Yes, KrisFlyer miles can book ANA-operated flights as Star Alliance award tickets when partner award seats are open and your itinerary fits KrisFlyer rules.
You’ve got KrisFlyer miles, you’ve spotted an ANA flight, and you want to know if those miles can get you a ticket. They can. Partner awards just run on a different set of rules than Singapore Airlines flights, and ANA award seats can disappear fast.
This article shows how KrisFlyer redemptions on ANA work, how to spot bookable partner seats, what you’ll pay in cash on top of miles, and the checks that prevent nasty surprises on booking day.
How KrisFlyer awards work on ANA
KrisFlyer lets members redeem miles on Star Alliance carriers. ANA is a Star Alliance airline, so ANA-operated flights can be booked using KrisFlyer miles as Star Alliance award tickets.
Two details shape all of it:
- Pricing: Partner flights use KrisFlyer’s Star Alliance award pricing, not the Singapore Airlines chart.
- Seat access: You can only book seats ANA releases to Star Alliance partners. If ANA doesn’t open partner award inventory for your date and cabin, KrisFlyer can’t ticket it.
What “ANA-operated” means
Focus on flights operated by ANA (the aircraft and crew are ANA’s). Codeshares can confuse the booking path because the marketing airline on your screen may not match the operating airline. When you search, always confirm the operating carrier shows as ANA.
What you can book with KrisFlyer miles on ANA
Most travelers use KrisFlyer miles for:
- One-way or round-trip ANA flights between the US and Japan
- ANA connections inside Japan added to an international award
- Itineraries that mix ANA with other Star Alliance airlines on one ticket
KrisFlyer can ticket economy, business, and first when ANA releases those cabins to partners. Availability is the limiter, not your miles balance.
Where to search for ANA partner award seats
The goal is simple: find flights where ANA has released partner award seats. You’ll often get cleaner results by searching with tools that show Star Alliance partner availability, then taking the exact flight numbers to KrisFlyer.
Start with the long flight, then add a connection
If you need a Japan domestic hop, don’t start by searching your home airport to the final city inside Japan. First, find the long-haul seat into Tokyo (Haneda or Narita) or out of Tokyo. Then add the domestic segment once you’ve got the hard part.
Do a quick double-check before you transfer points
If you’re moving points into KrisFlyer from a bank program, treat the transfer window as a risk. Before you transfer, confirm the same flight in a second place that also displays Star Alliance partner award seats. Two matching results is a good sign. One result alone is shaky.
Can I Use KrisFlyer Miles For ANA Flights? Practical booking steps
When you’ve found flights with partner award seats, this is the booking flow that keeps things smooth.
Step 1: Price your trip under the KrisFlyer Star Alliance chart
Star Alliance awards price by regions and cabin. If your itinerary has multiple segments, KrisFlyer’s Star Alliance rules determine how the miles add up, including how sectors are treated and what counts as a stop.
Use KrisFlyer’s own guidance when you price and plan. KrisFlyer award tickets on Star Alliance airlines explains how these awards are redeemed and what to do when your origin and destination won’t show online.
Step 2: Try booking online first
KrisFlyer has been expanding online Star Alliance redemptions. If your city pair returns results, you can ticket online and pay the taxes and fees by card.
Step 3: Call when the site won’t show your route
Some routes still don’t display well online. In that case, contact KrisFlyer Membership Services and give them your exact flight numbers, dates, and cabins. Keep backup flights ready so you can pivot during the call.
Step 4: Check the cash charges before you pay
Partner awards come with cash charges on top of miles. You’ll see government taxes and airport fees, plus carrier-imposed charges on some itineraries. These costs vary by route and cabin. If the cash portion is high, compare your options: another program may charge fewer fees for the same seat, or a sale fare may beat the value of miles.
Step 5: Pull the booking up on ANA and confirm the details
After ticketing, use the ANA booking tools to confirm passenger names, flight numbers, dates, and airport codes. This is also where you’ll handle seat selection and meal requests when available for your ticket type.
Common snags and how to avoid them
Most problems happen when expectations don’t match how partner awards work. A few patterns show up again and again.
No waitlists on Star Alliance redemptions
Some Singapore Airlines awards allow waitlisting. Star Alliance awards do not. If a seat is not available at the time you try to book, you need a different flight, date, or cabin. KrisFlyer states this in its FAQ: waitlists are not offered for Star Alliance redemption bookings.
Mixed-cabin itineraries can cost more miles
Let’s say your long flight is business, but the short Japan domestic connection only has economy award space. Depending on the rule set applied to your itinerary, the pricing may not drop the way you expect. If the domestic add-on makes the miles jump, price the domestic segment as a separate ticket and compare.
