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The best ANA sweet spots look different in 2026 than they did a few years ago. ANA now allows one-way international awards, while the famous Star Alliance round-the-world award can no longer be issued for new bookings.
The strongest ANA Mileage Club redemptions now come from low-season ANA flights and selected Star Alliance partner routes.
Start with three priorities:
- Season: ANA-operated awards can price very differently in low, regular, and high season.
- Program: Compare ANA-operated pricing with ANA partner awards before transferring miles.
- Availability: Use Flightpoints to find bookable premium seats before moving flexible rewards.
What Makes ANA Sweet Spots Valuable?
ANA uses published award charts instead of fully dynamic pricing for its standard international awards. For ANA-operated international flights, mileage depends on the origin and destination zones, cabin, and travel season. Partner awards use separate zone-based pricing.
One-way international and partner awards became available for reservations and tickets issued from June 24, 2025. That change makes ANA easier to use when outbound and return availability do not match.
Use Flightpoints award search to compare ANA Mileage Club with other programs that can book the same Star Alliance seat.
Best ANA Sweet Spots in 2026
These are some of the strongest current ANA Mileage Club redemptions.
| Route | Economy | Business | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan to South Korea, low season | 6,000 miles | 18,000 miles | Very low regional pricing |
| Japan to Asia 1, low season | 8,500 miles | 24,000 miles | Strong short-haul premium value |
| Japan to Hawaii, low season | 17,500 miles | 40,000 miles | Attractive leisure-route pricing |
| Japan to North America, low season | 20,000 miles | 50,000 miles | Major long-haul sweet spot |
| Japan to Europe, low season | 22,500 miles | 55,000 miles | Excellent long-haul Business pricing |
| North America to North America on partners | 15,000 miles | 27,500 miles | Useful Star Alliance partner option |
| North America to Europe on partners | 27,500 miles | 50,000 miles | Strong transatlantic Business pricing |
ANA-operated figures are one-way low-season prices. Partner figures are current one-way award levels for eligible Star Alliance partner flights.
1. Japan to South Korea from 6,000 Miles
One of the cheapest ANA sweet spots is travel between Japan and South Korea.
Current one-way ANA-operated low-season pricing starts at:
- Economy: 6,000 miles
- Business: 18,000 miles
Regular-season pricing rises to 7,500 miles in Economy and 20,500 miles in Business.
This can be useful when cash fares rise around holidays or when adding Seoul to a Japan trip. Compare the short Business flight against its cash fare before redeeming.
2. Japan to Asia 1 from 8,500 Miles
ANA places several nearby Asian markets in its Asia 1 zone.
Current low-season one-way pricing starts at:
- Economy: 8,500 miles
- Premium Economy: 15,000 miles where offered
- Business: 24,000 miles
Regular-season Business Class costs 26,500 miles, while high season rises to 32,500 miles. It is a practical add-on for travelers continuing through Asia.
3. Japan to Hawaii from 17,500 Miles
Hawaii remains one of the more interesting ANA sweet spots for travelers based in Japan or building a Japan-centered trip.
Current low-season one-way rates are:
- Economy: 17,500 miles
- Premium Economy: 26,500 miles
- Business: 40,000 miles
- First: 60,000 miles
Regular-season Business Class rises only slightly to 42,500 miles, but high-season pricing jumps sharply. Check the season before transferring.
4. Japan to North America from 50,000 Miles in Business
This remains one of the headline ANA sweet spots.
Current one-way low-season ANA pricing between Japan and North America is:
| Cabin | Low Season | Regular Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 20,000 | 25,000 | 36,000 |
| Premium Economy | 31,000 | 36,000 | 50,500 |
| Business | 50,000 | 52,500 | 82,500 |
| First | 75,000 | 85,000 | 150,000 |
The difference between low and high season is enormous in premium cabins, so flexible dates can save tens of thousands of miles. Use Flightpoints to find ANA-operated award seats first, then verify the exact seasonal price with ANA.
5. Japan to Europe from 55,000 Miles in Business
Europe is another strong long-haul use of ANA miles.
Current low-season one-way pricing from Japan starts at:
- Economy: 22,500 miles
- Premium Economy: 33,500 miles
- Business: 55,000 miles
- First: 82,500 miles
Regular-season Business Class is 57,500 miles. That is only 5,000 miles above low-season North America Business Class. High-season Europe pricing rises sharply to 90,000 miles one-way.
6. Intra-North America Partner Awards from 15,000 Miles
ANA sweet spots are not limited to ANA-operated aircraft. ANA Mileage Club can book eligible Star Alliance partner flights using a separate partner chart.
Current one-way pricing within North America starts at:
- Economy: 15,000 miles
- Business: 27,500 miles
- First: 45,000 miles
That can make ANA useful for United-operated itineraries when partner award space exists. Confirm the exact inventory before transferring.
