I Scored ANA First Class to Japan for Just 61K Points — Here’s How You Can Too!
So, here’s the deal. After chatting with my wife about our next travel destination, we both agreed on Japan. Even though we’ve visited six times before, we simply can’t get enough of it. Naturally, I started hunting for the best way to get there in style using points and miles. And guess what? I managed to book ANA First Class—one of the most luxurious cabins in the sky—for just 61,000 points. That’s a steal considering these tickets can cost upwards of $20,000 round-trip. Let me break down how you can do the same!
First, let’s talk about why ANA First Class is so special. Known as "The Suite," this first-class cabin is a masterpiece of comfort and privacy. Each suite has sliding doors, offering a secluded and exclusive experience. The service? Impeccable. The food? Top-tier, featuring gourmet Japanese cuisine, fresh sushi, and even wagyu beef. Plus, if you’re traveling with someone, you can dine together in your suite—a rare perk in first class.
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Now, let’s get to the fun part: how I booked this flight for a fraction of the cost. ANA is a part of Star Alliance, but one of its best redemption options comes from an unexpected place—Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Virgin Atlantic has a partnership with ANA, allowing you to book ANA First Class for as little as 85,000 Flying Club points from the East Coast or 72,500 from the West Coast. However, with frequent transfer bonuses from credit card rewards programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can snag even better deals. I took advantage of a 40% transfer bonus from Amex to Virgin Atlantic, which meant I only needed to transfer 61,000 points instead of 85,000. That’s an insane value of 24 cents per point!
Finding award availability can be tricky, but it's definitely possible. ANA usually releases only one First Class award seat per flight, so persistence is key. I used a website called Seats.aero to track award availability and confirmed it on United’s website before calling Virgin Atlantic to book. Yes, you have to call to book ANA awards with Virgin Atlantic points, but the process is straightforward. The representative quickly confirmed the availability, and I locked in my ticket for just 61,000 points and $165 in taxes and fees.
For those who want to replicate this, there are plenty of ways to earn Virgin Atlantic points. The program is a transfer partner of almost every major rewards currency—Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and even Bilt Rewards. So, even if you don’t have points in one program, you have multiple ways to earn and transfer them.
The bottom line? If you’re dreaming of flying ANA First Class without paying a fortune, this is one of the best redemptions in the game. With some patience and strategic use of transfer bonuses, you, too, could experience one of the world’s most luxurious first-class products for just a handful of points. Safe travels!
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