64. ANA First Class: How to Book With Virgin Points

Flying First Class to Japan on All Nippon Airways (ANA) is widely considered the pinnacle of award travel. With ticket prices often exceeding $15,000 round-trip, most travelers assume this experience is out of reach. However, by using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points, you can book these same seats for a fraction of the cost.

Despite a pricing adjustment in early 2024, using Virgin points remains one of the most cost-effective ways to cross the Pacific in luxury. This guide explains exactly how to find the seats, how many points you need, and the specific steps to book your ticket.

Why This Redemption is Famous

In the world of credit card points and airline miles, “sweet spots” occur when one airline charges significantly fewer miles to fly a partner airline than other programs do. Virgin Atlantic’s partnership with ANA is the textbook example of this.

While United Airlines might charge over 121,000 miles for a one-way First Class ticket to Tokyo, Virgin Atlantic charges significantly less for the exact same flight. You get the same access to the ANA Suite Lounge, the same Hibiki 21 whiskey onboard, and the same impeccable Japanese hospitality.

The “New” Pricing Structure (2024 Update)

For years, this redemption cost a flat 55,000 to 60,000 points. In March 2024, Virgin Atlantic increased the rates. While higher than before, they are still exceptionally low compared to the industry standard.

Here are the current one-way First Class rates for flights between the US and Tokyo (Haneda or Narita):

  • West Coast (San Francisco, Los Angeles): 72,500 Virgin Points
  • East Coast & Central (New York JFK, Chicago): 85,000 Virgin Points

You will also pay taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges. These fluctuate based on oil prices and exchange rates but generally fall between $200 and $300 round-trip.

How to Earn Virgin Points

You do not need to fly Virgin Atlantic to earn their points. The Flying Club program is a transfer partner with every major transferable currency. If you have a credit card that earns flexible points, you likely already have the currency needed for this flight.

You can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio from:

  • American Express Membership Rewards: Transfers are usually instant.
  • Chase Ultimate Rewards: Transfers are usually instant.
  • Citi ThankYou Rewards: Transfers are usually instant.
  • Capital One Miles: Transfers are usually instant.
  • Bilt Rewards: Transfers are usually instant.

Pro Tip: Banks often offer “transfer bonuses” of 30% to Virgin Atlantic. If you catch one of these bonuses, an 85,000-point ticket could cost you as little as 66,000 credit card points.

Step 1: Finding Availability

This is the most difficult part of the process. ANA releases extremely limited First Class award seats to partners. You cannot search for availability on the Virgin Atlantic website, as it does not display ANA award space accurately.

Instead, you must use a partner airline website to find the “Saver” award space first.

The Best Search Tools

  1. United Airlines Website: This is the most user-friendly free option. You do not need a United account to search.
    • Select “Book with miles.”
    • Check “Flexible dates.”
    • Look for nonstop flights operated by ANA.
    • You must find a “Saver” award. If you see a price like 200,000 miles, that is a standard award and Virgin cannot book it. You are looking for partner availability (usually coded as class “O” for First Class).
  2. Air Canada Aeroplan: Another reliable search engine for Star Alliance awards.
  3. Seats.aero: If you are willing to pay for a subscription, this tool allows you to search specifically for ANA First Class availability across the entire year instantly.

ANA typically releases seats in two batches:

  • 355 Days Out: At the very opening of the schedule. These are snatched up within minutes.
  • Close-in (T-14): ANA often releases unsold First Class seats to partners within 14 days of departure. This is your best bet if you have a flexible schedule.

Step 2: Confirming the Product

ANA flies two different First Class products. Both are excellent, but one is superior.

  1. “The Suite” (New): Features a 43-inch 4K monitor and a fully closing door for privacy. This is found on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
  2. “The Square” (Old): A semi-private cubicle. Still comfortable, but older technology.

To ensure you are booking “The Suite,” check the seat map. The new First Class has only 8 seats total (two rows of 1-2-1). The old configuration often has a different layout. Flights from JFK and London Heathrow typically feature the new suite, while other routes vary.

Step 3: Booking the Ticket

Once you have found a date on United.com that shows “Saver” First Class availability, follow these steps immediately. Do not transfer your points yet.

  1. Call Virgin Atlantic: You cannot book this online. You must call the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
    • US Number: +1 800 862 8621
    • UK Number: +44 0344 874 7747
  2. Feed the Agent the Details: Tell the representative you want to book a partner award on ANA. Give them the exact date and flight number you found on the United website.
  3. Request a Hold: Ask the agent to confirm the space is viewable on their end. Once they confirm, ask them to hold the ticket for 24 to 48 hours. Virgin Atlantic agents are generally very helpful with this request.
  4. Transfer Points: With the ticket on hold, log in to your credit card account (Chase, Amex, etc.) and transfer the required points to your Virgin Atlantic account.
  5. Call Back to Pay: Once the points hit your account (log out and log back in to check), call Virgin Atlantic back to finalize the booking. You will pay the taxes and fees using a credit card over the phone.

Important Rules and Caveats

  • Cancellation Fees: Virgin charges a reasonable fee to change or cancel a booking (typically around $50 or ÂŁ30). Points are returned to your Virgin account, not your credit card.
  • Waitlists: You may see “Waitlist” availability on the ANA website. Virgin Atlantic cannot book waitlisted seats. The status must be “Available.”
  • One-Way vs. Round-Trip: You can book one-way tickets. This is often easier than finding return availability for the same week.
  • Positioning Flights: Virgin Atlantic cannot add a domestic connection (e.g., from Denver to San Francisco) on United to this ticket. You must book your positioning flight separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the flight have to be nonstop? Yes. Virgin Atlantic charges per segment. If you fly JFK-Tokyo-Osaka, you will pay for the JFK-Tokyo leg and the Tokyo-Osaka leg separately. It is usually better to just book the long-haul segment and buy a cheap cash ticket for the short domestic hop.

Can I book for family members? Yes. You can use your points to book a ticket for anyone, even if you are not flying with them. You will just need their full name and date of birth as it appears on their passport.

Why can’t I find any availability? Demand currently outweighs supply by a massive margin. There are only 8 First Class seats on the plane, and thousands of people are trying to book them. Your best success will come from searching for travel within the next 2 weeks or exactly 330+ days in advance.

Can I upgrade a cash economy ticket with points? No. Virgin points can only be used to purchase a reward seat outright. You cannot use them to upgrade a cash fare bought through ANA.