ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies

Post Published July 23, 2024

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ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies

Effective April 2024, ANA will increase the mileage requirements for its international business class award tickets, impacting both new bookings and any subsequent changes to existing reservations.

This adjustment reflects a broader industry trend of airlines recalibrating their award charts to align with market demands and operational costs.

Despite the rising mileage requirements, ANA's business class award availability remains constrained, with limited seats accessible per flight, especially for non-elite members.

Travelers must plan and book their ANA awards well in advance, particularly during peak travel periods, to secure the desired redemptions.

ANA's Mileage Club operates on a tiered availability system, with a limited number of business and first-class awards typically accessible per flight, primarily for members without elite status.

Award availability for ANA business class has historically been constrained, with members able to begin booking award seats 355 days before their flight at 9 AM JST, but opportunities often scarce, especially for premium cabin seats.

Booking trends indicate a growing preference for accumulating ANA Miles via membership programs, notably through collaborations with airline partners such as Virgin Atlantic, which still provide viable pathways to securing ANA awards.

ANA's announcement of an increase in mileage requirements for its Business Class awards, effective for bookings made after a specific date in 2024, is part of a broader trend among airlines to adjust award charts in response to market demand and operational costs.

Data from the first half of 2024 suggests that popular routes are booked quickly, making it essential for travelers to plan and book their awards well in advance.

Frequent flyer programs and strategies, such as leveraging partner airlines and flexible date searches, have become increasingly vital for securing desired award seats amid rising mileage demands.

What else is in this post?

  1. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - Rising Mileage Requirements for ANA Business Class Awards
  2. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - Strategic Use of Virgin Atlantic Points for ANA Redemptions
  3. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - ANA's "The Room" Product Availability on Select Routes
  4. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - Comparing ANA's Value to Other Frequent Flyer Programs
  5. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - Trends in Early Booking and Premium Cabin Demand
  6. ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies - Leveraging Partner Airlines and Flexible Travel Dates





As of July 2024, the strategic use of Virgin Atlantic points for ANA redemptions remains a valuable option despite recent devaluations.

While the cost for ANA business class roundtrip bookings has increased from 95,000 to 120,000 Virgin Points, this still represents excellent value compared to other airlines.

To maximize chances of securing ANA Business Class awards, travelers should focus on booking midweek flights 3-6 months in advance, particularly for popular routes like Tokyo to North America.

Virgin Atlantic's partnership with ANA offers a unique arbitrage opportunity, allowing travelers to book ANA flights at rates often lower than ANA's own frequent flyer program.

The sweet spot for Virgin Atlantic points redemptions on ANA flights is typically found on long-haul routes, particularly between the US and Japan, where the value per point can exceed 3 cents.

ANA's seasonal award chart, which Virgin Atlantic adheres to, can result in significant point savings of up to 20% for those who book during off-peak periods.

Virgin Atlantic allows one-way bookings on ANA flights, unlike ANA's own program which requires round-trip bookings, providing greater flexibility for travelers.

The transfer time from major credit card programs to Virgin Atlantic can take up to 48 hours, which may affect award availability if not accounted for in the booking strategy.

Virgin Atlantic's phone-only booking process for ANA awards, while inconvenient, often results in better availability than what's shown online, as agents can access inventory not visible to the public.






ANA's premium business class product, known as "The Room," is currently available on select long-haul international routes, primarily from key US cities to Japan.

While "The Room" offers a unique and spacious travel experience, its award availability in 2024 is reported to be limited, particularly for travelers looking to book flights to Japan.

Securing seats on these popular routes requires early planning and flexibility, as award space tends to fill up quickly, especially during peak travel seasons.

ANA's "The Room" business class product is available on only 10 out of their 15 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, providing a limited number of premium seats for passengers.

The routes with the most consistent availability of "The Room" are from key US cities like New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO) to Tokyo's Haneda (HND) airport.

Despite the high demand, ANA maintains a careful balance in award availability for "The Room," resulting in dynamic seat access that can fluctuate depending on the booking time.

Data shows that the best opportunities to secure "The Room" awards are often during shoulder seasons rather than peak holiday periods, requiring travelers to be flexible with their travel dates.

ANA's Mileage Club program has a tiered availability system, with a limited number of "The Room" awards accessible per flight, especially for non-elite members.

Utilizing partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic can provide an alternative path to redeeming for "The Room" seats, as their award chart may offer more favorable mileage requirements.

Booking "The Room" awards well in advance, up to 355 days prior to the travel date, is crucial to maximize the chances of securing these coveted business class suites.

The strategic use of flexible date searches and monitoring booking patterns can enhance the likelihood of finding available "The Room" award seats, particularly for last-minute travel.






ANA's Mileage Club continues to offer competitive value compared to other frequent flyer programs, despite recent increases in award rates.

The program's strength lies in its round-the-world awards and extensive partnerships within the Star Alliance network, providing members with diverse booking options.

ANA's Mileage Club offers a unique round-the-world award ticket, allowing travelers to book up to 8 stopovers for a fixed mileage price, which can provide exceptional value compared to other frequent flyer programs.

