United 2026 Award Hike: 35% More to Tokyo, ANA Locks Old Rate

Takeaway	Detail
United credit cards earn 2 miles per dollar on everyday spending.	2 miles per dollar on United purchases, gas, and transit.
Partner awards cost 10% more than United's own flights.	MileagePlus redemptions on partner airlines incur a 10% surcharge.
Short-haul domestic awards start at 5,000 miles.	United's lowest domestic redemptions begin at 5,000 miles one-way.
United's 2026 award hikes are now in effect.	The new pricing takes effect March 1, 2026, following a 2023 devaluation that raised some awards by 46%.

United's 2026 award devaluation—which raised some partner redemptions by 46%—is actually a reason to switch to ANA. On March 1, United will increase Tokyo business-class awards, but ANA's Mileage Club still prices the same seat at its old rate. That means you can book the same Star Alliance seat for fewer miles by using ANA's program.

The gap is stark. United charges 10% more for partner awards than for its own flights, and its dynamic pricing makes costs unpredictable. ANA, by contrast, maintains a published award chart with fixed prices. For short-haul domestic trips, United's lowest redemptions start at 5,000 miles—but for long-haul business class, ANA's consistency beats United's volatility.

The takeaway: don't panic over United's hike. Instead, shift your mileage strategy to ANA's Mileage Club, which still offers the old, better value. With United credit cards earning 2 miles per dollar, you can transfer those points to ANA and lock in the pre-hike price. The 2026 changes are a signal to diversify—not to hoard United miles.

Why United's 2026 Chart Change Hits Tokyo but Not ANA's

United's published award chart for 2026 shows North America–Japan business class round-trip increasing substantially, effective March 1, 2026, per United.com. That is the headline. But the mechanism behind it is what most travelers get wrong: United is not raising the price of the flight. It is raising the price of its own currency on that flight. The same ANA seat, booked with ANA miles, still costs the same as before for 2026, according to ANA's official award table. The divergence is not a quirk of airline generosity—it is a structural feature of how each program prices its own miles.

United sets the redemption rate for MileagePlus miles on any Star Alliance carrier, including ANA, because it is the issuer of the currency. When United reprices its chart, the cost in United miles changes for every partner award it sells, regardless of which airline operates the flight. ANA Mileage Club, by contrast, prices its own miles on its own chart. ANA has not announced any matching increase for its program as of the publication date, so the same round-trip business-class seat on the same ANA flight costs more in United miles than in ANA miles. That is a significant gap on a single redemption.

This is a currency-based repricing, not a route-based one. United's 2026 devaluation is part of a broader adjustment affecting Asia-Pacific routes, but it only touches accounts that hold United miles. ANA miles are insulated because ANA controls their value. The practical takeaway: if you hold transferable points, the currency you choose determines the price you pay. United miles buy this flight at the new higher rate. ANA miles buy the identical flight at the old lower rate.

Currency	2026 Round-Trip Price (North America–Japan Business)	Pricing Authority	Verdict
United MileagePlus	Higher rate (per United.com)	United sets the rate for its own miles on any Star Alliance partner	Loses—significantly higher
ANA Mileage Club	Unchanged rate (per ANA's official award table)	ANA sets the rate for its own miles	Wins—unchanged

For most U.S. travelers, the only way to hold ANA miles is to transfer points from Amex Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio or from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1:2 ratio (3 Bonvoy points become 1 ANA mile, plus a bonus for every 60,000 points transferred). That transfer step is the single friction point in this strategy. It takes minutes to execute, but it must happen before you search for award space, because ANA's best availability is typically released well before departure and gets picked over quickly.

The myth that all Star Alliance awards to Tokyo are going up is false. United's chart change affects only United miles. ANA's program is a separate currency with a separate price. If you have Amex or Marriott points, the decision is not which airline to book—it is which currency to fund. Book ANA miles now, at the old rate, before any matching devaluation appears. The gap above is your arbitrage window, and it is open today.

The Numbers: United's New Rate vs. ANA's Old Rate

Here is the hard math that settles the debate before you even weigh convenience, transfer partners, or seat availability. The gap between United's 2026 chart and ANA's unchanged rate is not a rounding error—it is the entire ballgame. According to United's published award chart (united.com/award-chart), North America–Japan business class jumps to a higher rate in 2026, up from a lower rate in the prior year. ANA's official chart (ana.co.jp) lists the same route at an unchanged rate for 2026, with no change from the prior year. That is a significant increase on United's side and a flat line on ANA's.

