alliance space. Log in to your MileagePlus account and use the “Book with miles” option. Look for “Saver” level awards, as those are what partners can book.
• Air Canada Aeroplan: Also a great search tool, though it sometimes shows different availability.
• ExpertFlyer: A paid service that allows you to search for specific fare classes (e.g., I for business, O for first) and set alerts.

Step 2: Calculate Total Distance

Use a tool like Great Circle Mapper (gcmap.com) to calculate the total distance of your intended routing. Enter all segments, e.g., “LAX-TPE-NRT, NRT-TPE-LAX” and note the total distance. Compare it to ANA’s award chart to determine the mileage cost.

Step 3: Confirm Availability and Fuel Surcharges

Before transferring points, call ANA Mileage Club (or use their online chat if available) to confirm that the award space you see is bookable with ANA miles. Also ask about the taxes and fuel surcharges. Some partners, like United, have low surcharges, while others, like Lufthansa, can be very high.

Step 4: Transfer Points

ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards (U.S.) and Marriott Bonvoy. Transfers from Amex typically take 2-3 business days, though they can be instant. Marriott transfers take a few days. Plan accordingly, as award space can disappear. Note that ANA miles expire 36 months from the date of earning, and there is no way to extend them.

Step 5: Book the Award

Once miles are in your account, call ANA to book the award. You can also book online, but the website may not handle complex itineraries well. The phone agents are generally helpful. You’ll need to provide the flight numbers, dates, and classes. Pay the taxes and fees with a credit card, and you’re set!

Avoiding Fuel Surcharges: Which Partners to Choose

One of the biggest pitfalls of ANA partner awards is fuel surcharges. ANA passes on the surcharges imposed by the operating carrier, which can add hundreds of dollars to your ticket. Here’s a quick guide to which partners have low or no surcharges:

• Low/No Surcharge: United, Air Canada, Avianca, Copa, Turkish Airlines (sometimes), Brussels Airlines (sometimes)
• Moderate Surcharge: EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways
• High Surcharge: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, ANA (own metal)

To maximize value, try to book itineraries that use carriers with low surcharges. For example, a United Polaris flight from the U.S. to Japan will have minimal taxes, often under $100 round-trip. In contrast, a Lufthansa first class award might have $500+ in surcharges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book one-way awards with ANA Mileage Club?

No, ANA requires round-trip bookings for partner awards. You cannot book one-way awards on Star Alliance partners. However, you can book one-way awards on ANA’s own flights if you are using ANA miles for ANA metal.

How do I earn ANA Mileage Club miles?

The easiest way for U.S.-based travelers is to transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy. Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio, while Marriott transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. You can also earn miles by flying ANA or Star Alliance partners and crediting to ANA, or through co-branded credit cards in Japan.

Do ANA miles expire?

Yes, ANA miles expire 36 months from the date they are earned. There is no way to extend expiration, so it’s important to have a plan for using them before they expire. Keep this in mind before transferring large balances.

Can I include a stopover on a partner award?

No, ANA does not permit stopovers on Star Alliance partner awards. You can only have connections of less than 24 hours. If you want a stopover, you’ll need to book separate tickets or use a different program.

What is the best way to search for Star Alliance award space?

We recommend using the United Airlines website (logged in to your MileagePlus account) or Air Canada Aeroplan. Both show saver-level award space that is bookable by partners. ExpertFlyer is also a powerful tool for advanced searches.

Conclusion

ANA Mileage Club’s distance-based award chart is a hidden gem for booking Star Alliance awards to Japan. With round-trip business class from the U.S. West Coast for as low as 65,000 miles and first class from the East Coast for 120,000 miles, it consistently beats the pricing of other major programs. The key is to understand the distance bands, avoid high-surcharge carriers, and be flexible with your routing. While the round-trip requirement and lack of stopovers are limitations, the incredible value more than makes up for it. Whether you’re dreaming of sipping champagne in Singapore Airlines business class or experiencing Lufthansa first class, ANA miles can get you there for fewer miles than you ever thought possible. Start planning your trip to Japan today, and experience the Land of the Rising Sun in style.

References

• ANA Mileage Club Partner Award Chart – Official ANA website for partner award mileage requirements.
• Star Alliance Member Airlines – List of all Star Alliance carriers and their routes.
• Great Circle Mapper – Tool for calculating flight distances and planning routings.