Booking ANA on Virgin in business class from the US has been nerfed since late May. First and economy still work but Virgin agents just cannot find ANA business seats right now even though it’s wide open on United and even on Virgin Australia.
Damn that sucks. I wish amex points were easier/better for booking business to Japan, especially since they're building an Amex centurion lounge there now
AA and delta are in complete different category and wish you said that. Delta points are the worst value and AA is one of the best in USA along with Alaska. Its only 60k to fly to Japan on AA in business(japan air or their own). Yes its dynamic but so is release of award seats by ALL airlines. Thats where alerting comes in from award search tools.
@@MaxMilesPointsI would urge you to do a trial run to book ANA from LAX or SFO to HND or NRT. Through Virgin, it has been impossible using seats aero or United. Try it .. make a video on it get back to me.. me and others have been have 0% success.
Great video as always, I had to watch second time because I was distracted with that giant Concorde model in the back. Can you tell us the company where you bought it from or do you have a referral link for it? Thanks
Very informative video max.. do you have tips about booking a flight to the philippines using points/miles? Maybe leaning toward booking with united... thanks
Do these airlines offer a stopover in Hawaii for a day or so before continuing on or is it better to book mainland to Hawaii separate and then Japan from there?
You’ll likely need to book mainland to Hawaii separate. Award rates will be slightly cheaper (and lil easier to find) when flying from Hawaii as a consolation though!
Still no business class availability in September from Honolulu to Tokyo. Found Ana premium economy round trip but I’m still hoping to find business class.
I was trying to use Avios on Japan from Dallas but it was only showing me flying through London rather than the non-stop flights. I am so confused how to do any of this. 😭
How far before travel do you start looking for awards flights? I've seen information (maybe from your videos) that says awards seats are released a year in advance and 2-3 weeks in advance. I'm traveling to Japan in May of next year from HNL and have specific days that I can fly (maybe a window of three days.) Does it make sense to start looking in early May, or is that too late?
So I’m new to this credit card travel group, I have Amex gold and just got approved for a Bilt Mastercard. Besides Japan, I was also looking for flights to Europe (Italy or France). Do you know the cheapest ways to book for those redemptions flights?
@max , lax - tokyo delta one suites , one way this october 2024 188,000 delta skymiles one way. You think its a good , great redemption? Or expensive? Thanks advance
Hey Max, I tried to find a United flight on United, and then I went to Air Canada and did not find any United flight on several dates I’ve selected. They’re all Air Canada flights connecting to Canadian airports from Orlando. I’ll keep searching but I did not find one successfully
@@MaxMilesPoints MCO to HND several dates in late December 2024 to entire January 2025. Nothing came up that is operated by United. Only Air Canada operated flights appeared
@@johnlubigan-rx8fd air Canada dynamically prices their own flights so if you book air Canada operated flights via air Canada they’ll charge you a lot. Only book partner airlines (like United flights) via Air Canada
Hard - yes, impossible - no there are United operated business class flights with up to 9 seats departing for Tokyo in for July / August of this year if you're willing to fly last minute.
Thank you for the content, this is great information! Recently seats.aero does not show any United business class flights available from the US to Japan through Air Canada. Do you know if something happened?
btw KLM also shows Delta direct flights to Tokyo from Seattle (or west coast cities) for as low as 33k
We used Virgin Atlantic to get to Japan on ANA, then we used Avianca to book United to get back to the U.S. wayyy cheaper in fees using Avianca.
Already going next month but yes love to do business class in 2026. Racking up points now with SUBs and spend.
Booking ANA on Virgin in business class from the US has been nerfed since late May. First and economy still work but Virgin agents just cannot find ANA business seats right now even though it’s wide open on United and even on Virgin Australia.
Damn that sucks.
I wish amex points were easier/better for booking business to Japan, especially since they're building an Amex centurion lounge there now
You're my favorite youtuber! I love the tips and tricks videos plus your vacation vlogs. Keep it up!
Thank you 🙏
Appreciate all your hard work researching this information for us!
Great video! Thank you
AA and delta are in complete different category and wish you said that. Delta points are the worst value and AA is one of the best in USA along with Alaska. Its only 60k to fly to Japan on AA in business(japan air or their own). Yes its dynamic but so is release of award seats by ALL airlines. Thats where alerting comes in from award search tools.
Very useful information!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Prefect video. Was searching 2 nights go for Japan trip on united. Thanks for the tips
please do a video on taiwan or korea as you mentioned as alternates!
finding available business seats at Ana and Jal always a pain
It really is , I recommend using seataero seats.aero/r/7wb3pfpn
@@MaxMilesPointsI would urge you to do a trial run to book ANA from LAX or SFO to HND or NRT. Through Virgin, it has been impossible using seats aero or United. Try it .. make a video on it get back to me.. me and others have been have 0% success.
