ANA First Class Award Flights: Strategies for Securing Premium Cabins Amid Restrictions
As airlines tighten first-class award availability, a travel content director outlines methods for booking coveted seats, focusing on ANA's 'The Suite' using miles from various loyalty programmes.
Premium Cabin Award Availability Faces New Restrictions
The landscape for booking first-class airline awards with points and miles has become more challenging, as noted by Eric Rosen, Director of Travel Content at The Points Guy, on 31 July 2026. While securing premium cabin seats remains a goal for many travellers, recent changes from major carriers have limited options. Lufthansa, for example, appears to have reduced first-class award access for its partner airlines' frequent flyer members. Similarly, Emirates has implemented restrictions, requiring elite status within its Skywards programme to book first-class awards using miles. Despite these constraints, Rosen, who recently secured a Qantas first-class seat from Los Angeles to Melbourne for 130,000 miles plus approximately $20 in taxes and fees, maintains that strategic approaches can still yield access to exclusive cabins.
All Nippon Airways’ 'The Suite' Remains a Highly Sought-After Product
Among the world's most desired first-class products, All Nippon Airways (ANA) 'The Suite' continues to draw significant interest. Introduced in 2019 alongside the airline's 'The Room' business-class suites, 'The Suite' is available on specific ANA Boeing 777-300ER frequencies from Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) to London Heathrow (LHR), New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). A similar version is also operated on Airbus A380 aircraft flying from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, each Boeing 777-300ER features eight 'The Suite' seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, offering privacy doors, a 43-inch 4K entertainment screen, Nishikawa Air bedding, Tential Bakune pyjamas, and Franzi amenity kits with Decorte skincare products. Dining options include Japanese and Western menus crafted by the airline's 'Connoisseur' chef partners.
Strategic Booking: ANA Mileage Club and Partner Programmes
Securing 'The Suite' often requires a precise booking strategy. Rosen suggests searching directly on ANA's website, as using the airline's own Mileage Club miles has historically revealed expanded award availability, particularly for premium cabins. A one-way low-season ticket for 'The Suite' is estimated to cost 75,000 miles, with American Express Membership Rewards points transferable to ANA. For those seeking partner award availability, which can be identified through platforms like United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points present an alternative. This approach would require 72,500 points one-way from the Western U.S. or 85,000 points from the East Coast. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a 1:1 transfer partner with several major programmes, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards, offering flexibility for mileage accrual.
Implications for Asian Travellers and Loyalty Programmes
The ongoing pursuit of premium award travel, as demonstrated by the detailed strategies for ANA's first-class product, highlights a significant trend for Asian markets. For travellers in Asia and those planning to fly from the region, the emphasis on direct airline loyalty programmes, such as ANA Mileage Club, shows a reliable pathway to accessing high-value redemptions from key Asian hubs like Tokyo. The tightening of partner award availability by carriers like Lufthansa and Emirates could drive Asian airlines to similarly prioritise their own loyalty members, potentially making direct bookings more crucial for securing premium seats on regional and long-haul routes. This pattern underscores the importance of accumulating flexible points and understanding the nuances of individual airline programmes to navigate the evolving landscape of global award travel.
Get The Post.
The global travel stories that matter, three mornings a week. Free.
By subscribing you consent to receive this newsletter from GlobalTravelPost (Asia Press Centre Group); unsubscribe at any time.