The decision rule is simple: if you have ANA miles or can transfer to them, book before United's increase takes effect. The gap is worth more than the surcharge you will pay, and ANA's chart is not moving. The only scenario where United makes sense is if you have no path to ANA miles and the higher rate is your only option—but that is a fallback, not a choice.

If you already hold United miles and have no transferable points, your best fallback is booking before March 1, 2026, at the old rate. United has not yet locked the new chart, so the current price is still available. But this is a deadline play, not a strategy. Once the chart flips, your United miles lose a significant portion of their purchasing power on this route overnight, and there is no workaround within MileagePlus itself.

Route & Cabin	Program	Miles (Round-Trip)	Cash Outlay	Effective Value at 1.5 cpm	Winner
ORD–HND Business	United MileagePlus (2026 chart)	Higher	Minimal	—	—
ORD–HND Business	ANA Mileage Club (2026 chart)	Lower	Surcharge	—	ANA by a margin
Difference	—	Gap	—	—	ANA wins

If you hold Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy points, transferring to ANA is the optimal move. Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott converts at 3:1 with a bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, effectively 3:1:2. ANA's award chart is locked at its current rate, so your transferred points are insulated from United's change. The transfer is not instant, typically taking 24 to 48 hours, so move points before you see the seat you want, not after.

Decision Framework: United Miles vs. ANA Miles for Tokyo

The decision rule is simple: use ANA miles if you can transfer points from Amex or Marriott; use United miles only if you have no other option and you book before the effective date. The myth that all Star Alliance awards to Tokyo are going up is false. ANA's own program is not affected by United's chart change, and that distinction is worth a significant number of miles.

Program	Miles Required	Cash Surcharges	Availability	Verdict
United MileagePlus (2026 chart)	Higher	Minimal	Good, but poor value	Avoid unless no other option
ANA Mileage Club	Lower	Surcharge	Best saver seat inventory	Winner for most travelers
Aeroplan (Air Canada)	Lower	Varies	Tighter, fewer saver seats	Only if you find the seat

The increase United is applying to its base chart also deserves a closer look. That higher figure is for standard (non-saver) awards, and United's dynamic pricing means off-peak dates can price lower. The increase applies to the published base chart, but the actual gap between United and ANA on any given date will shrink or widen depending on whether United is pricing a particular flight at saver level, standard level, or somewhere in between. On a slow travel week in February, United might price that same business-class seat closer to the old rate, while on a peak summer date it could exceed the new chart price entirely. The hike is the ceiling of the change, not the floor of every redemption.

The more fundamental problem is availability. ANA releases award seats to its own Mileage Club members first, and the inventory that remains for partner programs like United is thin—especially for two passengers traveling together. You can find the ANA rate on the chart, but if there are no seats at that level on your dates, the rate is theoretical. United's higher mile price often comes with access to more saver-level seats because United has its own contracted allotment on ANA flights, and that allotment is separate from what ANA holds for its own members. The calculus shifts: the savings is only real if you can actually book it, and for a pair of travelers on fixed dates, the higher United price may be the only option that exists.

There's also the question of whether the ANA rate will survive the year. ANA has not committed to holding that price through 2026; it's simply the current published chart. Award charts in the Star Alliance have been moving upward across the board, and ANA could devalue later in the year. The locked rate is confirmed only through the current published chart, and if ANA follows United's lead, the window to book at the old rate could close sooner than the end of 2026. That cuts both ways: it's a reason to book now, but it's also a reminder that the "locked" rate is not a contractual guarantee.

Finally, note that United's increase is specific to United MileagePlus miles. It does not touch awards booked through other Star Alliance partners. Aeroplan and LifeMiles both price ANA business-class awards to Tokyo on their own charts, and neither has announced a matching increase. The hike is not a Star Alliance-wide change; it's a United program change. If you hold points in one of those other programs, the United chart is irrelevant to your booking decision.

The data supports booking ANA now, but only if you can find seats, you're booking outside peak surcharge windows, and you have the right points currency. For a solo traveler with flexible points and date flexibility, the ANA rate is the clear winner. For a couple on fixed dates in peak season with a large United balance, the higher United price may be the rational choice despite the increase. Check ANA's surcharge schedule for your specific dates before you transfer a single point.

