All Nippon Airways (ANA) will begin offering upgrade awards on ANA Japan domestic routes from May 19.
This will be introduced in conjunction with the renewal of the passenger service system for domestic flights on the same day. Until now, ANA only handled mileage-based seat upgrades on international flights. On domestic flights, upgrades from Economy Class (standard seats) to Premium Class were accepted only with an additional fee or upgrade points.
From that date onward, it will be possible to upgrade from Economy Class (currently standard seats) to First Class (currently Premium Class) using miles. Eligible flights are those operated by the ANA Group and booked under an ANA flight number. Eligible fares are Flex, Standard, Biz, ANA Card Holder’s Discount, Shareholder’s Benefit Discount, Islander Discount, Youth, Senior, Flex (for international connections only), and Inclusive Tour fares for individual travelers. The mileage accrual rate will be based on the original ticket.
Examples of required miles, all for routes to/from Tokyo, are as follows: Akita, Odate-Noshiro, Noto, Komatsu, Shonai, Toyama, Niigata, Sendai, and Hachijojima require 6,000 miles; Hakodate, Kushiro, Wakkanai, Nemuro-Nakashibetsu, Okhotsk-Mombetsu, Okayama, Yamaguchi-Ube, Takamatsu, Kochi, Tokushima, Tottori, Yonago, Hagi-Iwami, and Nagoya require 8,000 miles; Osaka, Iwakuni, Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Oita, and Nagasaki require 11,000 miles; Sapporo, Fukuoka, Saga, and Miyako require 15,000 miles; Okinawa (Naha) and Ishigaki require 18,000 miles. The minimum required miles are 4,000 miles for sectors such as Osaka–Kochi, Fukuoka–Miyazaki, Okinawa–Ishigaki, and intra-Hokkaido routes. Upgrade points can also be used. Infants and children occupying their own seat require the same number of miles as adults. For itineraries with connections, the required miles are calculated per segment.
Applications are accepted via the website or by phone from 27 days before departure up to 20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. On the day of departure, waitlisting at the airport is also available. Changes after application are not permitted. Refunds due to passenger’s convenience are accepted only if the upgrade has not been used, via the website or by phone, up to 20 minutes prior to departure time. No cancellation fee applies.
Upgrades with additional payment will continue to be available. The application period is from 24 hours to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Airport waitlisting is not available for paid upgrades. Eligible fares are Flex, Standard, Biz, ANA Card Holder’s Discount, Shareholder’s Benefit Discount, Islander Discount, Youth, Senior, Flex (for international connections only), and Inclusive Tour fares for individual travelers. The mileage accrual rate will be the accrual rate of the original ticket plus a flat additional 50%.