Tokyo airport choices can change your day
Tokyo’s two major airports don’t function like adjacent terminals. If your award lands at one airport and your connection departs from the other, you’re dealing with a cross-city transfer. When you build an itinerary, try to keep international and domestic flights at the same Tokyo airport.
Partner space in business and first is limited
ANA’s top cabins are popular, and partner award seats can be scarce. Your best moves are flexibility and breadth: check more than one gateway city, accept a connection, and search across a date range instead of a single day.
| Scenario | What KrisFlyer Can Ticket | Booking detail to watch |
|---|---|---|
| US to Tokyo nonstop (economy) | One-way or round-trip Star Alliance award on ANA | Seats often show in waves; keep checking dates nearby |
| US to Tokyo nonstop (business) | Star Alliance award on ANA when partner seats are released | Search multiple gateways and be ready to reposition |
| US to Tokyo nonstop (first) | Possible on select routes when ANA opens partner seats | Seats can vanish fast once released |
| US to Osaka via Tokyo | Single award combining international and domestic | Mixed cabins may shift miles; separate tickets can cost less |
| Japan domestic add-on after arrival | Domestic segment added to an international award | Same-day connections depend on schedules and airports |
| Open-jaw Japan trip (arrive one city, depart another) | Often simplest as two one-way awards | Keep Tokyo airport logistics in mind if you switch airports |
| ANA plus another Star Alliance carrier | Mixed-carrier award ticket | Build around the long-haul segment first |
| Family trip needing 2+ business seats | Possible, but seats may split across flights or cabins | Search one passenger first, then your full party size |
Ways to find seats when your first search is blank
If your first search shows nothing, don’t panic. These tactics match how partner inventory often appears.
Search one passenger, then scale up
Partner award seats are often released in small numbers. Searching for one traveler can reveal a seat that won’t appear when you search for two or more. If you see one seat, decide if your group can split across flights or cabins, or if you’ll wait for more space to open.
Broaden your gateways inside the US
Availability can vary by route. If you can reach another departure city with a cheap positioning flight, you may find award seats that don’t exist from your closest airport.
Use one-way awards to mix cabins
If you can’t find business both ways, book economy in one direction and keep searching for a better cabin in the other. One-way awards keep this flexible, and you don’t have to risk your whole trip on finding two perfect seats.
Fees, changes, and point transfers
Before you commit, look at the full cost: miles plus cash plus your own flexibility needs.
Taxes and carrier-imposed charges
Taxes are set by governments and airports. Carrier-imposed charges vary by itinerary. When you price an award, write down the cash total and compare it to the cash price of the same flight. That comparison tells you whether the redemption feels worth it.
Changes and cancellations
Change and redeposit fees depend on KrisFlyer rules and the ticket you issue. Read the current fee terms inside your KrisFlyer account before you transfer bank points, since bank transfers usually can’t be reversed.
Transfer timing
If your bank transfer is instant, you can wait until the last moment to move points. If transfers take longer, build backup options first. Pick two date ranges and two gateways you can live with. If your first-choice seat disappears, you still have a path to ticket the trip.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| KrisFlyer site shows no results for your city pair | Online Star Alliance booking does not return that route | Call KrisFlyer with flight numbers and backup options |
| Seat shown elsewhere disappears at checkout | Award inventory changed between searches | Swap dates, try another gateway, or book a different cabin |
| Miles price jumps after adding a domestic segment | Mixed cabins or sector pricing rules | Price the domestic hop separately and compare |
| Cash charges feel steep | Taxes plus carrier-imposed charges | Compare to another program or a sale cash fare |
| You need two seats in business but only one shows | Partner seats released in small numbers | Book one seat, keep searching, or split flights |
| Your Tokyo connection requires an airport change | Mismatch between Haneda and Narita flights | Rebuild for same-airport connections or add an overnight buffer |
A tight planning routine that saves hours
If you want a clean workflow, use this routine before you move any points.
- Pick two travel windows and write down three acceptable gateways
- Search for one passenger first, then try your full party size
- Confirm partner seat availability in a second place before you transfer points
- Price the itinerary under KrisFlyer Star Alliance rules, then check the cash charges
- Ticket as soon as you transfer points, then confirm the reservation on ANA
Do those steps, and you’ll avoid the most common traps: transferring points with no seat, building an itinerary that prices badly, or getting stuck with an awkward Tokyo airport swap.
References & Sources
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.“Award Tickets On Star Alliance Airlines.”Explains redeeming KrisFlyer miles on Star Alliance partners and provides booking options when online search is unavailable.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer FAQ.“Earning And Redeeming KrisFlyer Miles.”States that waitlists are not offered for Star Alliance redemption bookings or upgrades.