Your Situation	Action	Why
Have Amex or Marriott points	Transfer to ANA Mileage Club	1:1 or 3:1:2 ratio, chart locked at the old rate
Have United miles only	Book before the effective date	Locks in the old rate before the new chart hits
Have no miles, want to earn	Earn into ANA or a transferable currency	Avoids United's devalued chart entirely
Found a LifeMiles seat	Book it, but verify availability	Cheaper miles, but phantom inventory risk
Need peak dates	Book ANA via ANA Mileage Club	Most consistent saver seat release

What the Data Doesn't Tell You

John's October 12–19, 2026, round-trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo Narita (NRT) on ANA business class is a textbook case of why the program you book through matters more than the metal you fly on. He has a substantial number of Amex Membership Rewards points and a substantial number of United miles. The decision writes itself once you lay out the two paths, but the trap is assuming his United balance is even in the game.

One edge case worth noting: United's short-haul domestic redemptions start at 5,000 miles, per points.fyi, which means John's United miles are better deployed on future domestic or short-haul international trips rather than being stretched toward a Tokyo business-class award that now demands a higher rate. His United miles aren't useless—they're just misaligned with this specific redemption. The ANA booking preserves his United balance for what it's actually good at.

Start with the deadline, not the math. If you hold United miles and want ANA business class to Tokyo, the single most important date is the day before United's new chart takes effect. United's published chart for North America–Japan business class jumps to a higher rate on that date, but ANA's own Mileage Club program is not part of that chart change. The gap between the two programs—the difference covered above—only matters if you act before the calendar flips. After that, the decision framework collapses into a simple question: do you have transferable points or not?

Rule 1: Transferable points go to ANA, immediately. If your balance sits in Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy, you have a direct path to ANA Mileage Club at the old rate. Do not wait for United's hike to pass, and do not hold out hoping ANA will match United's increase—there is no indication they will, and the risk of an ANA devaluation is a separate event you cannot predict. The mechanism is straightforward: transfer points to ANA, search for saver availability, book. The release window means seats for peak seasons vanish within hours of opening, so the constraint is availability, not the transfer itself. According to ANA's published award chart, the round-trip business rate remains unchanged; your only job is to get the miles there before the seats disappear.

Rule 2: United miles mean a hard deadline. If you only have MileagePlus miles, you are racing the effective date. Book before that date and you lock the old rate on ANA metal through United's booking engine. Book after, and the same seat costs a higher rate—a significant premium for the identical product. One edge case worth knowing: United credit cards unlock expanded award availability, sometimes labeled "XN" space, which can show seats that standard MileagePlus members cannot see. According to Points Talk Squad, this expanded access is a real benefit of holding a United card, and it can be the difference between finding a saver seat and paying the higher rate. If you have a United card, check the XN inventory before you give up on your dates.

Rule 3: Compare total cost, not just miles. The lowest mile number is not automatically the best deal. ANA flights carry fuel surcharges that can run roughly a few hundred dollars round-trip in business class, and those surcharges vary by booking channel. United often passes through the same carrier-imposed surcharges, but Aeroplan—Air Canada's program—sometimes prices ANA awards differently, both in miles and in cash. Aeroplan's published rate for ANA business to Japan is lower than both ANA's and United's, but the cash component can be higher. The correct move is to price the same dates across all three programs before transferring a single point. A lower-mileage booking with a higher surcharge may cost more out-of-pocket than a higher-mileage booking with a lower surcharge, depending on how you value your miles.

Rule 4: Check ANA saver availability first, always. The decision tree starts with one question: are there saver seats on your dates? If yes, book ANA at the old rate—that is the end of the analysis. If no, you have two fallbacks. United's higher rate may still be worth it if the XN space shows seats, or if you value the convenience of booking through MileagePlus. Aeroplan's lower-mileage option is the cheaper mile price, but it comes with the surcharge question and its own availability quirks. The order matters: do not start with United's higher rate just because you have United miles. Start with ANA availability, then compare the fallbacks against your specific dates.

Scenario	Mileage Cost	Surcharge Risk	Availability Risk	Verdict
ANA Mileage Club, off-peak, solo traveler	Old rate	Lower, but variable	Moderate	Best deal if seats exist
ANA Mileage Club, peak dates	Old rate	Can be high	Low—book early	Mile savings partially eroded
United MileagePlus, saver level	Lower than new rate	Minimal	Higher seat inventory	Competitive on off-peak dates
United MileagePlus, standard level	New rate	Minimal	High	Premium justified only for fixed dates
Aeroplan or LifeMiles	Varies by chart	Pass-through	Moderate	Unaffected by United's hike

Rule 5: Set two calendar reminders, not one. The cutoff for any United-mile booking at the old rate is the day before the new chart takes effect—set that reminder now. But for ANA Mileage Club, the deadline is not a date on the calendar; it is the moment the saver seats sell out. ANA releases award seats well in advance, and for popular routes like Los Angeles–Tokyo Narita, those seats go quickly. The practical rule: book ANA as soon as you have the miles, not when you have the itinerary. If you are waiting for a transfer bonus or a points posting, you are gambling that the seats will still be there. The gap between the two programs is the headline, but the real enemy is seat availability, and it does not wait for your points to land.

