I used 47,000 Amex points to purchase an ANA First Class Flight worth $14,000

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• I used 47,000 Amex points to fly from New York to Tokyo in ANA’s stellar first-class suite.
• By taking advantage of a transfer bonus, I used fewer points than usual to book this award flight.
• The lie-flat seat, meals, and service were exceptional. Using cash, this flight would cost over $14,000.
• Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.

The last time that I was in Asia, there was simply no such thing as COVID-19. That’s because I was in Japan prior to the pandemic, in 2019. Amex is an Insider advertising partner.

Since then, I’ve been eagerly anticipating an opportunity to travel to Asia again. With many countries reopening to tourists, this felt like the ideal time to pay a visit to my favorite region of the world.

Couple that with a stellar limited-time points promotion to fly one of the best first-class cabins in the sky? Now, it’s a no-brainer.

I redeemed just 47,000 Amex points to fly New York (JFK) to Tokyo (HND) onboard ANA’s new first-class product, dubbed “The Suite.”  While I wasn’t entering Japan this time, I was thrilled to experience first class with ANA and transit through Tokyo on my way to Vietnam and Thailand. 

Here’s how I booked it using credit card points — and a rundown of the flight itself. 

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to use credit card points to fly ANA first class

To die-hard points enthusiasts, this is a redemption that frequently gets talked about as one of the most lucrative. 

And while ANA first class was good before, now it’s even better thanks to the airline’s new “The Suite” product that flies on select long-haul routes, including between Tokyo and New York. 

(And not only is the food and service regarded as top-notch, but the 43-inch in-seat monitor is also bigger than my TV at home.)

But let’s take a quick step back and chat about strategy. Besides transferring points that are earned through credit cards, the key to booking this award is leveraging airline partnerships. 

I took advantage of the fact that UK-based Virgin Atlantic has close ties with ANA, a flag carrier of Japan. 

All that means is that I was able to use Virgin Flying Club points (Virgin’s frequent flyer program) to book a flight operated by ANA.

Here’s how many Virgin points you’d need for a round-trip flight on ANA, in each class of service. 

Since I wanted to fly in first class, I needed 60,000 Virgin points for a one-way ticket from New York to Tokyo. That redemption already is an incredible bargain, especially when you look at some of the other ways to book ANA flights with miles. 

For instance, Here’s how it works many miles it would require to fly this same first-class product (and route) with other frequent flyer programs: 

How I needed only 47,000 points (limited-time offer)

It gets even better thanks to the power and potential of transferable credit card points — and the occasional bonus promotion.

American Express offered a 30% bonus on all purchases, which is quite remarkable. Transferred Amex Membership PointsVirgin Atlantic. Right now through September 30, 2022 Amex has the same promotion for transfer bonuses.

Three main options exist for transferring Virgin to Virgin using credit card points. 

To receive the 30% Amex bonus, I had to transfer only 47,000 points from Amex to Virgin Atlantic. Amex points can be transferred instantly, which is convenient.

This is a great deal for a points fan like me. It would take more than DoubleThe number of United Miles required to book exactly the same seat. 

How to earn Amex Member Rewards points

Amex points can be earned for similar redemptions. There are many personal and small-business options available, including:

Finding ANA award availability

Not just because a promotion is limited time, doesn’t mean that you should immediately transfer your points. Before I transferred the Amex-toVirgin, I made sure that there was availability of award awards. You can’t reverse a transaction after it’s been completed. 

While you can’t search for or even book ANA awards through Virgin’s website, the program has access to the same award availability as all of ANA’s other partner airlines — including United, Air Canada, etc. 

I searched United’s website for a first class award seat on ANA. It turned up one seat that was available on my preferred date in mid-March. 

How I booked the award

Virgin Atlantic does not allow you to book ANA awards online. However, I’m happy to call in if it means that I can save tens or thousands of points over booking with another program.

Virgin Atlantic called me at 800-365-9500. After waiting on hold for approximately an hour, someone finally picked up. The agent asked me to give the date I saw available on United’s website. Within a few minutes, the agent confirmed the seat.

There are currently approximately $200 fuel surcharges, on top of the 47,000 points. I think it’s well worth it.

How much would ANA 1st class cost in cash 

Let’s take a look at the cost of this one-way flight in terms of overall bang for my buck. 

If I look at the cents-per-point, it’s an incredible amount. 30 Cents in value per point. 

