ANA membership is a frequent flyer program run by All Nippon Airways, and your airline card earns miles you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards

ANA (All Nippon Airways) is Japan's largest airline, and its frequent flyer program is called ANA Mileage Club. When you hold an ANA-branded credit card, you earn miles on every purchase — typically 1 mile per dollar spent, though some cards offer bonus rates on certain categories. Those miles accumulate in your ANA account and can be redeemed for flights on ANA, its partner airlines, and other rewards like hotel stays or merchandise.

The card itself is separate from the membership. You can join ANA Mileage Club for free without a credit card, but the card is the fastest way to build miles because you earn them on everyday spending, not just flights. The card also usually comes with perks like annual miles bonuses, priority boarding, and lounge access — benefits that vary by which ANA card you hold.

Key Takeaways

  • ANA Mileage Club is a free frequent flyer program where miles earned through an ANA card can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and hotel stays.
  • An ANA credit card earns miles on all purchases, not just flights, so you build your balance faster than flying alone.
  • Different ANA cards offer different perks — some include annual mile bonuses, lounge access, or priority boarding — so compare what each card provides before choosing.
  • Miles expire after three years of inactivity, so you need to use or earn miles at least once every three years to keep your account active.
  • Partner airlines and transfer partners let you use ANA miles on carriers beyond ANA itself, which can give you more redemption options.

How miles work on an ANA card

Every dollar you spend on an ANA credit card converts to miles at a rate set by the card issuer — usually 1 mile per dollar, though some cards offer 1.5 or 2 miles per dollar on specific categories like dining or travel. Those miles land in your ANA Mileage Club account, where they sit until you redeem them. You do not have to fly ANA to earn; the miles come from the card purchase itself.

Redemption is where miles become a ticket or upgrade. A domestic flight within Japan might cost 5,000 to 10,000 miles depending on distance and how far ahead you book. International flights typically run 40,000 to 80,000 miles one-way, though premium cabin seats (business or first class) cost significantly more. You can also transfer miles to hotel partners or use them to upgrade a paid ticket to business class.

The card issuer — usually a bank like Chase, American Express, or a Japanese bank — sets the earning rate and the annual fee. ANA itself runs the Mileage Club account where miles are stored and redeemed. This means your card issuer and ANA are two separate entities, even though the card is branded with ANA's name.

Annual fees and card benefits

ANA credit cards carry annual fees that range from $0 to over $500, depending on the card tier and issuer. A basic ANA card might have no annual fee or a modest one ($50–$95), while premium cards with lounge access and higher earning rates charge $300 or more. The card issuer decides the fee structure, so you will see different prices for ANA cards from different banks.

In exchange for the annual fee, most ANA cards include perks beyond earning miles. Common benefits are an annual mile bonus (often 10,000 miles just for keeping the card open), priority boarding on ANA flights, access to ANA lounges or partner lounges, and sometimes a companion ticket discount. Some cards waive the annual fee in the first year, which can be worth doing if you plan to spend enough to offset the fee in year two.

Before you commit to a card, compare what the annual fee buys you. If you fly ANA once or twice a year and spend heavily on the card, the bonus miles and lounge access might justify a $100 fee. If you rarely fly, a no-fee card that still earns miles might be the better choice.

Partner airlines and how to use miles beyond ANA

ANA is part of the Star Alliance, a network of 26 airlines including United, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and Air Canada. You can redeem ANA miles for flights on any Star Alliance partner, which means your miles work on far more routes than ANA operates alone. A flight from New York to London on United, for example, can be booked with ANA miles.

Partner redemptions follow ANA's pricing, not the partner airline's. This is important because it means you might find better value redeeming on a partner than on ANA itself. A United flight might cost fewer ANA miles than the same route on ANA, depending on the route and season. You book partner flights through ANA's website or by calling ANA directly.

Some ANA cards also allow you to transfer miles to hotel partners like Hilton, Marriott, or IHG at a set conversion rate (usually 1 ANA mile = 1 hotel point, though rates vary). This opens another redemption path if you prefer hotels over flights or want to combine miles with a paid hotel stay.