Great video as always, I had to watch second time because I was distracted with that giant Concorde model in the back. Can you tell us the company where you bought it from or do you have a referral link for it? Thanks
Haha it’s the Lego Concorde model!
Great video! Japan is on my bucket list just list
Very informative video max.. do you have tips about booking a flight to the philippines using points/miles? Maybe leaning toward booking with united... thanks
Flying J on JAL in a few months. Just need to check off the ANA t-14 now to check off the japan bucket list.
Thanks for your redemption videos, bro. Can you please make one on West Coast to Australia/New Zealand ?
Thank you do much!
Thanks bro I really like your content you explain very well, can you do the same for South American countries?
Do these airlines offer a stopover in Hawaii for a day or so before continuing on or is it better to book mainland to Hawaii separate and then Japan from there?
You’ll likely need to book mainland to Hawaii separate. Award rates will be slightly cheaper (and lil easier to find) when flying from Hawaii as a consolation though!
Would love to see options to go to India or the Middle East from the west coast
Future video!
@@MaxMilesPoints thank you. We went to Japan last year by JAL and loved it.
Still no business class availability in September from Honolulu to Tokyo. Found Ana premium economy round trip but I’m still hoping to find business class.
Hi Max can I use this regional eSIMs to the Philippines for several months and is that for unlimited text and talk?
I was trying to use Avios on Japan from
Dallas but it was only showing me flying through London rather than the non-stop flights. I am so confused how to do any of this. 😭
How far before travel do you start looking for awards flights? I've seen information (maybe from your videos) that says awards seats are released a year in advance and 2-3 weeks in advance.
I'm traveling to Japan in May of next year from HNL and have specific days that I can fly (maybe a window of three days.)
Does it make sense to start looking in early May, or is that too late?
How about from middle USA to Taiwan or Hong Kong or even China
So I’m new to this credit card travel group, I have Amex gold and just got approved for a Bilt Mastercard. Besides Japan, I was also looking for flights to Europe (Italy or France). Do you know the cheapest ways to book for those redemptions flights?
How would this work being active duty stationed in Bahrain?
Can’t you also book JL flights on Cathay?
You can! It’s around 89k + $260 ish one way
I’ve heard T-14 day availability is no longer available via virgin atlantic.. is that true?
@max , lax - tokyo delta one suites , one way this october 2024 188,000 delta skymiles one way. You think its a good , great redemption? Or expensive? Thanks advance
Hey Max, I tried to find a United flight on United, and then I went to Air Canada and did not find any United flight on several dates I’ve selected. They’re all Air Canada flights connecting to Canadian airports from Orlando. I’ll keep searching but I did not find one successfully
What date/route/flight did you try?
@@MaxMilesPoints MCO to HND several dates in late December 2024 to entire January 2025. Nothing came up that is operated by United. Only Air Canada operated flights appeared
@@johnlubigan-rx8fd air Canada dynamically prices their own flights so if you book air Canada operated flights via air Canada they’ll charge you a lot. Only book partner airlines (like United flights) via Air Canada
Do your tips work from Middle East/Europe or Asia to Japan? I'm based around MNL Philippines
Yo do you have any decent tip for booking ana business class? Im currently checking 2025 July calendar but it is all waitlisted already…
For some reason I see American airline have JAL but british avios does not, is that normal?
Is the JAL on AA you see non-stop?
Does arlo works in turkey and Spain
Yes
Yes, I used it when I was in spain and turkey
I don’t see who operates the flight on Americans website. Maybe they removed it?
It's still there. If you don't see who operates the flight then it's operated by American Airlines
@@MaxMilesPoints Thanks
is there a way to see future transfer bonuses for the month of august ahead of time?
If you have a crystal ball that might work 😉. Transfer bonuses are unpredictable 😔
@@MaxMilesPoints ty, i always go to your site to see what the current transfer bonuses are, is super useful to me
Japan has changed…
You can’t book ANA through Aeroplan. It’s been like that for a few months now. Can you please look more into this?
ANA is back on Aeroplan now (there might not be much availability though)
First comment
Saver redemptions to Japan don't exist. 😆
Hard - yes, impossible - no
there are United operated business class flights with up to 9 seats departing for Tokyo in for July / August of this year if you're willing to fly last minute.
@@MaxMilesPoints I just returned and the best I could get was PE. 🤷♂️ nothing popped up at the last minute.
Thank you for the content, this is great information! Recently seats.aero does not show any United business class flights available from the US to Japan through Air Canada. Do you know if something happened?
are you able to do middle eastern like dubai and suadi arab @MaxMilesPoints