Although I would not pay $14,000 for a flight, it is clear that this value is a little overstated. But the math doesn’t lie. 

A very important point about Japan, right now

Japan remains closed to international tourist, but both Tokyo-Haneda, (HND), and Tokyo Narita (NRT) are open to passengers transiting to other countries. 

You can book a flight to Japan for later in 2022 and 2023 if you are interested in a specific country. Japan plans to open its borders to all tourists in October 2022.

You could also do as I did and transit through Tokyo to another Asian country. Apart from the 47,000 point redemption, I also booked an additional ticket from Tokyo (HND), to Ho Chi Minh(SGN) that same day. 

To ensure that my transit in Tokyo would be smooth, and to reduce the chance of me being denied boarding in New York, I called ANA to inform them about my other onward ticket. 

Initial impressions of ANA first class — ‘The Suite’

Eight spacious suites in a dark grey color scheme make up the first-class cabin. I cannot emphasize just how massive these suites are — you could easily fit two average-sized people in one seat. 

The buddy seat is located right in front the monitor. If you would like to have a friend or relative join you for dinner, it’s also available. 

A sliding door gives you even more privacy but it isn’t very high so anyone who passes by can see right into your room. 

The button controls all three windows with a semi-transparent, fully open and fully closed setting. 

There is also a generous amount of storage space — and you can even put a full-sized carry-on under the ottoman in front of you (instead of needing to use the overhead bin). 

A pair of soft pajamas, amenity kits, slippers and slippers were also waiting for me at my table. 

The controls for the seat were intuitive, responsive and easy to use. I was able adjust my settings easily so that I could be comfortable throughout the 14-hour flight. 

The 43-inch, insanely large monitor in front of me was the real star of the chair. It was amazing to see the screen in high resolution. 

Although ANA may not have the largest entertainment program, it did offer a number of first-run shows and movies as well as live news programming. 

The crew offered to make my bed in the same seat as me because there was only one passenger in first class. 

One seat for lounging, dining and sleeping and one for lounging. This is the epitome of luxury.

I was able to get a few hours sleep in between meals, drinks, lounging and working (ANA offers Wi Fi for passengers in first class).

A crew applied a mattress pad to the seat. However, I must say that the seat and the bed were quite firm. It was definitely firmer than my home mattress. 

ANA provides first-class service, food, and drinks 

Let’s begin with this: This flight won’t leave you hungry. ANA offers a variety of Western and Japanese cuisine options.

After takeoff, I ordered the Japanese menu and switched to the Western menu for my pre-arrival meal. 

Here’s a selection of some of the dishes. 

A separate drink menu offered a wide selection of alcohol, including Krug. A bottle costs more than $200.  

Everything I tried was delicious, even the Western-style beef and shrimp. Naturally, the best thing about a Japanese airline is the food from its homeland. 

This included a decadent amuse bouche as a start. 

Next, I was given a variety of Japanese bite-sized morsels: from deep-fried scallop to simmered duck to abalone and cucumber.   

The crew then brought along a variety of sashimi including seared tuna, poached squid, and poached squid. This was the point when I felt like I was in culinary heaven.  

Last but certainly not the least, I was presented with my main dish. It consisted of a grilled, delicate Atlantic Salmon, tender beef, and a miso sauce. There were also accompaniments such as miso soup and steamed rice. 

These dishes were again outstanding. These dishes were outstanding for their balanced flavor, texture, and taste, as well as the meticulous attention to detail when it came to presentation. 

I finished the meal with a warm apple tartin and mixed fruit plates (which were both delicious and impressive in how they were presented). 

From the moment I stepped onto the plane to the sad reality of having to depart in Tokyo, the service was one of the most memorable moments of hospitality I’ve ever experienced. 

While it was great that only two first-class flight attendants needed to serve passengers, I think the crew would be equally accommodating, caring and friendly even with a full cabin.  

Bottom line

Amex Membership Rewards and other transferable credit card points offer incredible flexibility. 

I was able not only to transfer my points, but also to fly to Asia. Experience on the way to Asia — and start off a trip with a memory I won’t soon forget. 

You should remember that this flight can only be booked between Japan and America for 47,000 Amex points. If you are looking to fly to Japan from the West Coast, you will need to use the Virgin Atlantic 30% transfer bonus before September 30, 2022.