How to earn miles beyond credit card spending

Credit card spending is the fastest way to earn, but ANA miles also come from flying. When you book a flight on ANA or a Star Alliance partner, you earn miles based on the distance and cabin class — economy earns fewer miles than business class. You must have your ANA Mileage Club number in your reservation to receive the miles, so always provide it when booking.

ANA also runs periodic promotions where you earn bonus miles on flights during certain windows, or where specific routes offer double or triple miles. These promotions are announced on ANA's website and in emails to members, so signing up for ANA's newsletter can alert you to these opportunities.

A smaller source is shopping through ANA's online mall, where partner retailers (like Amazon or Booking.com) offer bonus miles on purchases made through their links. The earning rate is usually low — perhaps 1 mile per $10 spent — but it is a way to earn on spending you would do anyway.

Redeeming miles and blackout dates

To redeem miles for a flight, you log into your ANA Mileage Club account, search for your desired route and dates, and book if award availability exists. Not every flight has award seats available — airlines hold a limited number of seats for frequent flyer redemptions and release them on varying schedules. Popular routes and peak travel times often have fewer award seats, so booking in advance (typically 60 to 90 days out) improves your chances.

ANA does not publish a formal blackout date calendar, but certain dates — holidays, peak summer and winter travel periods — have fewer award seats available. This does not mean you cannot book; it means you may need to be flexible with dates or willing to book a less popular flight time. Off-peak travel (mid-week, shoulder seasons) typically has more award availability.

Taxes and fees still explore to award bookings. A free flight is not truly free; you will pay airport taxes, fuel surcharges, and ANA's booking fee (usually $15–$25 depending on the route). These costs are separate from the miles cost and appear when you check out.

Account maintenance and mile expiration

ANA miles expire after three years of inactivity. Inactivity means you have not earned or redeemed any miles during that three-year window. If you hold an ANA credit card and use it regularly, your account stays active because every purchase earns miles. If you stop using the card and do not fly ANA, your miles will expire after three years.

You can extend the expiration date by earning or redeeming even a small amount — a single credit card purchase or a partner hotel stay counts as activity. Some members set a calendar reminder to make a small purchase or transfer a few miles to a hotel partner every two years, just to keep the account alive.

If your miles do expire, ANA may allow you to reactivate them by paying a fee (typically $50–$100), though this is not may provide. The safest approach is to use miles before they expire or keep the account active with occasional earning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn ANA miles without holding an ANA credit card?

Yes. You can join ANA Mileage Club for free and earn miles by flying ANA or Star Alliance partners, or by staying at partner hotels. The credit card just accelerates earning because you accumulate miles on everyday purchases. Without the card, you build miles more slowly unless you fly frequently.

What happens to my miles if I close my ANA credit card?

Your ANA Mileage Club account and miles remain active even after you close the card. However, if you do not earn or redeem any miles for three years after closing the card, your miles will expire. You can keep the account alive by flying ANA, staying at partner hotels, or shopping through ANA's mall.

Can I use ANA miles to upgrade a paid ticket?

Yes. You can purchase a ticket on ANA or a Star Alliance partner and then use miles to upgrade to a higher cabin class. The upgrade cost varies by route and cabin, but it is usually cheaper in miles than booking a premium cabin award ticket outright. Book the upgrade through ANA's website or by calling their customer service.

Do I need to live in Japan to hold an ANA credit card?

It depends on the card issuer. ANA cards issued by U.S. banks (like Chase) are available to U.S. residents with a U.S. address and Social Security number. ANA cards issued by Japanese banks typically require a Japanese address and Japanese tax ID. Check the card issuer's requirements before explore.

What is the difference between ANA miles and airline miles from other carriers?

ANA miles work only within the ANA Mileage Club and Star Alliance network. Other airlines have their own frequent flyer programs with different earning rates, redemption values, and partner networks. ANA miles cannot be transferred to or from other airline programs, so they are locked into the ANA ecosystem.