If you’re a points and miles nerd like us, you know that booking ANA business class, especially its flagship seats known as "The Room,” is one of the best ways to maximize the value of your points.
But figuring out how to actually book these seats can feel overwhelming, especially with the recent changes to ANA’s award rules.
Don’t stress. We’ve done the digging, so you don’t have to. Here’s your guide to booking ANA business class with points, including the best programs to use, how to find award availability, and what’s changing in 2025.
What Makes ANA Business Class So Special?
ANA (All Nippon Airways) offers an insane business-class experience. Like… next level. Their flagship business-class seat, called The Room, is so spacious that it rivals— and sometimes beats — many first-class cabins.
Here’s what makes The Room stand out:
Extra-wide seats with full privacy doors
Rear-facing window seats for a unique experience
Premium meals, including multi-course Japanese cuisine
Sleek cabin design and top-notch service
But the real kicker? You can often book The Room for fewer points than other airlines charge for far worse business-class seats. I know, crazy, right?
Routes That Feature ANA's The Room
The Room is currently available on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying long-haul routes from Tokyo (Haneda and Narita). Here are the main routes to look for:
New York (JFK)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Chicago (ORD)
London (LHR)
There are only nine planes with The Room, so not every 777 flight has it. Here's how to check if your flight has it:
Look for flights operated by the Boeing 777-300ER.
During the booking process (on sites like Aeroplan or United), select your seat. If the business-class cabin ends at Row 20 and has alternating forward- and rear-facing seats, you're in The Room. 😎
Best Points Programs for Booking ANA Business Class
Several frequent flyer programs allow you to book ANA business class, each with its pros and cons.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Here’s what you can typically expect for one-way, business-class flights from the U.S. to Tokyo (NRT) on ANA through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club:
West Coast to Tokyo: 45,000 miles + ~$150 in taxes and fees.
East Coast to Tokyo: 47,500 miles + ~$150 in taxes and fees
Just know that you’ll typically face higher taxes and fees when booking through Virgin than some other programs.
If you want to actually book these flights, you can search for your desired routes online, but you’ll need to call Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500 to complete the booking.
Need some Virgin Atlantic miles? All major banks transfer to the airline at a 1:1 ratio, including:
Air Canada Aeroplan
If you’re using Aeroplan’s zone- and distance-based award chart, here’s what you can expect to pay in miles from the U.S. to Tokyo on ANA’s business class:
Distance of 0 to 5,000 miles flown: 55,000 miles needed
Distance of 5,001 to 7,500 miles flown: 75,000 miles needed
Unlike Virgin Atlantic, you can easily book these flights online — we love to see it!
And if you’re running short on Aeroplan miles, most major banks transfer to this program at a 1:1 ratio:
United MileagePlus
Using United’s award search calendar to find partner award flights is a great place to start, but you may not find the best redemptions here if looking for flights from the U.S. to Tokyo.
Anticipated United miles needed: Upwards of 88,000 miles
To search on United’s site, you can simply log in to your account, select Book with Miles, and search your desired dates.
If you’re short on United miles, only two major programs transfer to the airline:
ANA Mileage Club
The simplest way to book a business-class seat with miles is through ANA’s own program, but keep in mind that ANA requires you to book a round-trip itinerary — no one-way options are available.
They also operate in three “seasons,” which can affect these award rates. You’ll find low, regular, and high rates depending on when you book.
Here are examples of all three rates for routes between North America (Zone 6) and Tokyo:
Low: 75,000 miles round-trip
Regular: 85,000 miles round-trip
High: 90,000 miles round-trip
You can book these award flights directly on ANA’s site by logging into your account and choosing Flight Award Reservations.
Want to get some ANA miles in your account? Transfer options are also somewhat limited:
Finding ANA Award Availability
Award space on ANA business class (especially The Room) can be hard to come by far in advance. Most seats open up within a few weeks or even days of departure. Here’s how to find it:
Use various sites (mentioned above) for calendar-based award searches
Look for flights on ANA-operated aircraft (not partners)
Be flexible with dates, especially if you're booking from a hub like LAX or JFK
If you don’t see availability, book a backup flight with a program that doesn’t charge change or cancellation fees (like Aeroplan), and keep checking closer to your travel date.
What About ANA’s Round-the-World Ticket?
For years, ANA offered one of the best deals in points travel: a Round the World (RTW) award ticket that allowed you to fly up to 12 segments and visit eight cities using as few as 125,000 ANA miles in business class. Our founder, Nate, recently took part in this adventure himself.
But there’s some sad news: ANA is discontinuing its Round the World redemptions as of June 24, 2025. If you want to book one, you will need to do so before that date. And, existing bookings will still be honored.
If you're up for the challenge (and enjoy a good challenge), this is one of the best last-chance redemptions out there.
How to Book ANA Business Class Awards Step-by-Step
Pick Your Program: We recommend Aeroplan or Virgin Atlantic — but there are others.
Search for Flights: Use Aeroplan, United, or LifeMiles to search for ANA-operated flights.
Verify the Seat: Check if your flight is operated by a 777-300ER and whether the seat map matches The Room.
Transfer Points: From Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, or Bilt to your chosen program.
Book It: Either online (Aeroplan) or by calling (Virgin Atlantic).
Plan a Backup: In case availability disappears, use flexible programs to keep your options open.
Bottom Line
Booking ANA business class — especially The Room — is one of the best sweet spots in award travel. Sure, it takes a bit of flexibility and planning, but the reward? A once-in-a-lifetime flight experience for a fraction of the cash price. And trust us — it’s absolutely worth it when you’re stretched out in a seat the size of a literal twin bed, sipping sake at 35,000 feet.
