Amex Membership Rewards Transfer Partner, All Nippon, Bucks the First Class Availability Dry Spell.
The chances of finding First Class award availability to Asia are about the same as showing up at the gate with flowers hoping to get an upgrade from coach to First.
In other words, needle-in-a-haystack. Not good.
There are a few reasons for this. The basic trend is that airlines are releasing fewer award seats in First, fewer airlines have First Class cabins these days anyway, and the flood of miles on the market from credit card sign-up bonus people.
United Airlines is a good example of an airline that’s abandoned the First Class cabin.
Needless to say, our team of needle finders has been scouring haystacks with humongously big magnets.
Yes, we’ve found some sharp specimens—on All Nippon (and bookable using All Nippon, United and Virgin miles).
In fact, we’ve found good First Class award availability for up to two passengers to Tokyo from Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC, as these recent FCF Sweet Redeems alerts demonstrate:
69% Off All Nippon First Class from Los Angeles to Asia, 2+ Seats
66% Off All Nippon First Class to Asia from Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC, 2+ Seats
Our chart below compares flying All Nippon using All Nippon miles (get from Amex), United miles, and Virgin miles for award travel in First Class to Asia across a range of criteria including cost and availability.
What’s on in Tokyo?
Oh, only a little sports competition called “The Olympic Games.” It’s where people run and swim very fast. Yes, the Olympics are coming and you get the feeling the Japanese will make them special. When they make a national apology for a bullet train leaving 20 seconds early, you know they’ll get the Olympics right. The Games start on July 24 next year, and what better way to do them justice than to arrive via the comfort of First Class?
Tokyo is special at any time of the year, Olympics or not. And speaking of sport, here’s one that won’t be at the Olympic Games: the Grand Sumo Tournaments in Tokyo from May 10 to 24 and September 8 to 22 at the famed Ryogoku Stadium. This is a fascinating, deeply ritualistic event that you’ll be telling friends and family about for years. Those guys are rock stars in Japan.
Of course there’s so much to do in Tokyo, from great shopping to delicious sushi to quirky neighborhoods that all offer something different and memorable, whatever your predilection.
And then there’s Japan with its wonderful cities, beautiful countryside, renowned ski slopes—and the aforementioned bullet trains to get you there right on time.
As you can see from the All Nippon connections map below, your First Class experience can extend to Asia with any number of unique locations in the vicinity including Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore and more.
How to Book
Like we said, there are a few ways to snag these First Class seats to Asia—using All Nippon miles, United Airlines miles, or Virgin Atlantic miles. Follow the step by step instructions in FCF Sweet Redeems for specifics with each airline.
Twice the Availability in First as in Business?
Our recent research found that your chances of scoring a First Class seat on All Nippon were twice that of a Business Class seat. As Mr. Spock might say: “Highly irregular, Captain.” Read our report here, including how to get ahold of All Nippon miles.
One good way to get All Nippon miles is via Amex Points. To learn more about buying Amex Points when you are short, check out our special report: How to Buy American Express Membership Rewards Points.
Compare All Nippon's First Class Booking Options
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