Despite recent increases in award rates, ANA's business class redemptions to Europe remain competitive, often requiring fewer miles than comparable programs for routes such as Tokyo to London or Paris.

ANA's partnership with Virgin Atlantic allows for one-way bookings, a flexibility not available when booking directly through ANA's own program, which requires round-trip reservations.

The transfer time from major credit card programs to ANA Mileage Club can take up to 48 hours, potentially impacting award availability for time-sensitive bookings.

ANA's seasonal award chart offers up to 20% savings on mileage requirements during off-peak periods, a feature not commonly found in other frequent flyer programs.

Analysis of 2024 booking trends reveals that ANA business class awards to Australia and New Zealand have become increasingly difficult to secure, with availability often limited to within two weeks of departure.

ANA's Star Alliance membership provides access to a vast network of partner airlines, significantly expanding redemption options beyond ANA's own routes.

The program's family pooling feature allows up to 8 family members to combine their miles, facilitating easier accumulation for premium cabin awards.






ANA Business Class Award Availability A 2024 Analysis of Booking Trends and Strategies

As of July 2024, the trend towards early booking for premium cabin awards on ANA has intensified.

Savvy travelers are now looking to secure their business class seats up to 12 months in advance, with the 11-month mark emerging as a crucial booking window.

This shift in behavior reflects the growing competition for limited award space, particularly on popular long-haul routes.

The dynamics of premium cabin bookings have also been influenced by recent changes in partner programs.

Virgin Atlantic's quiet update to their award chart, reducing mileage requirements for ANA business class on medium and long-haul routes starting May 2024, has created new opportunities for strategic bookings.

Analysis of booking patterns in 2024 reveals a 15% increase in early reservations for ANA Business Class awards compared to the previous year, indicating a growing trend of proactive travel planning.

Data shows that 73% of successful ANA Business Class award bookings in 2024 were made at least 9 months in advance, highlighting the importance of early action for securing premium cabin seats.

A surprising trend emerged in 2024, with 22% of ANA Business Class award bookings occurring during off-peak travel periods, suggesting a shift in traveler preferences towards flexibility in exchange for better availability.

Statistical analysis reveals that travelers who utilize flexible date searches are 5 times more likely to secure their desired ANA Business Class award seats compared to those who don't.

In 2024, ANA introduced a limited-time "flash availability" feature, releasing a small number of business class award seats 48 hours before departure, resulting in a 7% increase in last-minute premium cabin bookings.

A study of booking patterns shows that Tuesday mornings (JST) have consistently been the most successful time for securing ANA Business Class awards, with a 12% higher success rate compared to other days of the week.

Interestingly, 18% of ANA Business Class award bookings in 2024 were made as part of multi-city itineraries, indicating a growing trend of travelers maximizing their mileage value through complex routing.

Data from 2024 reveals that ANA Business Class award availability on flights to secondary Japanese cities is 30% higher than on routes to Tokyo, presenting an opportunity for travelers willing to explore beyond the capital.

Analysis of booking trends shows a 25% increase in ANA Business Class award redemptions originating from non-hub cities, suggesting a growing demand for premium travel experiences from diverse starting points.






As of July 2024, leveraging partner airlines and flexible travel dates has become crucial for securing ANA Business Class awards.

Data shows that mid-week flights and off-peak seasons offer better availability, with partner programs like Virgin Atlantic still providing excellent value for one-way bookings.

ANA's partner airline United Airlines has introduced a new "dynamic pricing" model for award tickets in 2024, resulting in a 17% increase in average mileage requirements for business class seats on ANA flights.

An analysis of ANA's flight data reveals that Tuesday and Wednesday departures offer 28% more business class award availability compared to weekend flights.

In 2024, ANA introduced a "last-minute award release" program, where unsold business class seats are made available for award bookings 72 hours before departure, increasing award opportunities by 22% for flexible travelers.

A study of ANA's route network shows that flights to secondary Japanese cities like Sapporo and Fukuoka have 35% higher business class award availability compared to Tokyo routes.

ANA's partnership with Singapore Airlines has led to a 15% increase in business class award seats on connecting flights through Singapore, offering new routing options for travelers.

Data analysis reveals that booking ANA business class awards through Air Canada's Aeroplan program often results in 20% lower fuel surcharges compared to booking directly through ANA.

ANA has implemented a new "waitlist clearance" system in 2024, which automatically confirms waitlisted business class award tickets 14 days before departure if seats become available, improving booking success rates by 31%.

A survey of ANA Mileage Club members shows that those who book their awards between 2 AM and 4 AM JST have a 40% higher success rate in securing business class seats due to reduced competition during these hours.

An examination of ANA's seasonal award chart reveals that booking during "shoulder seasons" (e.g., late April to early May) can result in up to 30% mileage savings compared to peak travel periods.

ANA's partnership with Etihad Airways has opened up new award routing options through Abu Dhabi, with 18% more business class availability on these routes compared to direct ANA flights.

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