LAX

The myth that all Star Alliance awards to Tokyo are going up is exactly that—a myth. ANA's own program is untouched by United's chart change, and that is the entire opportunity. The window is narrow, the seats are finite, and the difference is significant. Book ANA now, or book United before the effective date, but do not let the calendar make the decision for you.

Option 1, booking via United.com on ANA metal, requires a higher number of United miles plus minimal taxes. John has a certain number of United miles—a shortfall. United's Buy or Transfer Miles option exists, but the math on earning or buying that many miles before October is not realistic for most travelers, and the cash cost of buying that many miles would dwarf the surcharge he'd pay on the ANA booking. His United balance is effectively a non-factor here, which is the detail most award-booking guides skip.

Option 2, booking via ANA Mileage Club, requires a lower number of ANA miles plus a fuel surcharge. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to ANA at a 1:1 ratio, so John moves the required points over, books the flight, and keeps some points in his Amex account. The surcharge stings, but it buys him a significant discount versus United's new chart rate. At even a conservative valuation, that discount is worth more than the surcharge he's paying.

Option	Miles Required	Cash Outlay	John's Position	Verdict
United MileagePlus	Higher	Minimal	Shortfall	Not feasible before October
ANA Mileage Club	Lower	Surcharge	Sufficient—transfers 1:1	Bookable now, keeps remaining points

The fuel surcharge is the psychological barrier, but it's a red herring in this comparison. John pays a surcharge out of pocket on the ANA booking versus minimal taxes on United—a difference. But the United path requires him to source additional miles, which he doesn't have and can't realistically earn in the window before October. The ANA path costs him fewer miles, and he has the points sitting in his Amex account today. The surcharge is the price of admission for using the program that hasn't raised its chart.

One edge case worth noting: United's short-haul domestic redemptions start at 5,000 miles, per points.fyi, which means John's United miles are better deployed on future domestic or short-haul international trips rather than being stretched toward a Tokyo business-class award that now demands a higher rate. His United miles aren't useless—they're just misaligned with this specific redemption. The ANA booking preserves his United balance for what it's actually good at.

The action step is unambiguous: John transfers the required Amex points to ANA Mileage Club today, books the October 12–19 round-trip for the old rate plus a surcharge, and locks in the pre-increase rate. He saves a significant number of miles versus United's 2026 chart, keeps some Amex points in reserve, and leaves his United miles untouched for a redemption where they'll go further.

Also worth reading: Why travelers are still booking flights despite rising ticket prices: Why travelers are still booking · Aeroplan vs ANA: 85K Lock Beats 75K Off-Peak Star Alliance Award: Aeroplan vs ANA: 85K Lock · Why American travelers are still drawn to the lost charm of old Cuba: Why American travelers are still

How to Choose Well

Start with the deadline, not the math. If you hold United miles and want ANA business class to Tokyo, the single most important date is the day before United's new chart takes effect. United's published chart for North America–Japan business class jumps to a higher rate on that date, but ANA's own Mileage Club program is not part of that chart change. The gap between the two programs—the difference covered above—only matters if you act before the calendar flips. After that, the decision framework collapses into a simple question: do you have transferable points or not?

Rule 1: Transferable points go to ANA, immediately. If your balance sits in Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy, you have a direct path to ANA Mileage Club at the old rate. Do not wait for United's hike to pass, and do not hold out hoping ANA will match United's increase—there is no indication they will, and the risk of an ANA devaluation is a separate event you cannot predict. The mechanism is straightforward: transfer points to ANA, search for saver availability, book. The release window means seats for peak seasons vanish within hours of opening, so the constraint is availability, not the transfer itself. According to ANA's published award chart, the round-trip business rate remains unchanged; your only job is to get the miles there before the seats disappear.

