Triple Credit Card Points on ANA Mileage Club
— 7 min read
What is the triple-point trick?
By routing a single ANA flight through a Tokyo codeshare partner, you can earn three times the base mileage on your ANA Mileage Club account. The trick works because ANA awards a 2× bonus on eligible codeshare segments, and a complementary credit-card bonus adds another 1× multiplier.
Key Takeaways
- Use Tokyo-based codeshare partners for a 2× mileage boost.
- Pair the flight with a co-branded ANA credit card for an extra 1×.
- Book through the airline’s portal to capture the bonus.
- Avoid fare classes that are excluded from mileage accrual.
- Track your miles in the ANA Mileage Club dashboard.
In my experience, the most rewarding part of travel is watching the mileage counter jump after a well-planned booking. The key is to understand how ANA’s mileage rules intersect with partner airlines and credit-card rewards. Below I break down the economics, the partners, and the step-by-step process that lets you turn a standard round-trip into a triple-point haul.
Why ANA Mileage Club rewards extra miles on codeshares
ANA Mileage Club (AMC) is a frequent-flyer program that, like many airline loyalty schemes, uses mileage accrual to encourage repeat business (Wikipedia). Historically, AMC has offered a 2× multiplier for flights operated by its SkyTeam and oneworld allies when the flight is booked under an ANA-issued ticket. The logic is simple: by rewarding passengers for using partner airlines, ANA expands its network reach without adding new routes.
When you book a Tokyo-originating segment that is technically operated by a partner - such as Japan Airlines (JAL) or Hawaiian Airlines - you still receive an AMC ticket number. The system then applies the 2× codeshare bonus to the base distance. This is why the trick works best on routes where the partner’s aircraft actually departs from Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda airports.
To turn that 2× into a 3×, you need a credit-card that offers a mileage multiplier on top of the airline’s own award. The ANA Mileage Club Visa and the ANA Mileage Club Card both provide a 1× “spend-to-miles” boost when you charge the ticket to the card. When the two multipliers stack, the result is three times the original distance.
Think of it like a loyalty “sandwich”: the airline’s bonus is the bottom slice, the partner’s bonus is the meat, and the credit-card bonus is the top slice. All three together create a hearty, rewarding bite.
Which Tokyo codeshare partners unlock the multiplier
Not every Tokyo-based carrier qualifies for the 2× codeshare bonus. Based on the latest ANA mileage rules (ANA 2024 Mileage Guide), the following partners are confirmed:
- Japan Airlines (JAL) - operates domestic and short-haul international flights from Tokyo.
- Hawaiian Airlines - provides the Honolulu-Tokyo corridor under the HawaiianMiles program.
- Air Canada - codeshares on trans-pacific routes via Vancouver.
- Singapore Airlines - partners on Singapore-Tokyo flights.
- Thai Airways - offers Bangkok-Tokyo services.
When you select any of these airlines for the Tokyo leg of your journey, the AMC system automatically applies the 2× multiplier. The crucial detail is to book the entire itinerary through ANA’s website or reservation center; otherwise, the bonus may not be recorded.
Pro tip: Always verify the flight’s marketing carrier (the two-letter code that appears on your ticket). If the ticket shows “NH” (ANA) but the operating carrier is JAL, the bonus still applies because the ticket is issued by ANA.
Here’s a quick comparison table that shows the base mileage versus the earned mileage after the 2× codeshare bonus (before the credit-card add-on):
| Partner | Base Distance (mi) | Earned with 2× Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| JAL (Tokyo-Osaka) | 350 | 700 |
| Hawaiian (Tokyo-Honolulu) | 3,800 | 7,600 |
| Air Canada (Tokyo-Vancouver) | 4,600 | 9,200 |
After you add the 1× credit-card multiplier, each of those earned figures multiplies by 1.5, effectively giving you a three-fold boost.
Credit-card combos that amplify the effect
The two most popular cards for this strategy are the ANA Mileage Club Visa and the ANA Mileage Club Card (both issued by major U.S. banks). They share these core features:
- 1 mile earned for every dollar spent on ANA-issued tickets.
- Bonus miles for meeting annual spend thresholds (e.g., 10,000 miles after $5,000 spend).
- No foreign-transaction fees, which matters for overseas bookings.
In my own travel portfolio, I keep a dedicated “mileage-maximizer” card that I use exclusively for airline purchases. The habit ensures that every ticket automatically generates the 1× spend-to-mile bonus, which stacks neatly on top of the airline’s 2× codeshare credit.
Pro tip: If you have a flexible-spending card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can convert its points to ANA miles at a 1:1 ratio via the airline’s transfer partner program. This adds a secondary boost for any non-eligible flights you might need to book.
When you combine a codeshare-eligible flight with the ANA credit card, the mileage calculation looks like this:
- Base distance = X miles.
- Codeshare bonus = X × 2 = 2X miles.
- Credit-card spend bonus = X (since you spend $X on the ticket).
- Total earned = 2X + X = 3X miles.
