ANA Airways Award Chart devaluation hits on April 12, TOKYO time (presumably). You still have time to redeem at the old levels, but it is running out!

See my previous, detailed post: ANA Airways Devalues Mileage Plan on April 12 — Consider Booking Now!.

The ANA Airways Award Chart changes have turned out to be worse than we thought they would be.

1. Awards to Europe in Business Class will increase by 20,000 miles, from 68,000 miles to most of Europe to 88,000 miles to all of Europe. Many bloggers note that it’s still better than other award charts. Yes, it is, but that doesn’t mean this is not a devaluation.
2. In addition, they’ve increased redemptions for the First Class travel to the point where it doesn’t make sense anymore. Stick to Business and Economy.
3. ANA adds fuel surcharges to their own flights and the majority of their partners.
4. They are eliminating 2-3 stopovers you can have for free.

In other words, in most cases, you’ll be better off by booking your trip now before the 12th. Especially if you are looking to fly to Europe in Business Class and use stopovers.

However, there were two mistakes in my previous post.

First, I stated that all international flights to Europe incur fuel surcharges. As Miles4More and Sainel pointed out in this Twitter exchange, I was wrong. United and Air Canada Transatlantic flights do not have fuel surcharges.

@saianel @FREETRAVELBOOK YQ on UA is only TPAC

— Miles4More (@KennyBSAT) March 29, 2015

@FREETRAVELBOOK UA YQ using ANA pic.twitter.com/mp5LzPw63B — Saianel (@saianel) March 29, 2015

No Fuel Surcharges to Europe on United

@KennyBSAT @FREETRAVELBOOK AirCanada is also a good option for Europe pic.twitter.com/1tHwWS8wvK — Saianel (@saianel) March 29, 2015

No Fuel Surcharges to Europe on Air Canada

So, if you are interested in flying to Europe in United or AC business class, and especially if you want to use free stopovers, I’m urging you to drop everything you might be currently doing and make the booking now, rather than later.

However, all the above doesn’t mean there are no sweet spots in the ANA new award chart. And this is why I’m keeping my ANA miles intact. 

So why would I urge you to redeem today when I’m holding on to my miles? And I’m even considering transferring more from my AMEX Membership Rewards program. You could say I’m a typical example of do what I say not what I do. 🙂

Or… just hear me out.

Seasonal Charts

ANA Airways is introducing seasonal charts, which make the cost of travel extremely low if you travel to the right place at the right time.

See the Seasonal chart here: ANA Airways Devalues Mileage Plan on April 12 — Consider Booking Now!

Two Sweet spots in the Partner’s Chart

For travel between North America and the following countries and regions: China (including Hong Kong and Macau, Phillipines, Taiwan, and Guam) you will pay 60,000 miles for an economy seat or 95,000 miles for business per roundtrip.

Where ANA Shines: Fly on ANA’s Own Metal

OK, best for the last. You can fly almost anywhere in Asia via ANA with very low fuel surcharges, which even I am prepared to disregard — and believe me when I say that I hate fuel surcharges. Hate them!  Still, take a look at these examples.

A roundtrip flight between New York and Tokyo will cost you 95,000 in the high season and less than $260 in taxes and fees.

ANA JFK-NRT RT in J

Out of $260, the fuel surcharge adds up to only $178. I believe this is a more than reasonable price to pay for exceptional ANA business class.

ANA JFK-NRT RT in J: Tax Breakdown

But there is even a better deal if you are flying from Canada. A flight between Vancouver and Tokyo will cost you 80,000 miles in the regular season and $195 in taxes and fees.

ANA YVR-NRT RT in J

Out of which, the bogus fuel surcharge is only $136.

ANA YVR-NRT RT in J: Tax Breakdown

But wait, it gets even better.

The fuel surcharge is even lower when you fly to other regions in Asia, which makes no sense, since all ANA flights are all routed via Japan. Here is a flight between Los Angeles and Hong Kong in Business. You are paying 110,000 miles in the high season and less than $170 in taxes and fees.

ANA LAX-HKG in J

Out of which, only $61.20 amount to the fuel surcharge!

ANA LAX-HKG: Tax Breakdown

But of course, you shouldn’t stop there. If you are flying to other regions of Asia via Japan, there is no reason not to make a stopover in Japan for the same miles and taxes. ANA new rules will still allow up to one stopover and two open jaws.

ANA JFK-HKG Stopover in Tokyo

ANA JFK-HKG Stopover in Tokyo: Tax Breakdown

Remember, it is not the 12th yet, so the mileage is still calculated according to the old chart. It’s the 11th in Japan, so if I’m assuming correctly the changes will go into effect sometime on the 12th Tokyo time, which is GMT+9 or ESTEARN TIME+13. You still have plenty of time (relatively speaking) to redeem at the old rates.

What if the old levels work better for you, but you’re not sure if can make the flight?

Book it! Even if you have to cancel your booking later, you will only be charged the measly 3,000 miles for it. It’s a no brainer if you can find a United business award to Europe for 68,000 miles with up to two stopovers to boot.

Once again, for reference links see my previous post: ANA Airways Devalues Mileage Plan on April 12 — Consider Booking Now!

See the new ANA changes here.

Photo By: SDASM Archives

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