Rule 2: United miles mean a hard deadline. If you only have MileagePlus miles, you are racing the effective date. Book before that date and you lock the old rate on ANA metal through United's booking engine. Book after, and the same seat costs a higher rate—a significant premium for the identical product. One edge case worth knowing: United credit cards unlock expanded award availability, sometimes labeled "XN" space, which can show seats that standard MileagePlus members cannot see. According to Points Talk Squad, this expanded access is a real benefit of holding a United card, and it can be the difference between finding a saver seat and paying the higher rate. If you have a United card, check the XN inventory before you give up on your dates.

Rule 3: Compare total cost, not just miles. The lowest mile number is not automatically the best deal. ANA flights carry fuel surcharges that can run roughly a few hundred dollars round-trip in business class, and those surcharges vary by booking channel. United often passes through the same carrier-imposed surcharges, but Aeroplan—Air Canada's program—sometimes prices ANA awards differently, both in miles and in cash. Aeroplan's published rate for ANA business to Japan is lower than both ANA's and United's, but the cash component can be higher. The correct move is to price the same dates across all three programs before transferring a single point. A lower-mileage booking with a higher surcharge may cost more out-of-pocket than a higher-mileage booking with a lower surcharge, depending on how you value your miles.

Rule 4: Check ANA saver availability first, always. The decision tree starts with one question: are there saver seats on your dates? If yes, book ANA at the old rate—that is the end of the analysis. If no, you have two fallbacks. United's higher rate may still be worth it if the XN space shows seats, or if you value the convenience of booking through MileagePlus. Aeroplan's lower-mileage option is the cheaper mile price, but it comes with the surcharge question and its own availability quirks. The order matters: do not start with United's higher rate just because you have United miles. Start with ANA availability, then compare the fallbacks against your specific dates.

Scenario	Mileage Cost	Surcharge Risk	Availability Risk	Verdict
ANA Mileage Club, off-peak, solo traveler	Old rate	Lower, but variable	Moderate	Best deal if seats exist
ANA Mileage Club, peak dates	Old rate	Can be high	Low—book early	Mile savings partially eroded
United MileagePlus, saver level	Lower than new rate	Minimal	Higher seat inventory	Competitive on off-peak dates
United MileagePlus, standard level	New rate	Minimal	High	Premium justified only for fixed dates
Aeroplan or LifeMiles	Varies by chart	Pass-through	Moderate	Unaffected by United's hike

Rule 5: Set two calendar reminders, not one. The cutoff for any United-mile booking at the old rate is the day before the new chart takes effect—set that reminder now. But for ANA Mileage Club, the deadline is not a date on the calendar; it is the moment the saver seats sell out. ANA releases award seats well in advance, and for popular routes like Los Angeles–Tokyo Narita, those seats go quickly. The practical rule: book ANA as soon as you have the miles, not when you have the itinerary. If you are waiting for a transfer bonus or a points posting, you are gambling that the seats will still be there. The gap between the two programs is the headline, but the real enemy is seat availability, and it does not wait for your points to land.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the exact transfer ratio from Marriott Bonvoy to ANA Mileage Club?

Marriott Bonvoy converts to ANA miles at a 3:1 ratio, with a bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, effectively 3:1:2.

How long does it take for points to transfer from Amex or Marriott to ANA?

The transfer is not instant, typically taking 24 to 48 hours.

When does United's 2026 award hike take effect?

The new pricing takes effect March 1, 2026.

What surcharges apply when booking an ANA flight with United miles versus ANA miles?

United does not pass on fuel surcharges for partner awards, so booking ANA via MileagePlus means you pay only miles plus minimal taxes, whereas booking directly with ANA's own program triggers significant surcharges.

What is the cost difference for partner awards compared to United's own flights?

Partner awards cost 10% more than United's own flights.

What happened to the Excursionist Perk?

The Excursionist Perk has been gone since August 2025.

Quick answers

What is the effective date for United's 2026 award hikes?	The new pricing takes effect March 1, 2026.
How much more does United charge for partner awards compared to its own flights?	Partner awards cost 10% more than United's own flights.
What is the starting mileage for United's lowest domestic redemptions?	United's lowest domestic redemptions begin at 5,000 miles one-way.
According to the article, what is the only scenario where United makes sense for booking Tokyo?	The only scenario where United makes sense is if you have no path to ANA miles and the higher rate is your only option.
What is the transfer ratio for Marriott Bonvoy points to ANA miles mentioned in the article?	Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1:2 ratio (3 Bonvoy points become 1 ANA mile, plus a bonus for every 60,000 points transferred).

Sources: Frequentmiler, Flyertalk, Flyertalk, Frequentmiler, United