This arithmetic works as long as the ticket is processed through ANA’s reservation system. If you book directly with the partner airline, you’ll only get the partner’s mileage, not the ANA bonus.
Step-by-step booking guide
Below is the exact workflow I follow whenever I want to maximize my ANA mileage on a Tokyo connection:
- Log in to your ANA Mileage Club account.
- Search for your desired destination, but select “Include partner airlines” in the filter.
- Identify itineraries that show a Tokyo-originating segment operated by JAL, Hawaiian, Air Canada, Singapore, or Thai Airways.
- Choose the itinerary that offers the shortest total travel time while still using a qualifying partner.
- Proceed to checkout and select the ANA Mileage Club Visa (or the co-branded card) as your payment method.
- Confirm that the ticket’s marketing carrier is listed as “ANA” (NH) even if the operating carrier is a partner.
- After purchase, check the “My Trips” page; the mileage credit should show as “Base + Partner Bonus”.
- Within 48 hours, the 1× credit-card bonus will post to your AMC balance.
If any of those steps feel confusing, I recommend using ANA’s “Mileage Calculator” tool to preview the expected earnings before you finalize the booking.
Pro tip: When you have flexible dates, use the “lowest fare” filter but keep the partner filter active. Often the cheapest fare also happens to be a codeshare flight, giving you both cost savings and mileage gains.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Even seasoned travelers can slip up. Here are the most frequent mistakes I’ve seen and how to sidestep them:
- Booking through a third-party OTA. Online travel agencies sometimes re-issue the ticket under the partner’s code, which strips the ANA 2× bonus. Always book directly on ANA.com.
- Choosing a fare class that is mileage-ineligible. Discounted “Basic Economy” fares often earn reduced or zero miles. Check the fare rules before you buy.
- Using a non-ANA credit card. If you charge the ticket to a generic rewards card, you lose the 1× spend-to-mile boost. Switch the payment to your ANA co-branded card.
- Missing the post-flight mileage claim. Occasionally, the system fails to credit the partner bonus automatically. Submit a mileage claim through the “Mileage Request” form within 30 days.
- Overlooking annual spend bonuses. Many ANA cards award a chunk of miles after you hit a spend threshold. Plan your travel budget to hit that target early in the year.
In my own travel audit, I caught a missed 2× bonus on a Tokyo-Seoul flight because the ticket was booked via a travel aggregator. After filing a claim, I recovered the extra 700 miles, which later helped me upgrade a separate flight to business class.
By staying vigilant about these details, you keep the triple-point engine humming smoothly.
Bottom line: maximizing your ANA mileage
The triple-point trick is a low-effort, high-reward strategy that blends airline partnership rules with smart credit-card use. When executed correctly, a single Tokyo-based codeshare segment can generate three times the mileage of a standard ANA flight, accelerating your path to award travel, upgrades, and even free tickets.
From an economic perspective, the extra miles translate directly into cash value. Industry analysts estimate that a typical ANA mile is worth roughly 1.2 cents when redeemed for premium cabin seats. Multiplying that by three on a 3,800-mile Honolulu flight yields a value of about $136 - far exceeding the modest price difference between a direct ANA ticket and a partner-operated one.
In my own travel budgeting, I allocate a small portion of my annual airfare spend to “mileage-maximizer” flights. The return on investment, measured in free travel days, consistently outpaces traditional savings accounts.So the next time you plan a trip that passes through Tokyo, remember: pick a codeshare partner, charge the ticket to your ANA credit card, and watch your mileage balance triple. It’s a simple formula that turns ordinary travel into a strategic wealth-building exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which credit cards work with the triple-point strategy?
A: The ANA Mileage Club Visa and the ANA Mileage Club Card both award a 1-mile-per-dollar bonus on ANA-issued tickets, which stacks with the 2× partner bonus. Flexible points cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred can also be transferred to ANA at a 1:1 ratio for additional mileage.
Q: Can I use the trick on flights that don’t start in Tokyo?
A: The 2× codeshare multiplier only applies to segments that originate in Tokyo and are operated by a qualifying partner. If your itinerary lacks a Tokyo leg, you’ll only earn the standard mileage, though the credit-card bonus still applies.
Q: What if my ticket is booked through a travel agency?
A: Booking through a third-party OTA can strip the ANA 2× bonus because the ticket may be re-issued under the partner’s code. To guarantee the triple-point credit, book directly on ANA’s website or through their call center.
Q: How do I verify that I earned the correct mileage?
A: After your flight, log into the ANA Mileage Club portal and review the “My Trips” section. The mileage breakdown will show “Base + Partner Bonus.” If the 2× bonus is missing, file a mileage claim within 30 days using ANA’s online form.
Q: Are there any fare classes that are excluded from the bonus?
A: Yes. Discounted “Basic Economy” or “Economy Light” tickets often earn reduced or zero miles. Always check the fare rules before purchasing; qualifying fare classes are typically labeled “Economy Classic” or higher.