A reassessment of ANA's Premium First Class in 2025: Justifying the Value of Every Mile Earned
Redeeming Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for ANA (All Nippon Airways) First Class is a highly sought-after premium-class sweet spot, especially for travel to Japan from North America. Here's a step-by-step guide to maximise your chances and get the best value from this redemption.
## Step-by-Step Booking Process
1. **Check Award Availability:** Start by searching for award seats directly on United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan, which display ANA partner award inventory. Look for flights marked as First Class and make sure they have availability for your desired dates.
2. **Note Flight Details:** Once you find suitable flights, record the flight numbers, dates, and times.
3. **Hold the Award:** Call Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club directly at 800-365-9500 to place a tentative hold on the ANA First Class award for 24 hours. Do not transfer your points at this stage.
4. **Transfer Points to Virgin Atlantic:** Virgin Atlantic is a transfer partner of major bank programs—Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, and Bilt Rewards—so transfer the required points from your chosen program.
5. **Finalize Booking:** Call Virgin Atlantic again to confirm your booking once your points have arrived. Pay any applicable taxes and fees, and request your ANA record locator.
6. **Select Seats and Manage Booking:** Use the ANA record locator to access ANA’s “Manage Reservation” page, log in (or create an ANA account if needed), and select your preferred seats.
7. **Double-Check Middle Names:** If your Virgin Atlantic account has a middle name, enter it immediately after your first name (no space) on the ANA site—e.g., "JohnSteven Doe"—to ensure your reservation is correctly recognized.
## Award Chart and Points Valuation
ANA First Class redemptions via Virgin Atlantic follow a fixed award chart, not dynamic pricing like Virgin’s own flights. Here are sample one-way point requirements:
| Route | Business Class (Pts) | First Class (Pts) | |------------------------|---------------------|-------------------| | SFO/LAX to Tokyo | 52,500 | 72,500 | | JFK/ORD to Tokyo | 60,000 | 85,000 | | Hawaii to Tokyo | 37,500 | 57,500 |
These rates are exceptionally good compared to other programs, especially if you value ANA’s top-tier first class experience.
## Tips for Success
- **Plan Far in Advance:** ANA First Class award space is often released 330+ days ahead and can be scarce, especially for premium cabin seats. - **Be Flexible:** Consider alternative departure cities or dates if your first choice isn’t available. - **Use Award Search Tools:** Platforms like seats.aero and ExpertFlyer can help you monitor award availability across multiple programs. - **Act Quickly:** Once you find availability, move fast to hold the booking while you transfer points. - **Check for Promotions:** Occasionally, Virgin Atlantic offers transfer bonuses from partner programs, effectively lowering your cost per point for these redemptions.
## Value Considerations
Redeeming Virgin Atlantic points for ANA First Class is frequently cited as one of the best uses of these miles, offering a high-value return in luxury air travel, especially on routes between North America and Japan. This redemption remains unaffected by Virgin Atlantic’s move to dynamic pricing for its own flights.
## Summary Table: Virgin Atlantic ANA First Class Redemption Steps
| Step | Action | |---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Find Availability | Search United/Aeroplan; note flight details | | Hold Award Seat | Call Virgin Atlantic to hold for 24 hours | | Transfer Points | Move points from Chase, Amex, Citi, etc. | | Confirm Booking | Call Virgin Atlantic to finalize and pay fees | | Manage Reservation | Use ANA’s Manage Reservation page for seat selection |
- To maximize the value of your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points, explore entertainment options in Tokyo, Japan after your Florence Class journey.
- For business travelers, securing an interview with a top news outlet in Tokyo could be an excellent way to share insightful lifestyle and food-and-drink stories from North America.
- Before departing from North America, indulge in a variety of food-and-drink experiences, as these cultural offerings can provide inspiration for future culinary endeavors in the entertainment and lifestyle industries.
