ANA Mileage Club changes: One-way award flights, ending RTW tickets and more

Significant changes are on the horizon for the ANA Mileage Club, All Nippon Airways’ loyalty program, as initially reported by View from the Wing.

The updates, scheduled for June, present a mixed outcome. Members of the Mileage Club will finally have the option to redeem miles for one-way flights, expanding their redemption possibilities and eliminating the previous constraint of only being able to book round-trip award flights. However, award rates for numerous international routes will see an increase yet again, and the program’s popular Round the World tickets will be discontinued.

Here are all the essential details.

Now Book One-Way Flights with ANA Mileage Club Miles

After years of restricting members to round-trip redemptions, ANA Mileage Club will allow one-way award flight bookings starting June 24. While one-way redemptions won’t be searchable until that date, ANA has already released one-way award charts, with rates set at half the cost of round-trip flights.

ANA categorizes its award charts into low season (L), regular season (R), and high season (H). Detailed dates for each season can be found on ANA’s website.

For example, an economy flight from North America to Japan will require between 20,000 miles during low season and 36,000 miles during high season. In the case of business class, the mileage ranges from 50,000 to 82,500 miles each way.

Additionally, one-way flights from North America to Oceania will cost between 30,000 and 49,000 miles in economy and 68,500 to 108,000 miles in business.

These rates are reasonable, and it’s worth noting that ANA Mileage Club continues to use award charts, unlike many airlines that have migrated to dynamic pricing, which can often complicate planning. With an award chart, you can clearly see the miles needed from the outset.

However, it’s important to remember a couple of things. Availability for ANA awards can be limited; for instance, premium economy seats were difficult to find on certain round-trip routes even a year in advance. Moreover, transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards is not immediate and can take up to 48 hours, which means there’s a risk of someone else booking the award seat while you’re waiting for your points to transfer.

It’s also noteworthy that ANA imposes considerable fees, especially on certain partner flights. For example, a round-trip economy flight from New York to Geneva, serviced by Swiss and Singapore Airlines, incurs roughly $400 in fees.

In the case of a business-class award seat on Swiss, the surcharges can exceed $2,000.

For one-way award flights that will be available June 24, you can expect fees to be approximately half of these amounts. However, fees can differ significantly depending on the partner airline, so it’s advisable to keep an eye on fees when searching for flights.

Overall, the new one-way award flights will introduce more redemption flexibility for Mileage Club members. For instance, if you find a great deal to your destination with ANA but discover a better return option with another Star Alliance partner, you can combine tickets and save miles.

Related: How to maximize stopovers and open jaws for award travel: Check out these airline loyalty programs

Upcoming Devaluation of ANA Mileage Club Award Chart

The introduction of one-way award flights is welcome news for Mileage Club users, but it’s the only positive update amidst a wave of changes. Starting June, ANA plans to devalue its award charts once more.

For flights between North America and Japan, the award chart adjustments will see price increases across all fare classes during high season.

This follows last year’s devaluation, which saw business-class fares between the U.S. and Japan increase by 22% to 33% for all seasons.

Back then, high-season business-class fares rose from 90,000 miles to 110,000 miles for a round trip. This June, they will increase again to 165,000 miles, representing a staggering 83% total jump within just 18 months.

Nonetheless, 165,000 miles for a round-trip long-haul business-class seat remains a reasonable option, particularly when compared to dynamically priced programs like Delta SkyMiles, which can request more than 300,000 miles per leg.

Alternatively, you could redeem a round-trip first-class ticket to Japan through Virgin Atlantic for just 170,000 Flying Club points from the East Coast. Note that you’ll need to call to book ANA flights through Virgin Atlantic after verifying availability.

It may also be easier to utilize transferable rewards with Flying Club, as it accepts transfers from Amex, Bilt, Citi, Chase, and Wells Fargo. While Flying Club is not a direct transfer partner for Capital One, Virgin Red is, and you can link your account with both programs for point redemption.

Related: The best ways to travel to Japan with points and miles

As for ANA Mileage Club redemptions between North America and Oceania, the bulk of the increases will affect high-season flights as well. The cost for economy fares remains as low as 60,000 miles round-trip during off-peak times, but expect charges nearing 100,000 miles during peak season. For business class, you might pay up to 216,000 miles.

Again, these rates compare favorably with other airlines. There are still significant opportunities to redeem ANA miles for good value when traveling on less popular dates, though flying during peak times is set to be pricier.

If you’re considering a Mileage Club redemption, it’d be wise to book before June 24, ahead of the yet-to-come award rate hikes.

Discontinuation of ANA’s Round the World Tickets

The Star Alliance Round the World ticket has long been a standout feature of ANA’s Mileage Club program. It allowed travelers to explore the globe with up to 12 flights and eight stopovers, all using ANA miles (plus tax and fees).

Regrettably, from June 24 onward, ANA will no longer offer Round the World tickets. According to a recent statement, “Star Alliance Round the World tickets issued up to June 23, 2025, can be utilized as normal until their expiration date, including any changes.”

If you’re eager to redeem Mileage Club miles for this exclusive offer, be sure to book by June 23.

Related: How to book a round-the-world ticket using points and miles

Final Thoughts

While ANA Mileage Club members may be disappointed by another devaluation and the discontinuation of Round the World tickets, the award rates are still relatively reasonable, and the persistence of an award chart is noteworthy in today’s airline landscape. Additionally, the new option for one-way redemptions should help maximize the value of your miles.

If you require more ANA miles, you can conveniently transfer Amex Membership Rewards points at a 1:1 conversion rate into the program.