ANA First Class to Tokyo: Unreported Award Space Open Now

ANA just dropped a fresh batch of First Class award space to Tokyo that most award blogs haven’t flagged yet. This isn’t the initial 355-day dump or the predictable close-in release everyone’s been fighting over. It’s a distinct second wave showing up on specific U.S. routes, giving business-class veterans who blinked on the first round a legitimate second shot at one of the world’s best long-haul cabins before it evaporates.

This space is different. Earlier windows focused heavily on certain East Coast and West Coast dates; the new inventory skews toward mid-2027 extensions and select Western U.S. departures that weren’t broadly reported in the usual award chatter. Seats.aero’s ANA First Class Finder and partner tools are surfacing it now, often 1-2 seats per flight on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

ANA’s “The Suite” on the refreshed 777-300ER is the one worth chasing. Sliding door, 43-inch 4K screen, fully flat bed that actually feels private, and configurable seating if you’re traveling with someone who doesn’t annoy you. The older First Square is fine but lacks the door—skip it if The Suite is available.

Service is the usual ANA over-delivery: seasonal menus (think June-August 2026 highlights still rolling into later schedules), proper Japanese kaiseki or Western options, Rimowa amenity kits outbound from Tokyo, and lounge access that makes U.S. carriers look like they’re phoning it in. Wi-Fi works when it wants to, but you’re here for the bed and the silence, not Zoom calls.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club remains the sharpest tool for this. One-way First Class from Western U.S./Canada to Tokyo runs 72,500 points; Central/Eastern U.S. clocks in at 85,000. No brutal fuel surcharges on most routings, and you can book one-ways cleanly.[[1]](https://roame.travel/guides/ana-award-redemptions)[[2]](https://awardwallet.com/airlines/virgin-atlantic-flying-club/ana-award-chart/)

United MileagePlus will cost you more—expect 110,000–170,000+ miles one-way depending on season and route, with the usual dynamic pricing nonsense. Air Canada Aeroplan lands around 90,000–110,000 points one-way for North America to Japan First, which is workable if you have a pile of Aeroplan but less elegant than Virgin.[[3]](https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/airlines/best-ways-to-book-ana-first-class/)

Transfer partners are straightforward: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou Points all flow 1:1 to Virgin. Transfer only after you confirm space—ANA awards are scarce enough without lighting your points on fire.

The new space extends well into 2027 on key 777 routes: LAX-NRT/HND, SFO-HND, ORD-NRT, and JFK-NRT see the cleanest availability in this wave. Look for The Suite configurations—the A380 Flying Honu option to HNL is fun but not the flagship experience.

Tools that actually surface it: Seats.aero (the dedicated ANA First Class Finder is worth the Pro subscription right now), United.com for quick scans, Aeroplan’s site, and Roame.travel for aggregated partner views. ANA’s own calendar can hint at it, but partners often show space first. Check around 9am JST for fresh drops, though this second wave has been trickling in outside the usual rhythm.

Opinion: Stop waiting for the perfect 60,000-mile ANA direct redemption that may never appear for your dates. Virgin’s 72.5k–85k one-way is the realistic play for a product that embarrasses most U.S. airlines’ First on a bad day. Business class is crowded and getting more so; First still has breathing room if you move fast.

This window won’t last. The first wave taught us that hesitation equals coach. Set alerts, check daily, and pounce.