7. North America to Europe for 50,000 Miles in Business
One of the strongest partner ANA Mileage Club redemptions is Star Alliance Business Class between North America and Europe.
Current one-way partner pricing is:
- Economy: 27,500 miles
- Business: 50,000 miles
- First: 82,500 miles
This works when ANA can access the partner seat. Taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges vary by airline, so compare the complete cash component.
What Happened to the ANA Round the World Ticket?
The ANA round the world ticket was once one of the program’s best-known sweet spots, but it is no longer available for new bookings.
ANA stopped issuing new Star Alliance Round the World Award Tickets after June 23, 2025. Tickets issued by that deadline can still be used according to their validity and change rules, but new members cannot create a fresh ANA round the world ticket in 2026.
Older guides may still recommend it. For 2026 bookings, focus instead on the one-way ANA and partner awards introduced from June 24, 2025.
How to Find ANA Sweet Spots with Flightpoints
Start with Flightpoints award search instead of manually checking every airline program.
1. Search Your Route Across Programs
Enter your origin, destination, travel date, and preferred cabin. Flightpoints compares ANA Mileage Club with other supported Star Alliance programs that may book the same seat.
Look for:
- ANA-operated flights
- Star Alliance partner flights
- Business or First Class availability
- Multiple seats when traveling together
- Nearby dates when your schedule is flexible
2. Compare the ANA Chart Price
Once you find a seat, compare it with the current ANA award chart. If you are booking an ANA-operated flight, identify the correct travel season before deciding whether the redemption is a true sweet spot. For partner awards, use the partner zone chart and confirm whether your itinerary fits the expected one-way pricing.
3. Compare Other Programs
The lowest ANA chart price is not always the best overall booking. Another program may charge more miles but lower cash surcharges or offer easier transfers. Use Flightpoints to compare the same seat before committing miles to one program.
4. Verify With ANA Before Transferring
After Flightpoints surfaces a promising option, search the exact itinerary through ANA.
Confirm:
- The award is still available
- The mileage price matches the chart
- Your travel season is correct
- Partner segments are bookable
- Taxes and surcharges are acceptable
- Enough seats remain for your party
ANA remains the final authority for award pricing and ticketing.
Seasonality Can Make or Break ANA Mileage Club Redemptions
ANA’s own flights use low, regular, and high-season pricing. For 2026 Japan to North America or Europe travel, low season includes January 6 through February 28 and April 1 through April 28.
High-season periods include January 1 through January 3, April 29 through May 9, July 16 through August 23, and December 19 through December 31.
That matters most in premium cabins. Japan to North America Business Class costs 50,000 miles in low season but 82,500 in high season.
Compare Cash Value Before Booking
A sweet spot still needs to beat the alternatives.
Use the Flightpoints CPP calculator to compare the cash fare against the ANA miles and taxes required.
Check:
- Cash fare you would realistically buy
- Required ANA miles
- Taxes and carrier surcharges
- Other Star Alliance booking programs
- Transfer ratios and processing time
- Cancellation and change rules
High cash surcharges can reduce the practical value of an otherwise excellent chart price.
Transfer Miles Only After Confirming the Seat
ANA award seats can disappear while you are preparing a transfer.
Use the Flightpoints transfer partners hub to check current transfer options, ratios, timing, and bonuses before moving flexible rewards. Find the seat, confirm the exact award through ANA, calculate the total cost, and transfer last.
FAQs
Q: What are the best ANA sweet spots in 2026?
A: Strong ANA sweet spots include Japan to South Korea, Hawaii, North America, and Europe on ANA-operated flights, plus selected Star Alliance partner awards such as North America to Europe.
Q: How many ANA miles do you need for Business Class to Japan?
A: ANA-operated Business Class between North America and Japan currently starts at 50,000 miles one-way in low season, rising to 52,500 in regular season and 82,500 in high season.
Q: Is the ANA round the world ticket still available?
A: No. ANA stopped issuing new Star Alliance Round the World Award Tickets after June 23, 2025. Previously issued tickets can remain valid, but new round-the-world awards cannot be booked.
Q: Are ANA Mileage Club redemptions available one-way?
A: Yes. ANA introduced one-way ANA international and partner flight awards for reservations and tickets issued from June 24, 2025 onward.
Q: Are ANA partner awards good value?
A: Some are. North America to Europe currently costs 50,000 ANA miles one-way in Business Class, while intra-North America Business Class starts at 27,500 miles when partner award space exists.
Q: How does Flightpoints help find ANA sweet spots?
A: Flightpoints compares award availability across ANA Mileage Club and other supported programs. You can find promising Star Alliance seats first, then verify the exact mileage and complete the booking through ANA.
