The ANA Mileage Club program is famous for its generous award chart, but the real magic lies in its unique rules for stopovers, open jaws, and partner bookings. As of June 2026, ANA continues to allow creative routings that can stretch your miles further than most other airline programs.
Our Take
Good news for advanced travelers and award hackers. ANA’s flexible stopover and open jaw rules remain among the most powerful in the industry, letting savvy flyers build multi-city trips for the price of a single award. While the complexity can overwhelm beginners, those willing to learn the rules can unlock outsized value—especially on round-the-world and partner itineraries.
What Changed
- No recent devaluation or restriction: ANA’s stopover and open jaw policies remain intact as of June 2026
- You can still book:
- 1 stopover and 1 open jaw on round-trip ANA or partner awards
- Up to 8 segments per round-trip award
- Partner awards must be round-trip (no one-ways)
- Award chart pricing is distance-based, not region-based
Who Benefits Most
- Global travelers planning multi-city trips: For example, a round-trip US–Tokyo–Bangkok–US with a stopover in Tokyo and an open jaw returning from Bangkok can be booked for as little as 85,000 ANA miles in business class—worth ~$1,020 at our 1.2¢/mile valuation, but often retailing for $4,000+.
- Award maximizers using transfer partners: Those with Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy points can transfer to ANA and book complex trips that would cost 2–3x more miles with other programs.
- Round-the-world trip planners: ANA’s RTW award chart enables up to 8 stopovers on a single ticket, with business class itineraries starting at 125,000 miles (~$1,500 value) for a trip that could easily cost $10,000+ cash.
- Japan-bound travelers: ANA’s own flights offer some of the lowest mileage rates to Japan, especially in premium cabins.
Who Should Be Cautious
- One-way travelers: ANA does not allow one-way partner awards—if you only need a one-way, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
- Beginners overwhelmed by complexity: The rules are intricate, and booking partner awards often requires phone calls and patience.
- Travelers needing last-minute bookings: ANA releases partner award space 355 days out, and availability can be tight close to departure.
What To Do Right Now
- Review your Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy balances—these are the best sources for ANA miles.
- Sketch out potential multi-city or round-the-world itineraries to maximize stopover and open jaw rules.
- Search for award space on the ANA website, then call ANA if your routing is complex or involves multiple partners.
- Consider transferring points only after confirming award space, as transfers to ANA are not reversible.
- Bookmark the ANA award chart rules for reference before booking.
